If you are looking to thicken coconut milk, there are a few different ways to do it.
The first thing you need to do, though, is to think about what the result will be like and then determine which thickener is best for your needs.
For example, if the milk needs to be thick enough to make the curry sauce, cornstarch would work well, whereas if you want some nice coconut cream on top of your coffee or tea with no other additions mixed in, honey might work better.
Thickening Coconut Milk with Cornstarch
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk without changing the flavor, cornstarch is going to be one of your best options.
Cornstarch is a widespread thickening agent used in many cooking applications, especially when it comes to sauces or broths that need to be thicker but still have no other flavors added besides the original base flavor of the liquid is thickened.
In order for your coconut milk to thicken with cornstarch, you are going to want to make sure that there isn’t too much liquid as this will prevent any starch from binding correctly and causing lumps instead of a smooth sauce or broth consistency.
If you don’t mind some small clumps here and there, though, then feel free not to worry about adding extra liquid into the mix first before mixing in your cornstarch slurry.
To thicken up your coconut milk with cornstarch, start by mixing together equal parts cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl or cup.
Once you have a nice slurry, slowly add it into the boiling coconut milk while constantly stirring until it thickens to your desired consistency.
If any lumps form, you can use an immersion blender to smooth them out.
Once your coconut milk has thickened, you can add it back into the rest of the pot or container you were initially used to store your milk and stir everything together before putting it away for storage or use.
One thing to note is that if any lumps remain even after blending with an immersion blender, they will likely dissolve when heated.
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Honey as a Thickener for Coconut Milk
Another way to thicken coconut milk without changing the flavor is by honey.
Honey has natural thickening properties and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes without altering the final product’s flavor too much.
To use honey as a thickener, you will want to use the same amount of honey as you would cornstarch.
Start by mixing equal parts honey and cold water in a small bowl or cup until they form into a slurry.
Slowly add this into your boiling coconut milk while constantly stirring until it reaches your desired thickness level.
You can also use an immersion blender to smooth out any lumps that may form.
Once the honey has been thoroughly mixed in and your coconut milk has thickened, you can add it back into the rest of the pot or container you initially used to store your milk in and stir everything together before putting it away for storage or use.
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Xanthan Gum as a Thickener for Coconut Milk
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk without changing the flavor and want something that will be more potent than cornstarch or honey, xanthan gum is a great option to consider.
Xanthan gum is a food additive made from the fermentation of glucose or sucrose. It is used as a thickener and stabilizer in many different types of foods, including coconut milk.
In order to use xanthan gum as a thickener for your coconut milk, start by mixing together .25% of the total weight of the liquid you are trying to thicken with xanthan gum in a small bowl or cup.
So if you have one cup of coconut milk, you will want to mix .25 grams of xanthan gum into your slurry.
Once you have mixed together with the xanthan gum and water (or any other liquid you may be using), slowly add it into your boiling coconut milk while constantly stirring until it thickens to your desired consistency.
If there are any lumps that form, you can use an immersion blender or a fine mesh strainer to smooth them out.
Once the xanthan gum has been fully mixed in and your coconut milk has thickened, you can add it back into the rest of the pot or container that you were originally used to store your milk in and stir everything together before putting it away for storage or use.
One thing to note is that if there are any lumps remaining even after blending with an immersion blender, they will likely dissolve when heated.
When working with xantham gum as a thickener for coconut milk, keep in mind that a little goes a long way.
Using too much can result in coconut milk that is overly thick and gooey. Start with small amounts and add more as needed until you reach the desired consistency.
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Adding Potatoes After Reducing Coconut Milk
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk without changing the flavor, adding potatoes is a great option.
Potatoes have natural thickeners in them and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes without altering the flavor of the final product too much.
In order to use potatoes as a thickener for your coconut milk, you will want to start by peeling and cubing two or three small potatoes.
Add these potatoes into a saucepan along with your coconut milk and bring everything to a boil. Once it has come to a boil, reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are soft.
Once the potatoes are soft, use an immersion blender or regular blender to smooth out any lumps that may have formed.
If you are using a regular blender, make sure to do this in batches so that the machine doesn’t overheat.
Once the potatoes have been fully blended, and the coconut milk has thickened, add it back into the rest of the pot or container that you were originally using to store your milk in and stir everything together before putting it away for storage or use.
One thing to note is that if there are any lumps remaining even after blending with an immersion blender, they will likely dissolve when heated.
When adding potatoes as a thickener for coconut milk, keep in mind that they will add a little bit of starchiness to the final product.
If you are looking for a completely smooth and creamy texture, this may not be the best option for you.
However, if you are okay with a slight texture difference, then potatoes are a great way to thicken your coconut milk without altering the flavor.
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Adding Gelatin After Reducing Coconut Milk
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk without changing the flavor, adding gelatin is a great option.
Gelatin has natural thickening properties and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes without altering the flavor of the final product too much.
In order to use gelatin as a thickener for your coconut milk, you will want to start by mixing together one tablespoon of cold water with two tablespoons of gelatin powder.
Once it has been mixed together, let it sit for five minutes so that the gelatin can bloom.
Once it has bloomed, add it into a saucepan along with your coconut milk and bring everything to a boil.
Once it has come to a boil, reduce the heat to low and let simmer for five minutes before stirring in one teaspoon of vanilla extract or any other flavoring that you would like.
Once all of the ingredients have been combined together, add it back into the rest of the pot or container that you were originally using to store your milk in and stir everything together before putting it away for storage or use.
One thing to note is that if there are any lumps remaining even after blending with an immersion blender, they will likely dissolve when heated.
When working with gelatin as thickeners for coconut milk, keep in mind that this method typically only works well in recipes that are served cold or at room temperature.
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk for use in warmer dishes, this may not be the best option for you.
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Adding Arrowroot After Reducing Coconut Milk
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk without changing the flavor, adding arrowroot is a great option.
Arrowroot has natural thickening properties and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes without altering the flavor of the final product too much.
In order to use arrowroot as a thickener for your coconut milk, you will want to start by mixing together one tablespoon of arrowroot powder with two tablespoons of cold water.
Once it has been mixed together, let the arrowroot absorb into the water for five minutes before adding everything to a saucepan along with your coconut milk and bringing everything to a boil.
Once it has come to a boil, reduce the heat to low and let simmer for three-five minutes until thickened, or add two tablespoons of arrowroot starch to a blender with one cup of hot coconut milk and blend until smooth.
Once it is smooth, add it back into the rest of the pot or container that you were originally used to store your milk in and stir everything together before putting it away for storage or use.
Arrowroot can also be mixed with coconut oil to create a DIY version of store-bought canned coconut milk.
When adding arrowroot as thickeners for coconut milk, keep in mind that this method typically only works well in recipes that are served cold or at room temperature.
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk for use in warmer dishes, this may not be the best option for you.
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Adding Tapioca After Reducing Coconut Milk
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk without changing the flavor, adding tapioca is a great option.
Tapioca has natural thickening properties and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes without altering the flavor of the final product too much.
In order to use tapioca as a thickener for your coconut milk, you will want to start by mixing together one tablespoon of tapioca pearls with two tablespoons of cold water.
Once it has been mixed together, let the tapioca absorb into the water for five minutes before adding everything to a saucepan along with your coconut milk and bringing everything to a boil.
Once it has come to a boil, reduce the heat to low and let simmer for three-five minutes until thickened, or add two tablespoons of tapioca starch to a blender with one cup of hot coconut milk and blend until smooth.
Once it is smooth, add it back into the rest of the pot or container that you were originally used to store your milk in and stir everything together before putting it away for storage or use.
Tapioca can also be mixed with coconut oil to create a DIY version of store-bought canned coconut milk.
When adding tapioca as thickeners for coconut milk, keep in mind that this method typically only works well in recipes that are served cold or at room temperature.
If you are looking for a way to thicken your coconut milk for use in warmer dishes, this may not be the best option for you.
Thickening the Milk with No Regard to Flavor
If you are not concerned about keeping the coconut flavor in your milk or preserving it, there is still a way to thicken up the coconut milk that won’t affect its taste.
One of these ways includes using tapioca starch and will be great for cooking applications where adding another food flavoring might just mess with flavors too much.
Tapioca starch is a thickener that comes from the cassava plant. This starch is great for a wide variety of recipes, as it doesn’t have much flavor on its own and can easily be worked into most dishes without any change to taste.
To thicken your coconut milk with tapioca starch, you are going to want to mix together an equal amount of starch with some cold water in either a bowl or a measuring cup.
Once combined, slowly add this mixture back into your boiling coconut milk while stirring continuously until the desired thickness has been reached.
Preserving the Coconut Flavor
While some people may want to thicken coconut milk for the purpose of changing up the way it tastes, others might not want their final product to have any coconut flavor at all.
If this is the case, there are a few things you can do to help preserve the coconut taste.
One way to do this is by using cornstarch as a thickener. Cornstarch has a very subtle sweetness and flavor that will not compete with coconut milk while it is cooking.
In order to use cornstarch as a thickener for your coconut milk, start by mixing together .25% of the total weight of the liquid you are trying to thicken with cornstarch in a small bowl or cup.
So if you have one cup of coconut milk, you will want to mix .25 grams of cornstarch into your slurry.
Once you have mixed together with the cornstarch and water (or any other liquid you may be using), slowly add it into your boiling coconut milk while constantly stirring until it thickens to your desired consistency.
If there are any lumps that form, you can use an immersion blender or a fine mesh strainer to smooth them out.
Once the cornstarch has been fully mixed in and your coconut milk has thickened, you can add it back into the rest of the pot or container that you were originally used to store your milk in and stir everything together before putting it away for storage or use.
One thing to note is that if there are any lumps remaining even after blending with an immersion blender, they will likely dissolve when heated.
Conclusion
So, what’s the best way to thicken coconut milk? With a little experimentation and research, you should be able to find an answer that is right for your needs.
Keep in mind that some methods may not work with certain recipes or ingredients. As long as you take time to think about how you want the end result of the recipe, it will help guide your decision on which thickening agent to use.
We hope these blog posts have given you some inspiration for options when trying to figure out how thickened your next batch of coconut milk should be!