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Uses of Coconut Oil

8 Uses of Coconut Oil

uses of coconut oil in Indian cooking. Coconut oil is the oil that is removed from coconuts. It contains 90% saturated fat and was once considered unhealthy due to this. But recently it is being used more and more in cooking as it has a neutral effect on the heart as opposed to other saturated fats.  

1. Coconut oil is used for many purposes as it very good for hair and skin but recently it is being used in cooking. Coconut oil does not result in oxidation at high temperatures and hence is very useful for frying as it has a high smoking point.

2. Food in the southern states of India and in coastal regions is fondly cooked in coconut oil. From different curries and rice dishes to even chutneys and tempering, all of this is preferred to be done with coconut oil instead of other vegetable oils, especially in Kerala. A few south Indian dishes that are made with coconut oil are Bhindi Mappas, Bisi Bele Bhaat and Avial.

3. Appams and Rava Dosas can also be cooked using coconut oil to give a nice, nutty flavor. 

4. Since it can tolerate high temperatures, it is very good for baking. Coconut oil can be used as a 1:1 substitute for butter for baked goods. Even when a recipe requires solid butter, you can use solid coconut oil instead for a dairy free option like for pie crusts.  

5. Coconut oil provides an irresistible aroma to nuts and oats when used to make Homemade Granola mix or granola bars. A few amazing recipes like this are the Mixed Nut and Berries Granola and a Healthy Granola Mix.

6. This oil imparts a very unique flavor to any dish. One can use it for stir-frying or sautéing different types of vegetables. 

7. Add a couple of tablespoons of to the grinder while making nut butters to get a rich, creamy, delicious spread.

8.  Use coconut oil to make coconut creamer which can be used for hot coffees and even other beverages. This option can be used by those who don’t want to use a dairy creamer.

To know about Recipes using Coconut oil, check out our collection.

Uses Of Coconut Oil



1

An evergreen favourite of the Syrian Christians in Kerala, Bhindi Mappas features sautéed bhindi in aromatic coconut milk gravy. Although the bhindi does take some time to cook, this recipe is otherwise quite easy as it makes use of everyday ingredients and simple cooking methods. An assortment of pungent ingredients like ginger, garlic, curry leaves, etc., perk up the coconut milk, turning it from a mellow ingredient into a mouth-watering gravy for the ladies finger. Serve with plain rice . You can also try other Kerala style variants of bhindi like Dahi Bhindi or Bhindi Onion Stir Fry .

2

bisi bele bhat recipe | Karnataka style bisibele bhat | how to make bisi bele bhat at home | with step by step photos. bisi bele bhat is a traditional spicy rice dish from Karnataka which is full of flavours. The coconut based paste is the essence of this Karnataka style bisibele bhat. Coconut along with chana dal, urad dal, Kashmiri red chillies, cinnamon and coriander seeds is roasted in coconut oil and then blended to a paste. In some more oil, a whole lot of veggies along with rice and toovar dal are sautéed. They are cooked in tamarind pulp, salt and enough water for about 4 whistles. Once the pressure cooker cools down slightly, top the Bisi Bele with ghee and you are ready to serve. Karnataka style bisibele bhat is served piping hot topped with lots of ghee and accompanied by fried papads and a cool raita, it is almost impossible to say no to this One Dish Meal. Check out for many more wholesome, quick and easy to prepare, one dish meal recipes in a pressure cooker like Bulgur Wheat and Paneer Pulao, Brinjal Rice, Aloo Gobhi Pulao and Chakra Pongal. Enjoy bisi bele bhat recipe | Karnataka style bisibele bhat | how to make bisi bele bhat at home.

3

avial recipe | aviyal recipe | South Indian avial | Kerala avial | with 35 amazing images. avial recipe is also called aviyal in South India. Learn how to make Kerala avial recipe. Avial is a traditional mixed vegetable dish that originated in Kerala cuisine, but gained an equal fanfare in Tamil nadu cuisine as well. Rare is the wedding or festive menu that does not include avial! Sadya, a traditional feast of Kerala always includes avail which is served with other vegetables , rice, pickles spread out on a plantain leaf. I share a time-honored method of making a delicious avial with mixed vegetables, fresh coconut, curry leaves, coconut oil and curd ( yogurt, dahi). The key to making excellent avial is to pay equal attention to the visual appeal – vegetables with contrasting colours such as carrot, beans, pumpkin etc are chosen, sliced evenly into thin 1 inch long pieces, and cooked to a crunchy consistency. If you’ve done this, you’ve crossed half the bridge successfully! Serve avial with steamed rice, sambar, pickle for a complete South Indian meal. pro tips for avial recipe. 1. Using coconut oil to cook South Indian food is a healthier option than processed seed oil. 2. You can mix and match the vegetables used for making avail based on what is in your kitchen and in season. 3. We first half cooked drumsticks ( Saijan ki phalli ) as they take the longest time to cook and then added all the vegetables. 4. Cut your vegetables (drumsticks, French beans, carrots, yam (suran), red pumpkin (bhopla / kaddu), raw banana and brinjal (baingan / eggplant) to 25 mm. (1") pieces, like French fries or thin long sticks. 5. Put the raw banana pieces in water to prevent them from turning black. 6. Remember that vegetables must be added to boiling water to retain their colour. If you add vegetables to cold water and cook them they will lose their colour. Enjoy avial recipe | aviyal recipe | South Indian avial | Kerala avial | with step by step photos.

4

rava dosa recipe | instant rava dosa | sooji dosa | South Indian rava dosa | crispy semolina dosa | with 17 amazing images. Rava dosa is an easy to make counterpart of the traditional dosa ! These crispyrava dosas are made with a batter of semolina and buttermilk. While South Indian rava dosa is very popular in the South, it is also a popular Mumbai Street Food . Making rava dosa is easy. The first part is making the rava dosa batter. Combine the semolina, flour, curds and ½ cup of water together in a bowl and mix well to get a smooth batter. Ferment. Add the green chillies, cumin seeds, coconut, cashew nuts and salt and mix well. Add more water as required and mix well to a thin sooji dosa batter. The second part of making instant rava dosa is heat a non-stick tava. Pour ½ cup of the rava dosa batter and tilt the tava in all directions so that it forms a thin circle. Smear a little oil on the sides, cook till both sides are golden brown in colour. Your sooji dosa is ready. I would like to share with you some tips to make the perfect rava dosa recipe. 1. Curd provides a nice flavour to the dosa but, if you are vegan, skip adding it. 2. Mix well to get a smooth batter. Make sure the batter is lump-free. 3. The batter must have a pouring consistency to be able to spread easily on the pan. It should literally be watery and as thin as buttermilk. 4. Never use a roti/paratha tava to prepare dosa. Also, preferably make use of thick, heavy bottomed tava to prepare semolina dosa. 5. The tawa must be super hot to get crispy rava dosa. The rava dosa batter does not require any grinding or fermenting and makes it perfect for breakfast on a busy morning. Serve crispy rava dosa hot with coconut chutney and sambar. See our collection of dosa recipes and try dosas like Stuffed Moong Sprouts Dosa, Buckwheat Dosa and Schezwan Cheese Dosa. Enjoy rava dosa recipe | instant rava dosa | sooji dosa | South Indian rava dosa | crispy semolina dosa | with detailed step by step photos below.

5

appam recipe | instant appam | Kerala appam | palappam | with 7 amazing images. Appam is a tasty white Indian pancake crisp on the sides with a soft centre. appam or palappam are a famous Kerala breakfast made from raw rice, coconut milk, dry yeast and a little bit of sugar. Appam is a famous dish from the Keralite repertoire of South Indian cooking. This Kerala appam is an easy-to-make, instant version of the otherwise tough-to-make dish. Since yeast is used, the batter need not be fermented for long unlike the traditional version. Notes on appam recipe. 1. The batter should rise, keep it in a warm place and it always depends on the weather conditions also. The batter will take time to rise if the weather outside is cold. The centre of the appam will always be thick. 2. Make sure the kadhai is hot when you make the appams. If the kadhai is not hot enough the batter will bounce back to the centre. 3. Dry yeast also should be dissolved and mixed well in the batter. 4. You need to use raw rice also known as (Kaccha chawal) in hindi which is readily available in any grocery store. And also see that you use thick coconut milk as you are adding warm water while grinding the rice. More water will split when you put in the appamchatty. Serve appam with slightly-sweetened coconut milk and vegetable korma for a perfect meal! Learn to make appam recipe | instant appam | Kerala appam | palappam | with step by step photos below.

6

Granola bars are very handy snacks, which can help to fight sudden hunger pangs at work or when you are on the move. There are also innumerable possible variants of granola bars, so you will never get bored of them. This yummy version, for example, combines sweet and tangy berries with crunchy nuts and oats to make a scrumptious bar that will be enjoyed by young and old alike. A generous amount of honey is used to sweeten this delicious treat, which will also satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way. Cinnamon and vanilla give this Mixed Nuts and Berries Granola an aesthetic aroma and flavour, while a pinch of sea salt helps to balance and highlight the sweetness and tanginess of the other ingredients. This granola can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 weeks while you can even extend its shelf life to over a month if you store it in a freezer bag in the freezer. Have a go at other oats based recipes like Date Oats and Mixed Berries Granola Bars or Oats and Mixed Nuts Ladoo .

7

healthy granola recipe | Indian crunchy homemade granola | no sugar granola recipe | with 27 amazing images. healthy granola recipe | Indian crunchy homemade granola | no sugar granola recipe recipe is a mix of healthy ingredients for healthy morning. Learn how to make Indian crunchy homemade granola. To make healthy granola, combine the oats, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sea salt and cinnamon powder in a deep bowl and mix well. Then add coconut oil, honey and vanilla essence and mix well. Spread the mixture evenly on a lined baking tray. Preheat the oven at 180°c (360°f) for 10 minutes. Bake the mixture at 180°c (360°f) for 20 to 24 minutes, while tossing it once after 10 minutes. Keep aside to cool for 40 minutes. Transfer the mixture into a bowl, add raisins and dried cranberries and mix well. Serve or store in an air-tight container. Use as required. This no sugar granola recipe is the perfect satiating snack made of rolled oats, honey (if vegan use maple syrup), walnuts, almonds, pistachios and coconut oil. It is inexpensive and not at all smeared with sugar like the store bought ones. The medley of flavors contains sweetness from the maple syrup, nutty and crunchy from the nuts and mildly soft texture from raisins and dried cranberries. Coconut oil helps to mix all the ingredients together in healthy granola. This easy to do recipe is also very high on the nutrient and fibre list as oats help in lower the bad cholesterol in your body. The nuts and pumpkin seeds as well as sunflower seeds are a source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids which are necessary for the health of all the cells in the body. Indian crunchy homemade granola can be made in large batches and can be easily stored in an airtight container. This granola mix can be had plain, with milk, curds or with almond milk or soy milk for vegan by weight-watchers, heart patients and all healthy individuals. Tips for healthy granola. 1. Always use sea salt in the granola mix. 2. Use rolled oats and not quick cooking oats. Rolled oats are healthier and give a better mouth feel in granola. In India, rolled oats are easily available in your kirana stores. 3. Use vanilla extract as the taste is much richer than using vanilla essence. Again Indian made vanilla extract is super quality and easy to get. 4. Store healthy granola in an airtight container for 7 days. Enjoy healthy granola recipe | Indian crunchy homemade granola | no sugar granola recipe | with step by step photos.

8

Health-conscious people are always looking for healthier alternatives to milk to add to their black coffee, even though it is just a few teaspoons of milk that is needed to make your coffee palatable! Milk contains lactase, which is considered to be unhealthy in many ways. You could replace the milk in your coffee with half a teaspoon of full-fat cream. Yes, full-fat cream is better than milk as it gives you good, healthy fat. Still, it is not the ideal option! So, we continued looking out for better options and after a lot of research, we came up with this awesome Coconut Milk with Coconut Oil Coffee Creamer that goes beautifully with black coffee! Anything to do with coconut is healthy, be it coconut water, coconut oil or coconut cream. Coconuts contain medium-chain triglycerides, which are easily digestible by the body and provide energy. So add 1 to 2 tsp of this Coconut Creamer to your coffee instead of milk. You can make a batch and store it in the fridge for 4-5 days. It thickens to a fresh cream consistency when refrigerated, but you can comfortably add it to hot coffee and it will liquefy and mix well. For healthy living, this creamer can be had as a beverage also. With a tinge of honey and vanilla, it has an exquisite taste. It’s a great option for athletes, lean and fit people. The good fat makes it a healthy snack to have between meals.

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