Coconut Milk Substitute to Use as Alternatives

Coconut milk is widely used as an added flavor in the food to make it delicious. For example, it is added to your curry to thicken it. However, due to its high-fat content, people sometimes do not favor its consumption. However, you still want to add something to your food that resembles the flavor and enhances the taste other than coconut milk. Coconut milk substitute can replace the original and give you the same consistency.

It may also happen that while making the food, you may not find coconut milk in hand. Hence, there are some types of substitute for coconut milk to add similar flavor, taste, and consistency.

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Coconut Milk Substitute

Check out the top substitute for coconut milk in curry to try these out when you are out of the original ingredient:

Soy Milk

Soy Milk is prepared from soybeans. It is nutritious and has a high protein content. Therefore, you can use it as a full fat coconut milk substitute. Furthermore, since it is plant-based, there is less fat in it. You can also use it as a substitute coconut milk if you do not find it near you while cooking a delicious meal.

Moreover, if you are allergic to coconut milk but still want to find out the best alternative that you can use to thicken the curry, you can try soy milk.

You must, however, make sure that you do not purchase sweet soy milk as it will change the flavor of the food. Nevertheless, it is healthy, and you will be glad to find that your curry has the same creamy thickness you were longing to make.

Almond Milk

Almond milk has a creamy texture that is made from almonds. It is low in fat and highly nutritious. Since it is not a dairy product, it is preferred by some due to health issues.

You can also use almond milk as a substitute for coconut milk. However, it will not give the same thickness as almond milk is thin. So if you want to add almond milk to make your food creamy and thick, make sure that you add cornstarch.

It will give your curry the necessary thickness. However, since almond milk is low in fat, it will not produce creaminess in your food. So, if you still want to get the coconut flavor, you can use coconut flour with almond milk. You will be surprised to get the flavor you want combined with nutritious and cholesterol-free almond milk.

Cashew Cream

Cashew cream is not a dairy product. So if you are allergic to coconut milk, you can always use cashew cream to give thickness to your food. Cashew cream is high in fat, so it will be the perfect substitute for coconut milk in curry.

You can also prepare cashew milk from cashew nuts. It is low in protein and calories, and hence it is sometimes used as a coconut milk substitute.

It gives a tangy flavor to your curry and hence enhances the taste. Since it is plant-based, it has loads of nutrients. However, being high in fat, you must not use it regularly.

If you do not have coconut milk in your house, you can always substitute it with cashew milk. It is easy to prepare and works great to make your food tasty.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is highly nutritious. Since it is a product of the plant, it is packed with loads of nutrients.

It is a lot of protein content and fiber, and hence, it favors digestion.

In addition, oat milk has a creamy texture that acts as a perfect substitute for coconut milk. If you add it to your curry, it will make your curry creamy and enhance the flavor.

Oat milk is a perfect replacement for coconut milk as it contains less fat. It is now used in many recipes and is helpful to those who are diet conscious.

However, oat milk is sweeter than coconut milk. Hence, it would help if you used it correctly, so your nicely well-crafted curry does not sweeten excessively. It is highly beneficial to your health that you can use it in any form.

Hemp Milk

If you want a coconut milk substitute that is healthy and creamy, you can use hemp milk. It is highly nutritious packed with healthy fats and other nutrients.

It is made from hemp seeds, and therefore it is plant-based. You can easily prepare hemp milk in your house by crushing the seeds with water.

Therefore, it is a healthy substitute for milk. Usually, hemp seeds are used in baking. It is an excellent option for those who do not prefer coconut milk as they are allergic.

You can also use hemp milk in coffee, smoothies, and cereal as it has a nutty flavor and is creamy. You can get hemp milk in your nearest store quickly due to its high popularity. Alternatively, you can also prepare it at your house.

Rice Milk

Rice Milk is plant-based. It is manufactured using brown rice.

Unlike coconut milk, it is slightly thinner, and hence you will not be able to use it to make your curry thick and creamy.

However, you can use rice milk in smoothies and desserts, and you might find it as a canned coconut milk substitute. It is perfect for those who do not like coconut milk.

Rice milk is thin, unlike coconut milk but is highly nutritious and has various health benefits. It is a good source of calcium, vitamin, and other healthy nutrients.

Since it is nonallergic, it is widely used by many. Rice milk has a natural sweetener than the other types of milk as it is packed with carbohydrates. It is an excellent option to consume rice milk as it is cheap and healthy.

Spiced Milk

Spiced milk is a trendy substitute for coconut milk. It is prepared with cinnamons and nutmeg to add flavor to the milk.

You can use spiced milk in a variety of dishes. So, if you want to make your food creamy, you can use spiced milk as a perfect coconut milk substitute.

However, while you are preparing spiced milk, be sure to stir it properly to avoid burning. Since spiced milk is flavored with spices, you can use it in any food to enhance the taste.

It is widely used by many people worldwide who have a craze for tasty food. It does not take much time to prepare spiced milk in your house, but you must have the ingredients in hand.

Evaporated Milk

When you boil milk in slow flame, the water gets evaporated, making it thick. It is then used to make the curry thick.

Evaporated milk is an excellent coconut milk substitute and is helpful for those who do not like the flavor of coconut.

In addition, you can use evaporated milk to make your food creamy.

Since evaporated milk is thick and creamy, you can use it to make a variety of sweets. It is a better option than condensed milk, as it does not contain additives.

It is highly nutritious, and the shelf life of the milk is higher than regular milk. However, since it has a high-fat content, many people avoid it. It is also not preferable to those who cannot consume dairy products due to health issues.

Heavy Cream

If you want your curry to be thick and creamy, you can use heavy cream.

It is a perfect substitute for coconut milk.

When used, heavy cream can bring the color and taste that your well-made food requires. However, the item requires butter and milk to prepare and contains a high proportion of fat.

Therefore, you can use heavy cream once in a while only when you are preparing anything special. It adds richness to the food making it delicious, but you must not use it for everyday consumption.

You must also remember that while adding heavy cream, you must add some proportion of water to it so that the curry stirs satisfactorily. You can use heavy cream as a substitute for coconut milk in sauces, creamy soup, and even ice cream.

Greek Yogurt

If you want something tangy and are a perfect coconut milk substitute, you can use Greek yogurt. It is usually a homemade product, made creatively with yogurt and water.

It depends on how thick or thin you need the Greek yogurt as adding water makes it thinner. However, if you want to have a flavor of coconut in your food, you can use coconut-flavored Greek yogurt.

It is highly preferable as it contains various healthy nutrients and low fat. However, since it is tangy, do not use Greek yogurt in high proportion while making your curry.

It gives the thickness to your food like coconut milk and also makes it creamy. Since it is low in fat, Greek yogurt is a friend to the health-conscious people worldwide.

Silken Tofu

Silken tofu is a soy milk product. It is purely a vegetarian product and a perfect vegan coconut milk substitute. Since it is a soy milk product, it has low-fat content but is high in various healthy nutrients.

However, silken tofu’s water content is high, so you need to proportionate the amount of Silken tofu in your food. It creates a smooth, creamy mixture to use in soups, sauces, and desserts.

It is an excellent source of protein, calcium, and iron. Hence it appeals to those who are on a vegan diet. Moreover, it is also great for those who cannot consume dairy products. So, if you are not a fan of coconut milk but want to make food that can have its thickness and creaminess, you can use Silken tofu as a replacement.

Reasons to use substitute for coconut milk

Though coconut milk adds flavor to your food, it has a high content of fat and calories.

In addition, it can result in gaining weight as it is rich in carbohydrates.

Moreover, some people cannot consume coconut milk since they are allergic. Therefore, if you consume coconut milk in high proportion and use it in your daily diet, it can cause indigestion leading to diarrhea and constipation.

There is also a high risk of having igh cholesterol if you consume coconut milk regularly. So, if you are diet conscious, it will be better if you can avoid coconut milk.

However, if you want your food to have flavor and texture like coconut milk, many healthy coconut milk substitutes are available in the market. You can also make them on your own with the available ingredients.

Side-effects of Coconut Milk

Although people widely use coconut milk to make food delicious, it has its equal share of negativities. Moreover, it is not favorable for those who have health issues.

Hence consumption of coconut milk in high quantity can cause a lot of health-related diseases. Following are some of the usual side effects that you may suffer due to the consumption of coconut milk.

Coconut milk contains a high quantity of saturated fat
It can cause allergies
It leads to weight gain
The milk can cause high cholesterol
Those who cannot digest coconut milk can face constipation
Coconut milk has a lot of sugar
It is high in calories, so if you are weight conscious, try to avoid coconut milk.
Threatening Bisphenol – A (BPA)
It contains Guar Gum
High consumption of coconut milk may cause Fructose Malabsorption

Final thoughts

Whether it is vegetarian or non-vegetarian food, adding coconut milk enhances the quality of food. For example, it makes the curry thicker and creamier, making it an excellent dish.

However, since coconut milk makes the food-rich, you must not use it in your daily diet. It is high in calories and fat.

Hence, it would help if you tried the substitutes of coconut milk in your food. But the taste that you get by adding coconut milk to your food will not be the same when you use coconut milk substitutes.

On the other hand, your health may suffer if you consume coconut milk daily. Hence, it is entirely on your own discreet how you want to substitute coconut milk.