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Curry Chat => Lets Talk Curry => Topic started by: pforkes on November 26, 2009, 07:43 AM

Title: Sliced creamed coconut block?
Post by: pforkes on November 26, 2009, 07:43 AM

This evening I went to my local (13-miles away) Indian food store, here in Las Vegas.  This guy has EVERYTHING I have ever asked him for - in 5-and-a-half years of going there (I usually go there once a week).
Tonight I asked him for "sliced creamed coconut block" and he had NO idea what it was.
Does this go by any other name, or, does any other ethnicity use it (so I can look in other stores, for it).

Thanks,

Peter

Title: Re: Sliced creamed coconut block?
Post by: Chilli on November 26, 2009, 01:23 PM

Thats a new one on me. :-\

You can get blocks of creamed coconut or tinned which is just as good........but sliced.

Nah never heard of it sorry. ;)

Title: Re: Sliced creamed coconut block?
Post by: two-sheds on November 26, 2009, 01:38 PM

the creamed coconut blocks you can buy in UK supermarkets are 50% saturated fat which puts me off using largish quantities in a base or recipe.

Title: Re: Sliced creamed coconut block?
Post by: joshallen2k on November 27, 2009, 02:22 AM

I would have to assume its standard coconut block (creamed coconut), but just sliced into pieces that will melt quicker than a big lump.

So slice up some coconut block, and there you have it.

-- Josh

Title: Re: Sliced creamed coconut block?
Post by: pforkes on November 27, 2009, 02:34 AM

So what (exactly) is "coconut block"?  Does it have any other names?

Title: Re: Sliced creamed coconut block?
Post by: Cory Ander on November 27, 2009, 03:18 AM

Quote from: pforkes on November 27, 2009, 02:34 AM

So what (exactly) is "coconut block"?  Does it have any other names?

PF,

It is called "creamed coconut" which is not the same as "coconut cream".  It is sometimes called "coconut concentrate" 

It is a solid white block of dehydrated coconut meat (not the milk).  Its made from just coconut and is not sweetened.  It looks like a block of shortening or lard.

Here some photos of some common brands (generally sold in 200g blocks):

(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/4ae28271674710745e78d9d986cebd02.jpg)

(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/05c2165422361b4d487a5006ff0af813.jpg)

(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/a8aa8084e47721b9326d755f120a55e0.jpg)

I prefer to use coconut milk powder (i.e. coconut milk, extracted from the coconut meat, and spray dried into a fine white powder).

Hope this helps!

Title: Re: Sliced creamed coconut block?
Post by: pforkes on November 27, 2009, 03:57 AM

I have coconut milk powder.

The next time I go to the International Marketplace (which is a warehouse, here in Las Vegas, that has just about every ethnic food you will ever need) I'll have a look for the specific brands.  The have aisles for the likes of British, german, Indonesian, Hawaiian, Mediterranean, Malaysian, every Asian you can think off.

Title: Re: Sliced creamed coconut block?
Post by: CurryOnRegardless on November 27, 2009, 12:05 PM

Quote from: pforkes on November 27, 2009, 03:57 AM

I have coconut milk powder.

The next time I go to the International Marketplace (which is a warehouse, here in Las Vegas, that has just about every ethnic food you will ever need) I'll have a look for the specific brands.  The have aisles for the likes of British, german, Indonesian, Hawaiian, Mediterranean, Malaysian, every Asian you can think off.

Sounds good, and no doubt you could pop into a casino on the way home and win back what it all cost on the roulette wheel!!

Cheers
CoR