Tag Archives: Coconut

Asian Coconut Pudding (椰汁糕)

August 29, 2016 8:56 am , 2 Comments ,
Asian Coconut Pudding

I remember my mom used to make this for us while growing up in Hong Kong. The summer weather was super hot and humid and having this as a snack or dessert was so nice and refreshing. I was going to call this “Chinese” Coconut Pudding but I am sure the Chinese adopted this Memorable Dish from other southeast Asian countries. Also, it’s not really like a pudding but more like a jelly-like cake.

My mom gave me the recipe she had from her notebook and said it wasn’t the greatest but I tried it anyway. It turned out to be a big disaster. I was suspicious of the recipe when I looked at it. It used a huge amount of cornstarch that I knew was going to yield a pasty pudding. So the first one I made went straight to the garbage 😛 .

I found different recipes online that use gelatin powder but this wasn’t what my mother used. She used agar-agar instead. Agar-agar is sold dry but when reconstituted, it becomes jelly-like. Lots of Asian desserts use agar-agar to create a jelly-like effect. This recipe combines my mother’s recipe along with my own experimenting. It tastes great and has the agar-agar texture that I expected. Next time I’m going to experiment with gelatin powder and see what that would be like. This Memorable Dish has become more like a science experiment than cooking 😉 .Asian Coconut Pudding

Asian Coconut Pudding (椰汁糕)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

16 Squares

Ingredients

  • 1/2 oz agar-agar
  • 1 cup Water
  • 2 cups Coconut Milk
  • ½ cup Sugar
  • 1 Egg White

Preparation

  1. In a medium pot, heat 1 cup of water and agar-agar using low to medium heat. (Make sure the water is never boiled but at a low simmer.)
  2. Whisk agar-agar in the water until it’s dissolved. Add sugar and mix.
  3. In a small bowl, beat egg white gently. Pour egg white in the coconut milk. Then pour this mixture into the pot and simmer gently until everything is mixed. (About a minute or two.)
  4. Pour coconut milk mixture in a 8x8 glass pan (to be cut into squares) or into different molds to set.
  5. Put it into the fridge to chill and set.
  6. Cut into squares.

Notes

Note #1: I divided my 1.5 oz agar-agar into thirds to get my 1/2 oz by cutting it with kitchen shears.

Note #2: If you want to make the texture extra smooth, strain the mixture before putting it in the pan or molds.

https://www.memorabledishes.com/asian-coconut-pudding/

Agar-Agar & Coconut Milk

Agar-Agar & Coconut Milk

Posted in: Dessert, Snack , Tagged: ,

Coconut Cupcakes

December 13, 2015 5:21 pm , Leave a Comment ,
Coconut Cupcakes

I absolutely adore these coconut cupcakes. After watching them on Ina Garten’s show, Barefoot Contessa, I HAD to make them. I’ve made them for my own parties and I’ve made them to bring over to my friends. Everyone absolutely loves these cupcakes! When I first saw them on Ina’s show, I couldn’t find the recipe online so I purchased her cookbook. But I’ve since found her recipe on the Food Network’s site. I love that the recipe makes so many cupcakes that you can always save a few for yourself. 😉

When I eat this Memorable Treat, I picture myself sitting at a Paris café, having a café au lait (I know the French drink this for breakfast but it’s my fantasy so I’m having it with my afternoon cupcake 🙂 .) and devouring this giant coconut cupcake in large bites. Then reality hits and one or all of my kids are nearby and I have to share my cupcake with them. The giant cupcake that I was supposed to have for myself diminishes into mere crumbs after each child takes a bite. They must have radar to sense that I’m eating something sweet and decadent.

These cupcakes are actually a great holiday treat! The creamy icing with shredded coconut reminds me of snow-capped houses. After baking them, I can’t wait for them to cool off. So I usually end up eating one without the icing. Yum!Coconut Cupcakes

Coconut Cupcakes

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes

18-20 Large Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 5 extra-large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 14 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut
  • For cream cheese frosting:
  • 1 pound cream cheese at room temperature
  • 3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • 1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
  3. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.
  4. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.
  5. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  6. In 3 parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces of coconut.
  7. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each liner to the top with batter.
  8. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.
  9. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts.
  10. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.
  11. Frost with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

Notes

Note #1: I used unsweetened coconut because I find that everything else is sweet enough.

Note #2: You can divide the batter to make 24 regular size cupcakes.

Note #3: I also used less icing sugar than the recipe called for. So add enough to your taste.

Recipe courtesy of The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, 1999 All Rights Reserved Read more at: Foodnetwork.com

https://www.memorabledishes.com/coconut-cupcakes/

Posted in: Dessert, Snack , Tagged: ,
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