Simple Recipes With Coconut Oil

It was around the sixties and seventies when some researchers tried to prove that saturated fats were dangerous and terrible and should be avoided as much as possible. This has caused some people to turn away from coconut oil , but now, using coconut oil is gaining popularity once again as a cooking oil. Let’s explore some of the reasons why this shift has taken place.

Why Coconut Oil Is So Special:  Recent research has shown that not all saturated fats are bad for your health; coconut oil isone of them. Some saturated fats can raise your blood cholesterol level, but even if they do, that cholesterol isn’t always necessarily the “bad” cholesterol.

Let me explain this in more detail. There are two types of cholesterol, namely high density lipoproteins (good cholesterol) and low density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol). While bad cholesterol (LDL) is deposited on the inner walls of your arteries and poses a threat to your heart (in extreme cases it can result in heart attacks), good cholesterol (HDL) does just the opposite. It helps to lower bad cholesterol levels, provides energy and nutrition to cells, as well as benefiting the body in a number of other ways as well.

You will be delighted to know that coconut oil has some saturated fatty acids like capric acid and lauric acid which raises the level of high density lipoproteins in the body, reduces bad cholesterol, boosts immunity and fights aging. They also increase the rate of metabolism and help you lose weight. Isn’t it amazing? Oil that really helps you lose weight!

It is important to remember that our bodies react differently to different food items. For some people, the cholesterol level may increase after consuming coconut oil . So if you are planning to start using coconut oil in order to lose weight, check your cholesterol levels regularly.

Apart from the health aspects, there is another important impact of coconut oil . There is good news here too! The sweet yet refreshing scent of coconut oil and its fabulous flavor makes it an ideal cooking medium. You can use it for shallow or deep frying and enjoy the fabulous aroma. In southern India and other coastal regions, coconut oil is used to cook both vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes.

Edible Coconut Oil: Coconut  oil is used in many industries; hair care and skin care are just some of them. It is very important to remember that edible coconut oil is different from oil used for skin and hair, so it must be carefully purchased. Edible coconut oils are available in different types, namely refined and unrefined. You can choose any of them for your day to day cooking.

Easy Storage and Long Shelf Life: Coconut oil that is solid at room temperature can be stored safely and easily for a long time. This is due to the lack of polyunsaturated fats in coconut oil which helps create a much slower rate of rancidity. Rancidity results in a bad taste and makes the oil unsuitable for use. This process is faster if the food item contains unsaturated oils.

Cost Effective:  Finally, the financial aspect! Edibleregular grade coconut oil (it is usually refined, bleached and deodorized) is not very expensive, at least when compared to olive oil. Also, since it is very dense and stable, cooking with coconut oil requires less oil, which saves you even more money.

What is Coconut Butter? Coconut butter is a paste similar to butter, only made from coconut meat. When you grind whole dried coconuts , without the outer shell, with a little water or coconut water , you can get coconut butter. It is very similar to peanut butter in appearance. Coconut butteris not just another name for coconut oil . It is actually very different from coconut oil . Coconut oil is theoil extracted by pressing coconuts , which does not contain the flesh of the coconut. The coconut butter will have both the meat and oil in the same mixture since the oil has not been removed from thecoco.

Typically, coconut butter is for edible purposes. Very few people use it for topical use. Coconut butter is used as a spread in various types of bread or it can also be used in many popular recipes. Coconut butter is delicious, so those who don’t like the taste of coconut oil but still want to enjoy its benefits should consume coconut butter when possible.

Making coconut butter at home is very easy. Take a whole, dry coconut. Destroy it and place in a food processor. You can also buy shredded coconut in the market. Then add some water or coconut water , but some people also use milk. After 10-20 minutes, depending on your blender speed, you will have a smooth coconut butter paste .

This coconut butter won’t be as soft as regular butter and will have some granularity, but considering the amazing taste and health benefits of this type of butter, the slightly gritty quality probably won’t bother you too much. Then check out,  3 Simple Recipes With Coconut Oil .

Some Coconut Oil Recipes:  There are some simple recipes that can be prepared using coconut oil . You can also add coconut oil in the preparation of sweets and desserts.

Egg Omelet: 

Ingredients: 2 beaten eggs , 1 chopped onion , 1 chopped tomato , salt to taste, pepper to taste and coconut oil for cooking.
Take the beaten eggs into a bowl and add the onion , tomato and other spices. Mix well. Heat a pan and add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil . Once hot, add the egg mixture and cook on both sides. Serve hot with toasted bread, salad and ketchup.

Fried fish:

Ingredients: 2 medium-sized fish cut and cleaned of your choice, salt and pepper to taste, juice of 2 teaspoons of lemon , turmeric powder to taste and coconut oil for frying.

Place the cut fish in a bowl and add salt, pepper, lemon juice and turmeric powder. Keep the marinade set aside for 20 minutes. Later, fry the fish in coconut oil . One can also coat the fish in egg whites/semolina for a crunchy flavor before frying. Serve hot as a snack or a side dish. Note: You can add ginger , garlic paste, and red chili powder to the marinade for a spicier flavor.

Indian Vegetable Curry:

Ingredients: 250 g chopped potato, beans, peas, cauliflower, 2 chopped onions , 2 chopped tomatoes, cumin seeds, grated coconut – 2 tbsp, salt and pepper to taste and coconut oil for cooking.

Heat a pan, add the oil, cumin seeds and onion and fry until golden. Add the tomato and let it cook until it softens. Add the vegetables and spices. Add some water to the pan. You can make dry or semi-dry sauce. Cover and cook until vegetables are cooked through. Decorate with grated coconut .

Coconut oil has a strong aroma and flavor that you may not be familiar with, so some users may not appreciate the taste and flavor of foods cooked in coconut oil.