Silly question - what is coconut and how do you use it?

melissakw · 09-20-2011, 02:29 PM

I already looked it up on Wikipedia, told me it was a member of the palm family.

OK, that's nice, but when I EAT some of it, does it count as fruit, vegetable, nut, what?

Also, what are your favorite uses/recipes for coconut?

Thanks

Sissiesue · 09-20-2011, 02:34 PM

I just think of it as a low-carb, high-fat treat staple -- which fits in perfectly with my WOE right now. (I use them pretty liberally -- like I do avocados).

I mainly ingest it in two forms: coconut oil and coconut butter. Coconut butter is de-lish. It's like peanut butter, but made of coconut! You can make it by pulsing unsweetened coconut flakes in your blender (you have to be patient -- pulse, pulse, scrape, scrape -- unless you have a Vitamix).

I also use coconut milk quite a bit for things like homemade curry.

I think that the white part is technically a fruit.

Vanessa120 · 09-20-2011, 05:36 PM

According to a Thai Food Expert's website.....Though its name suggests that it is a nut, I've always regarded coconut as a fruit. When the coconut is young, it has properties like fruit, and as it matures, it becomes more nutty. But in fact it is not a nut or a fruit; it is a seed.

Sissiesue · 09-20-2011, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanessa120

According to a Thai Food Expert's website.....Though its name suggests that it is a nut, I've always regarded coconut as a fruit. When the coconut is young, it has properties like fruit, and as it matures, it becomes more nutty. But in fact it is not a nut or a fruit; it is a seed.

Mmmmm. Then it's the TASTIEST seed on the planet!!

Yummy!!

RubyJ · 09-21-2011, 05:01 PM

Google Tropical Traditions.
They have good explanations of coconut products and processing methods.
They also have a ton of recipes.

09-20-2011, 02:29 PM	#1
melissakw Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 721 Gallery: melissakw Stats: 178/156/134 5'5" WOE: Atkins OWL <25 Start Date: July 17, 2011	Silly question - what is coconut and how do you use it? I already looked it up on Wikipedia, told me it was a member of the palm family. OK, that's nice, but when I EAT some of it, does it count as fruit, vegetable, nut, what? Also, what are your favorite uses/recipes for coconut? Thanks

09-20-2011, 02:34 PM	#2
Sissiesue Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Left coast Posts: 629 Gallery: Sissiesue Stats: 173/129/129 Start Date: September 27, 2010	I just think of it as a low-carb, high-fat treat staple -- which fits in perfectly with my WOE right now. (I use them pretty liberally -- like I do avocados). I mainly ingest it in two forms: coconut oil and coconut butter. Coconut butter is de-lish. It's like peanut butter, but made of coconut! You can make it by pulsing unsweetened coconut flakes in your blender (you have to be patient -- pulse, pulse, scrape, scrape -- unless you have a Vitamix). I also use coconut milk quite a bit for things like homemade curry. I think that the white part is technically a fruit. Last edited by Sissiesue; 09-20-2011 at 02:35 PM.. Reason: clarification

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09-20-2011, 05:36 PM	#3
Vanessa120 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,846 Gallery: Vanessa120 Stats: 189/130 size 2-4 5'4" WOE: Low Carb Real Food Start Date: Low Carb Since 2001	According to a Thai Food Expert's website.....Though its name suggests that it is a nut, I've always regarded coconut as a fruit. When the coconut is young, it has properties like fruit, and as it matures, it becomes more nutty. But in fact it is not a nut or a fruit; it is a seed.

09-21-2011, 05:01 PM	#5
RubyJ Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,072 Gallery: RubyJ WOE: Protein Power	Google Tropical Traditions. They have good explanations of coconut products and processing methods. They also have a ton of recipes.