Shredded Coconut

Chocolate and Orange Coconut Macaroons

Photo by recipe author

Servings: 20
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

2 cups dried coconut, shredded or flaked
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup wheat flour
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, whisk together coconut, sugar, flour, zest and salt. Stir in egg whites, butter and almond extract. Fold in chocolate chips.

On parchment lined baking sheets, place rounded tablespoon-sized balls of dough approximately 2″ apart. Gently roll the balls of dough for a more uniform shape.

Bake for 20 minutes or until they are firm to the touch and lightly browned on the bottom. Let cool before serving.

Recipe submitted by Dunne, Columbia, SC

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Gluten Free Coconut Almond Cookies

Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photo by Jeremiah Shilhavy

1 egg (optional)
1/2 cup coconut oil, soft
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup carob chips (optional)
1 3/4 cups almond meal
1/4 cup shredded dried coconut
1/3 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup organic whole sugar

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Combine egg (room temp), coconut oil, honey, almond extract and vanilla extract and mix well. Add carob chips if using. Then add dry ingredients and mix well with wooden spoon.

Roll into walnut sized balls and bake for 5 minutes on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Use a fork to flatten and bake for 10-18 more minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Recipe submitted by Sandy, Ogden, UT

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Traditional Coconut Buttermilk Gravy

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This is the traditional recipe from a southern state in India, Kerala, which is named after coconuts. The name of the state Kerala is derived from Kera which means coconuts in the native language Malayalam and is called Land of Coconuts. So, ideally any recipe from Kerala has coconut as one of the main ingredients.

This dish usually goes well with rice and is considered as one of the major unavoidable constituent of any South Indian Lunch. The main ingredients of this dish are buttermilk, coconut and spices.

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

2 cups dried coconut (either grated or powdered)
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1-5 teaspoons dried red chili – (depending on how spicy your tastebuds can afford)
4 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
4-5 curry leaves
1 red chili
Salt – as per taste

Grind coconut, cumin seeds, turmeric powder and red chilies very well in a mixer/grinder by adding little buttermilk to make a smooth paste. Once this mixture is very well ground, add the remaining buttermilk and blend it well. Now, the gravy is ready. Add salt as required.

Heat a cooking pan, add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Once the oil gets warmed, add mustard seeds, curry leaves and 1 red chili. Wait until the mustard seed splutters. Pour the gravy into the pan and let it warm for a few seconds (do not allow it to boil). Turn off the heat.

The coconut buttermilk gravy is ready to be served with steamed rice.

Recipe submitted by Aswathy, North Port, FL

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Lemon Coconut Meringues

Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photos by Jeremiah Shilhavy

Servings: 24 meringues
Preparation Time: 20 minutes

4 egg whites, at room temp
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 slightly rounded cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons lemon zest
Shredded dried coconut

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In large bowl with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.

Gradually sprinkle in sugar 2 tablespoons at a time at high speed. After all the sugar has been added you may beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest or gently fold in later. Beat until meringue stands in stiff, glossy peaks. Add vanilla and lemon zest now if you didn’t add it earlier.

Drop meringue by rounded spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets about 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with a bit of shredded coconut.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until dry to the touch. Remove to rack to cool.

Recipe courtesy Sarah Shilhavy

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Coconut Oil Protein Bars

Photo by recipe author

Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 5-10 minutes

1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup raisins (or date chunks, cranberries, craisins, dried cherries/mangoes/apricots/etc. Any dried fruit will work)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or carob, butterscotch, white chocolate chips, etc.)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup peanut putter (or any nut butter, i.e. almond, pecan, cashew, coconut peanut butter from Tropical Traditions, etc.)

The following ingredients are optional but I used them all:

2 to 4 scoops protein powder
2 tablespoons flax seeds
2 tablespoons Chia Seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mash the banana with a fork, then add all the remaining ingredients, stir till combined.

Press the mixture into a plastic container with a lid or 8×8 Pan (or use whatever you want, even a cookie sheet with a raised edge will work) and freeze for a few hours.

Remove from freezer and slice into bars. Wrap individually for on the go snacks.

Recipe submitted by Averie, Phoenix, AZ

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Healthy Simple Coconut Macaroons

Photo by recipe author

Servings: 12

6 egg whites (save the yokes to add to scrambled eggs)
Pinch salt
2/3 cup honey (run your honey under some hot water if it has crystallized, it needs to be liquid)
2 1/2 cups shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets with coconut oil.

Beat egg whites until almost stiff peaks form. Add salt. Slowly pour in honey while whipping the eggs.

Fold in the shredded coconut with a spatula until it’s thoroughly mixed. Be gentle, you don’t want to deflate the eggs.

Using a large cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheets spacing about 1 inch apart.

Time will vary depending on how big your cookies are. These took about 50 minutes. Allow to cool briefly on the cookie sheet. Remove with a thin spatula and cool completely. They will continue to harden and dry as they cool.

Recipe submitted by Cara, Billings, MT

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Chili-Coconut Crusted Shrimp

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Servings: 2-4
Preparation Time: 15

This Chile-Coconut Crusted Shrimp is a terrific appetizer or can be served with a bowl of rice and stir-fried vegetables as a main course.

24 large shrimp or prawns
About 1/4 cup dried Thai Chilies
1 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
1/2 cup flour
Salt to taste
1 egg
water
2-3 tablespoons coconut oil

Peel the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Rinse and pat dry.

Place chilies in a spice grinder and grind into a fine powder. In a shallow bowl, mix shredded coconut, flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons of the chili powder.

Heat oil in a large skillet. Whisk the egg in a bowl with a little bit of water. Dip each shrimp in the egg mixture and coat it lightly with the chili-coconut mixture.

Fry for about two minutes on one side and another minute on the other side, or until golden brown and crispy.

Recipe submitted by Natasha, Fairfax, VA

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Coconut Vanilla Granola

Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photo by Jeremiah Shilhavy

This granola has a long shelf life, although it’s usually eaten up very quickly. In addition to eating as cereal, try it sprinkled on top of vanilla ice cream or over yogurt.

Servings: 10 cups
Preparation time: 10 minutes

6 cups regular rolled oats
1 1/2 cups chopped nuts (I like a mix of almonds, walnuts and pecans)
1 1/2 cups shredded dried coconut
1 cup honey
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Combine oats, nuts and coconut in a large bowl. Set aside.

Combine honey, water and salt in a small saucepan. Heat, stirring frequently, to thin the honey. Remove from heat and stir in coconut oil and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and stir well.

Place granola into 2 greased 13x9x2-inch pans or 1-2 greased cookie sheets. Bake in a preheated oven for about one hour, until golden. Stir/turn over using a wide metal spatula about every 20 minutes. The granola will get crunchier as it cools. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe submitted by Susan, Madison, MS

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