Coconut milk is a delicious and versatile ingredient, and it’s vegan! But were you making a fantastic curry and ran out of coconut milk? What will you do if you need more time to grab a pack from the market?
Don’t worry; I got you covered. I will tell you about the 15 best coconut milk substitutes you can try.
Some of the best coconut milk substitutes are soy milk, almond milk, chase milk, oat milk, hemp milk, rice milk, spiced milk, and heavy cream.
Coconut milk has a rich, creamy texture and is best added to sauces, soups, or baked goods. You all must be wondering whether these substitutes have similar textures or not. To know this, keep reading the article.
Despite being delicious, coconut milk is only desired by some. You can use Greek yogurt and heavy cream if you love dairy products. Moreover, I have also mentioned all the vegan substitutes for those who are lactose-intolerant.
Let’s figure out the parade of replacements for coconut milk you can try.
15 Best Coconut Milk Substitutes
Here is a detailed list of coconut milk substitutes that you can try if you’re out of this ingredient.
1. Soy Milk
Soy milk is one of the best substitutes for coconut milk. This is an entirely plant-based substitute and consists of a lower quantity of fats as compared to coconut milk.
In addition, soy milk is an excellent alternative if you want something protein-rich. You can use it in beverages, pasta sauces, and baked goods.
Soy milk is quite thinner as compared to coconut milk. It is prepared with blanched soybeans that have been put together with water and then get strained. While using soy milk as a substitute for coconut milk, follow the 1:1 ratio.
When you purchase soy milk, make sure you choose an unsweetened one. Choosing a sweetened version will certainly alter the flavor of the recipe.
2. Almond milk
Well, another potential alternative to coconut milk is unsweetened almond milk. This is a completely vegan option and is derived directly from almonds. Almond milk has a faintly nutty flavor.
Thus it suits most dishes without making the addition of sugar and calories. The calorie content of this replacement is quite low. In addition to this, it is the best option for making smoothies and cereals. You can use it in a ratio of 1:1.
You can also use it for baking purposes, as it has neutral flavors. The fat content is quite low in almond milk, so you may not get a similar creaminess. But you can get a thick cream by adding one tablespoon of lemon juice to every cup of almond milk.
3. Cashew Milk
Another nut milk that is a perfect replacement for coconut milk is cashew milk. It has a rich and smooth consistency. This milk has a creamy texture and thus is perfect to be used in preparing sauces, soups, and smoothies.
It is much creamier than any other nut milk and has a similar consistency to cow’s milk. Cashew milk generally has low calories and protein. You can use it in a ratio of 1:1.
But on the other hand, it has more fat content as compared to other plant-based milk. You can use it easily for the preparation of smoothies and oatmeal.
4. Oat Milk
Oat milk is another substitute for coconut milk. It is the best option if you are looking for substitutes to prepare coffees or lattes. You can use it in a ratio of 1:1.
The quantity of fats is low. Thus you might not be able to get the perfect consistency. On the contrary, oatmeal’s quantity of protein and fiber is much higher.
5. Hemp Milk
Hemp milk is also used widely as a replacement for coconut milk. It is known for its nutty flavors and sweet taste. Hemp milk is derived from the seeds of the hemp plant.
This alternative is a rich source of fat and protein. Thus it is a good source for baking purposes. Combining this milk with acidic food, like lemon juice, acts as a leavening agent.
You can use hemp milk instead of coconut milk in a ratio of 1:1. Nevertheless, you may find its nutty taste more intense. This intense flavor can be used to add on the nutty flavors you can use in oatmeal or cereal.
6. Rice Milk
Mixing water with white or brown rice can easily prepare this alternative. The consistency of rice milk is quite thin compared to coconut milk.
Thus you can easily use it for preparing oatmeal, smoothies, and a few desserts. For those who do not have dairy products, rice water is a suitable option.
This is one of the least allergenic plant milk. Rice milk has a thin consistency. Thus, it is unsuitable for making sauces, soups, or other high-fat meals.
7. Spiced Milk
Another popular replacement for coconut milk is spiced milk. This is flavorful, has a creamy consistency, and is thus widely used in soups.
You can easily prepare spiced milk by just heating up the cow’s milk with spices. You can add cinnamon and nutmeg and just heat it up until it gets a thick consistency.
If you want a savory version of this, you can use curry powder as well as chili peppers. Do not forget to stir it properly while heating. Otherwise, it will burn.
8. Evaporated Milk
Evaporated milk is another excellent alternative to coconut milk. You can use it for preparing soups as well as creamy dishes. It can be used in a ratio of 1:1.
Evaporated milk is prepared by heating cow’s milk. This is done to remove more than half the quantity of the water content.
9. Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is also a popular replacement for coconut milk. You can just easily make it from the comfort of your kitchen. The substitution ratio for heavy cream and coconut milk is 1:1.
It can easily be prepared just by scraping the fat from the fresh milk. This cream is extremely loaded with fats; thus, it is suitable for making creamy soups, sauces, and even ice creams.
It is perfect if you are looking for a rich, creamy substitute. It enhances the creamy flavors and texture of the dish.
10. Greek Yogurt
This is something that won’t come to your mind at first when we talk about substitutes for coconut milk.
But it can be used as an alternative to coconut milk because of its thick consistency. You can use it in soups, smoothies, and pasta sauces. It can be used in a ratio of 1:1.
It also works extremely great with pastries as well as quick bread like muffins or banana bread. Also, Greek yogurt has a great nutritional profile and is rich in protein.
11. Silken Tofu
Silken tofu or soft tofu can be prepared by pressing condensed soy milk into blocks. Soft tofu is a great vegan option. You can use it to prepare soups, smoothies, sauces, and desserts.
You can create a smooth and creamy mixture by mixing it with the same amount of soy milk. It can be used in a ratio of 1:1. Moreover, it is also an excellent source of protein.
12. Sour Cream
Sour cream has up to 18% of fat. Thus, it can be used as a replacement for coconut milk. You can use it with baked potatoes and dips.
However, while adding this to any dish, make sure you taste it frequently, as it has a sour taste and is more acidic in nature. You need to be extra careful while adding this to any dish.
13. Whole Milk
Well, you can also use whole milk as a substitute for coconut milk. Using whole milk is an ideal option to be incorporated while baking goods. It can be used in a ratio of 1:1.
Milk does not include natural sweeteners. Thus it won’t affect the sweetness of other ingredients present in the recipe.
14. Sunflower Seed Cream
Sunflower seed serves the same purpose as cashews.
You can get the best creamy texture by just grinding the sunflower seeds in a grinder or food processor.
15. Coconut Water
If you want to add coconut flavors to your recipe, you can also use coconut water.
Although the consistency of the coconut water is much thinner as compared to the coconut milk.
Short Recap Of The Coconut Milk Substitutes
I know there are a whole lot of alternatives available for coconut milk. Let me help you to recall all of them with this short recap section.
Flavors: Coconut milk, soy milk, cashew milk, heavy cream, and Greek yogurt are the best substitutes in terms of flavors.
Texture: Silken tofu, heavy cream, Greek yogurt, and cashew milk are the substitutes with similar consistency.
Availability: Soy milk, almond milk, heavy cream, whole milk, spiced milk, rice milk, Greek yogurt, and oat milk are easily available substitutes for coconut milk.
How To Use Coconut Milk Substitutes In A Recipe
Best Coconut Milk Substitutes
Ingredients
- Soy Milk
- Almond Milk
- Cashew Milk
- Oat Milk
- Hemp Milk
- Rice Milk
- Spiced Milk
- Evaporated Milk
- Heavy Cream
- Greek Yogurt
- Silken Tofu
- Sour Cream
- Whole Milk
- Sunflower Seed Cream
- Coconut Water
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and figure out which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and move forward to make the dish according to the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can we use to replace coconut milk in a curry?
You can use Greek yogurt, heavy cream, and sour cream, which are the best options to replace coconut milk in a curry.
What are the easily available alternatives for coconut milk?
Soy milk, almond milk, heavy cream, whole milk, spiced milk, rice milk, Greek yogurt, and oat milk are easily available substitutes for coconut milk.
What can we substitute for coconut milk in soup?
Greek yogurt, heavy cream, and soy milk are the best options to replace coconut milk in soup.
Conclusion
This is all about finding the best substitutes for coconut milk. Some of them are easily available at your home, and you can easily swap them.
Some have a thin consistency, whereas others have a similar thickness. You can alter the consistency as per your requirements. Now, you know what to use whenever you run out of coconut milk. Thanks for reading.
