You can use dehydrated coconut as a substitute for fresh coconut in the preparation of your baked goods, such as cakes or biscuits, as well as in savory savory dishes, such as coconut shrimp. The advantage of dehydrated coconut is that it can be stored longer than fresh coconut, turning it into a convenient ingredient to always keep on hand. You can choose to buy ready-made dehydrated coconut or continue reading this guide and learn how to prepare it yourself.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: In the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 175 ° C
Step 2. Pierce the coconut to empty it
Pour the coconut water into a cup. Make sure the liquid leaking from the fruit is clear, a colored or cloudy liquid indicates a spoiled coconut. You can choose to drink coconut water or throw it away.
Step 3. Place the whole coconut directly on the hot oven rack
Cook it for 20 minutes.
Step 4. Remove the coconut from the oven and wrap it in a cloth, creating a pouch
Grab the bag at the ends to stabilize the fruit on the cutting board and hit it several times with a hammer to break it.
Step 5. Lift and remove the pulp from the shell with the help of a knife
Remove the thin layer of brown skin from the coconut pulp using a vegetable peeler.
Step 6. Reduce the oven temperature to 120 ° C
Step 7. Chop the coconut pulp in a food processor and spread it evenly on a baking sheet
Dehydrate the coconut in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 8. Let the coconut cool and then transfer it to an airtight container
Store the container in a cool and dry place.
Method 2 of 2: In the Dryer
Step 1. Break the coconut with a hammer
Step 2. Extract the pulp from the coconut
Step 3. Use a cheese grater to chop the coconut pulp
Choose the rough part of the grater.
Step 4. If you want to slightly sweeten the dehydrated coconut, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar, depending on the amount of pulp
Step 5. Dehydrate the grated coconut in the desiccator for about 8 hours at 57 ° C
Step 6. Transfer the dehydrated coconut to a sealable container or food bag
Advice
- If you want to sweeten your coconut, dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in 240ml of water. Soak the coconut in the sugar water for 30 minutes. Drain the coconut and bake it in the oven for 15 to 25 minutes.
- If you can't find a whole coconut, buy fresh coconut flakes and sprinkle it on the baking sheet. Cook it at 120 ° C for 10 - 15 minutes to dehydrate it.
- To use dehydrated coconut as a replacement for fresh coconut, soak it in water to rehydrate it.