Coconut Oven baked

Coconut freshly shaved into thin slices, sweeten with maple syrup and oven roasted until brown and crunchy. You can use to add some extra crunch as a topping for sweet breakfast bowls, parfaits and ice creams. It is also very acceptable to grab a handful and toss in your mouth.

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COCONUT

Working with whole coconuts could be quite tedious. First there is the thick husk which needs to be trimmed off to reveal the nut. The nut is then cracked open to reveal the thick edible white flesh of the coconut.

In Cameroon, we usually eat the fresh mature flesh of the coconut as a snack. Sometimes we grate the flesh, sweeten and then toast until crunchy. This is favorite childhood snack. In the markets, you will find bottles of this sweet crunchy delight we call ” coconut sweet”. A must try.

PREPPING THE COCONUT

To make this at home you’ll need some fresh whole coconuts. This is readily available in most grocery stores. You want a mature coconut. A good one should have some weight to it. Give it a good shake close to your ears to hear the water moving. There are “three eyes” on a coconut. Make sure when you push with your finger, they are hard and dry; not soft and moldy.

Opening the nut might seem quite daunting but it is doable and could be quite exciting. You can use a hammer to crack it open or take it to the back porch and have some fun. Ensure you get pieces small enough that you can use a knife to carefully lift the flesh from the shell.

Once out of the shell, rinse and use a mandoline to slice into thin pieces. You can also grate to make flakes.

OVEN ROASTING / TOASTING/BAKING

When baking these, low and slow I’ve come to realize is one’s best friend. Keep oven temps between 275 to 300 but no higher. Give it a quick stir about every 5-7 minutes, not only for even baking but peace of mind as they do burn easily.

Despite its complexity, the whole fresh coconut can be an enlightening ingredient to work with. From making your own coconut milk at home to elevating your oatmeal bowl with the fresh from the oven crunchy coconut bites. Try making your own nut milk and use it in this seafood curry

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