Coconut milk is not the juice found inside a coconut, but the diluted cream pressed out from the thick, white flesh of a well-matured coconut. To make coconut milk, finely grated coconut meat is steeped in hot water until it is cool enough to handle. It is then squeezed until dry; the white fluid is strained to remove all the pulp. After sitting for a while the coconut cream rises to the top. Commercially, coconut cream is obtained by pressing grated coconut flesh by itself without water, using specialized, heavy machinery. Coconut Milk is ideal for puddings, desserts, rice, cakes, exotic dishes such as curries and beverages like the popular Piña Colada drink.
