40 Irresistible Coconut Milk Recipes (2024)

Coconut curry chicken has TONS of variations; from South India to Thailand, no two curries are exactly the same. Our Americanized version might be a bit untraditional, but trust us, it's delicious. Be sure to reach for full-fat coconut milk for an ultra-velvety sauce.

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Known as Tom Kha Ghai, this coconut soup is one we are always craving. The creamy coconut paired with ginger and lime gives this soup its unique and delicious flavor. This Thai soup is also traditionally topped with a chili oil to give it some heat—if you're not a spice fan, don't worry, the creamy coconut milk helps mellow it out.

Get the Thai Chicken Coconut Soup recipe.

The coconut milk and spice go so well together here, making a rich, but not heavy, sauce that really tastes and feels far more complicated than it is. The salmon simmers in the milk keeping it very tender and flaky and extra flavorful. Spoon the sauce over the salmon a few times as it cooks to give it a nice coating.

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Popular in many parts of the world, coconut rice uses a slightly different method than you would normally use to cook rice. Typically, you would bring the water to a boil first before adding the rice, but in this recipe, you bring the coconut milk, water, and rice all to a boil together. What results is a fantastic side that can be sweet or savory.

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We love our perfect pie crust so much and think that everyone should use it whenever they make pie. But if you're short on time (or just don't wanna), store-bought refrigerated dough works just fine for this pie too.

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We're using flavorful chicken thigh meat here, but you can substitute anything from breast meat, to pork or beef, or even tofu and vegetables, though cooking times will vary. And that peanut sauce? Absolutely essential to the eating experience. It's the ultimate wingman to satay, containing all the fragrant notes of lemongrass, coconut, fish sauce, and fresh lime zest.

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Coconut milk is truly magical. It turns ordinary rice into a creamy, flavorful, perfectly cooked rice. We're honestly never cooking our rice without it again.

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This coconut ice cream is no joke. Not only is it dairy-free but it's completely vegan, too. It's ultra-creamy with a sweet coconut flavor that only gets better topped with toasted coconut. We love it with the real vanilla bean, but you can easily use an additional teaspoon of vanilla extract if you don't have any.

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Chicken soup is amazing, but sometimes we are in the mood for something that has a bit more flavor than your run of the mill canned soup. This recipe packs a flavorful punch and then some! You get some spiciness from the curry powder, a rich creaminess from the coconut milk and if you top that of with a squeeze of lime, you have a chicken soup that will ambush your taste buds.

Get the Creamy Chicken Ramen Soup recipe.

We love a good frozen summer co*cktail, and this coconut number is no exception. We used cream of coconut here, but if you can't find it, refrigerate a can of coconut milk, and try to use as much of the thick white cream off the top as possible.

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Believe it or not, you CAN have a hearty, delicious meal on your table in less time than it takes to order delivery. Coating frozen, thin-sliced chicken breasts in a curry-ginger yogurt sauce ensures your chicken is loaded with flavor. Paired with garlicky curried rice, spinach, and bright and crunchy quick-pickled red onions, this easy weeknight dinner checks all our boxes.

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The best salads are loaded with roasted veggies and topped with a creamy dressing. This vegan coconut ranch dressing is absolutely irresistible (Seriously, you'll want to dip everything in it.). But the crunchy chickpeas may just be our favorite part. Who needs croutons?

Get the Coconut Ranch Kale Salad recipe.

This revamped lemon tart has a few major upgrades. 1) The buttery graham cracker crust is loaded with toasted shredded coconut. 2) Coconut milk makes the lemon curd filling extra creamy and flavorful. 3) Thanks to Meyer lemons, it is just the right balance between tart and sweet. (But if you prefer citrus desserts with a little more pucker, swap in regular lemons.)

Get the Lemon Coconut Tart recipe.

This is a wildly flavorful and easy homemade curry that'll have you ditch your take-out menu after one bite. Feel free to swap in lite coconut milk for full-fat here if you'd like.

Get the Coconut Shrimp Curry recipe.

Miso may sound intimidating at first, but trust us—you’re going to love how it elevates this bolognese sauce to new heights. The strong flavors of miso alongside coconut milk and sherry wine melt right into the fettuccine, creating something both new and exciting and familiar.

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Piña Coladas arethe perfect drink to have ready when your summer BBQ guests arrive. Fresh pineapple makes ours extra tropical, but don't forget the paper umbrella. It's half of the appeal!

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Thai Khao Soi is a delicious (traditionally yellow egg) noodle soup made with chicken. Chiang Mai is one of the cities that celebrates this dish from every corner; everyone there says they make the best khao soi. Their style was created when Chinese Muslims migrated to the north and introduced khao soi with coconut milk and spices.

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This creamy skillet salmon is rich without being too decadent. The combo of fresh ginger, lime juice, and basil brightens everything up. Trust us, you're going to LOVE the sauce.

Get the Creamy Coconut Lime Salmon recipe.

Meet our new favorite soup. It's rich with coconut milk and packed with chicken, bell peppers, and zoodles. It's a more festive take on the classic chicken noodle soup, and we might just love it more.

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This cake gets its amazing flavor from vanilla and almond extracts and, of course, shredded coconut. Also in the batter: 5 eggs and buttermilk. Both contribute to an extremely rich and tender crumb. Adding coconut milk to cream cheese frosting is a GAME CHANGER.

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