Topic: Chicken Tikka Masala - The Authentic Real Deal.

[JerryM]

Panpot,

thought i would take pic which should be pleasing given teachings of ashoka chef - "East End" brand.

to be honest the brand is not the key factor - it's the grain size. it's easy to get the wrong stuff ie desiccated is NOT what you want. the flour is not like bread flour but you need the fine stuff. the heera brand is my other fav.

when using it you need to add more water to the base (unless it's already thin) to make sure the coconut flour cooks out otherwise it will be a tad bitty. i add typ 100ml water to 300ml base.

[Cory Ander]

desiccated is NOT what you want. the flour is not like bread flour but you need the fine stuff. the heera brand is my other fav

Isn't the "flour" just finely milled desiccated coconut Jerry?  If not, what is it please?

[Razor]

Hi CA,

Isn't the "flour" just finely milled desiccated coconut Jerry?  If not, what is it please?

It may well be desiccated but when it is milled this fine, it is not branded as dessicated, but as flour.

We're not going to go over this one again are we? ;D

Ray

[Cory Ander]

It may well be desiccated but when it is milled this fine, it is not branded as dessicated, but as flour.

We're not going to go over this one again are we? ;D

Ray

Ray, until I'm satisfied that I know precisely what it is, I will continue to ask the question (for reasons I've previously stated) 

Is that OK? 

[Razor]

CA,

Ray, until I'm satisfied that I know precisely what it is, I will continue to ask the question (for reasons I've previously stated) 

Is that OK? 

Yes it is OK but it has been discussed to death, and despite your own research and other members explanations, you still feel the need to question it.

Desiccated coconut and coconut flour are branded very different, at least they are here in the UK.

You may well believe that they are one of the same thing, and that may be the case but if a member stipulates coconut flour in a recipe, then that is what we should be looking for on the packets, not desiccated coconut, not coconut milk powder and not coconut cream.

The science behind it is irrelevant, UNLESS, you are looking for an alternative because you can't get hold of coconut flour.

In the UK, coconut flour is sold in massive sacks, making it more probable to be an ingredient more likely to be used in the restaurant trade, where as desiccated and coconut milk powder are sold in relatively smaller pack sizes, more conducive to the home cook.

Here are two descriptions, one for each desiccated and coconut flour;

Desiccated coconut

Desiccated coconut is coconut meat which has been shredded or flaked and then dried to remove as much moisture as possible. There are a number of different styles of desiccated coconut used around the world, and availability of this coconut product varies, depending on the region where one is shopping. If desiccated coconut is not available, regular dried coconut can be used as a replacement, although dried content tends to have a higher moisture content, despite the ?dried? in the name.

Coconut Flour

Coconut flour is actually made from the leftovers of coconut milk! In some of the test studies using coconut flour I was amused to see it called coconut ?residue?. But it is a by-product of coconut milk manufacturing that has been ground into flour. It?s also not really a ?whole food?. Whole wheat flour is a whole food, coconut flour is a by-product, or the leftovers of coconut milk production. That doesn?t make it bad, just something to think about.
Now I'm confident that you will still believe that they are both one of the same thing but, if the above two descriptions are accurate (bearing in mind, the info has come off the net) then one is made from the coconut meat, and the other is a by-product from the processing of the milk.

Does that satisfy your understanding of the two products?

Ray

[Cory Ander]

Yes it is OK but it has been discussed to death, and despite your own research and other members explanations, you still feel the need to question it

Obviously, that is because I am still not clear about what it is Ray.  It may well have been "discussed to death" but not to a satisfactory (clear) conclusion, to my mind.

The science behind it is irrelevant, UNLESS, you are looking for an alternative because you can't get hold of coconut flour

I'm not after any science behind it Ray.  I simply want to know what it is!

....UNLESS, you are looking for an alternative because you can't get hold of coconut flour

Precisely!

Now I'm confident that you will still believe that they are both one of the same thing but, if the above two descriptions are accurate (bearing in mind, the info has come off the net) then one is made from the coconut meat, and the other is a by-product from the processing of the milk

Well I think you should rather be confused (at least I still am!) since "coconut milk" is the liquid extracted from the flesh/meat.  Therefore, you are saying (or believing) that "coconut flour" is one and the same thing as "coconut milk" (from these definitions!)...which helps me (cos I can't get "coconut flour") not one iota!

Does that satisfy your understanding of the two products?

Nup, I shall have to continue asking the question it seems......

....or, until someone (who has "coconut milk", "desscicated coconut" and "coconut flour") can sample them and let us know which it most resembles...or they know WITH AUTHORITY what "coconut flour" actually is.

[Peripatetic Phil]

I can't get "coconut flour" not one iota!

Where do you live, CA ?  Google lists several UK sources such as

Shopping results for "coconut flour"
   
Tiana Organic Coconut Flour 500g

[Cory Ander]

Quote from Tiana:

"There are several products called coconut flour on the market.....some types of coconut flour states in its description as a fine grade desiccated coconut and used mainly as a thickener for making sauces and curry sauces. Another one is Coconut Flour Fibre that is recognisable by a fibre content in excess of 50% but is not suitable for baking which reflects its low price..."

Quote from Tropical Traditions:

"Tropical Traditions organic coconut flour is fiber from the coconut meat after most of the oil has been extracted to make Virgin Coconut Oil"

Quote from Organics Australia Online:

"Coconut flour is made from ground coconut meat"

So I'm still none the wiser.....that seems to suggest to me that it's more likely to be finely milled dessicated coconut.....

[Razor]

CA,

Well I think you should rather be confused (at least I still am!) since "coconut milk" is the liquid extracted from the flesh/meat.  Therefore, you are saying (or believing) that "coconut flour" is one and the same thing as "coconut milk" (from these definitions!)...which helps me (cos I can't get "coconut flour") not one iota!

No, I'm not confused at all.  I take this to mean that, the flour is a by-product of the processing of the milk.  To my mind, once the milk has been extracted from the flesh/meat, it will then go through a processing procedure.  During this procedure, a residue builds up.  Once the residue is dry, what you end up with, is coconut flour!

It seems that you are suggesting that the flesh/meat left behind after extraction of the milk, is infact the by-product?  I don't see it that way but if I'm wrong then so be it.

Ray

[Cory Ander]

No, I'm not confused at all

Then please read above Ray....