Coconut oil is the new craze in international cuisines. Their intense and warm aroma makes them perfect for both summer and winter and incorporating it in every dish.
Coconut oil sounds tropical to hear but is helpful to consume and apply the whole year-round.
Coconut oil is a healthy oil that you can use for cooking. It is both healthy and nutritious, and the best part, it is very organic.
What does coconut oil taste like? Coconut oil smells warm and has a rather bland taste but leaves its aroma upon cooking.
But, what makes them so special? Read on to find out.
What is Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil or coconut butter is the oil extracted from the coconut fruit. It can be both oil and butter because, at room temperatures above 25° C, it becomes liquid but, below the room temperature, it becomes solid like butter.
You can not only use and apply coconut oil for medicinal purposes but use it for cosmetic and skin care purposes.
You can get the coconut oil from the coconut milk and meat. Coconuts are fruits that you find in any tropical place.
It places a lot of importance on Indian, Vietnamese, and Hawaiian cultures. In fact, no Indian wedding is incomplete without coconuts, and coconut leaves.
What Does Coconut Oil Taste Like? Does Coconut Oil Taste Good?
Since you can find two types of coconut oil in the market, virgin, and non-virgin coconut oil, the taste also varies.
Non-virgin coconut oil does not taste like coconut and is also somewhat bland in flavor. On the other hand, Virgin coconut oil has a warm smell, and the taste resembles that of vanilla or cocoa.
When you use non-virgin coconut oil, it loses its flavor, while virgin coconut oil does not because of its intense flavor. It also has a tropical flavor to it, for which people choose to use pure coconut oil more.
According to Health Line, the benefits of coconut oil are
- It contains saturated fatty acids that give quick energy to your body.
- It is suitable for a healthy heart.
- It may help in the burning of body fat.
- It has antimicrobial effects, which soothes the skin when you apply on rashes and blisters.
- It reduces hunger cravings because of its fatty acids.
Aside from that, coconut oil is good for consumption to reduce cholesterol levels compared to other oils like soybean and mustard oil.
Applying coconut oil on dry skin relieves us of eczema and other itching problems. It is also good for the hair and skin for beauty.
According to the USDA, 100 grams of coconut oil contains
- 860 calories
- 82 grams of total saturated fatty acids
- 6 grams of total monounsaturated fatty acids
- 0.8 grams of Carbohydrate
- 0.005 grams of Iron
- 0.02 mg of Zinc
- 0.10 mg of Vitamin E
Coconut also contains small amounts of Vitamin K and Choline.
How to Cook/use Coconut Oil in Recipes
There are many ways to incorporate coconut oil in cooking recipes. In Indian cuisine, coconut oil plays such an important role that you can find a tub of coconut oil in every Indian kitchen.
They use coconut oil almost every day in their breakfast dishes, and they believe that it gives them the energy to keep them going for the whole day.
You can try out Indian dishes like tamarind rice in coconut oil, chutneys made with coconut oil, and Kerala Sambar with coconut oil which is a delicious South Indian curry.
You can try making this simple French Beans Poriyal which is a dry curry made with French Beans and coconut oil.
You can also try making this gluten-free Thai Coconut pancake called Kanom Krok.
Coconut cleanses are also on the rise. People are raving over how it is effectively detoxifying and cleansing their bodies.
Aside from consuming coconut oil for taste, you can also try a coconut oil detox for your body to lose weight and remove sugar from your body.
Coconut is very safe for consumption and applying on the skin. There are no known cases of allergies too.
But, do not consume coconut oil in large amounts as it may increase your cholesterol level.
Conclusion
Similar oils that are both popular and healthy to use are Almond oil, Avocado Oil, and Palm oil.
If you consume at least two spoons of coconut oil per day, you are good to go. But, it will be only healthy for you if you avoid other oily stuff from your daily diet.
What Does Coconut Oil Taste Like? Does Coconut Oil Taste Good?
Ingredients
- Coconut oil
- Ingredients from your favorite recipes
Instructions
- Depending on the recipes you choose, the taste can vastly differ.
- For authentic results, it is important to choose a recipe that will highlight the original flavor.
- Have fun experimenting with different recipes and taste tests!