Fantastically delicious vanilla milkshake

[ambiguous]

So I've been buying young coconuts and making a smoothie from the water and meat for a while now. I've occasionally incorporated other ingredients (usually raw "superfoods"--as though all raw foods aren't super) as well, with varying levels of success. But last night, when I had a smoothie from a coconut that was nice and rich but not too sweet, I thought, "I'm going to make this a little colder and sweeter."

OK, so I actually said it out loud.

I poured my smoothie back in the VitaMix, added 5 or 6 ice cubes, a healthy dollop of raw agave nectar (maybe 2-3 tablespoons), and a nice splash (1/2 tsp?) of vanilla extract (I know, not raw, I'm sorry). Then I let my Vitamix have its way with the mixture. Then I poured it into a glass. Then I tasted it.

It was, by far, the most delicious vanilla milkshake I have ever had. Possibly the best vanilla milkshake that has ever existed.

Really.

OK, since coconuts can vary widely in taste and consistency, and since I rarely if ever measure anything, this may not be a totally foolproof recipe. But I encourage everyone to try to make this. I love chocolate, but I would not recommend adding cocoa (or carob) to this, at least not until you've tried the vanilla. A couple of times. Like six. I don't think I'll ever be able to drink "just a coconut" again.

Also, if you have alternate recipes for a vanilla milkshake, I think it would be fun for you to post them here. I generally like frozen bananas in my frosty beverages, so if you don't have coconut, maybe that would work. And of course, variations on the type of vanilla (like beans for you purists) are welcome. And I don't think a Vitamix is necessary, any blender will do. Unless someone tries to make this with a mature coconut . . .

[karenisraw]

ambiguous,

I get a coconut shake from my raw vegan restaraunt called a Coconut Supreme. It is as follows:

coconut
coconut juice
cinnamon
dates
pecans
ginger

It is soooooooo good.

k
:p

[ambiguous]

Thanks for the recipe, karenisraw. I'll try that once I get some more coconuts. After I make the vanilla shake again.

I realized I forgot to mention one important detail: you should make this right now.

[Maria]

I have a question about coconuts. They sell young coconuts at my health food store. How do you open them, and how do you get the meat out? (Maybe a dumb question, but I'm a newbie at this.)
Thanks.

Maria

[karenisraw]

Here is how you do it. Take a HUGE knife, the biggest you can find. Set the coconut on the counter. Take the knife and whack it REAALLY hard to the right of the point on the top of the coconut. Rotate the coconut to the right 90 degrees and keep whacking so that you have whacked 4 whack marks, one on each side of the coconut. They should have intersected each other so it looks like you made a tic tac toe on top of your coconut. You should also have whacked hard enough so that you hear kind of a hissss like when you open a coffee can. Take the knife point or a large tablespoon and pry up the "center" of the tic tack toe. Pour out the coconut juice and you can now reach into the coconut with a tablespoon and scrape out the meat.

k
:cool:

[Rawmney]

karenisraw, I believe you left out a critical instruction... when you are whacking the coconut, make sure the hand not holding the knife is held behind your back. ;) As the victing of too many self-inflicted "senseless kitchen injuries" I found that to be good advice. Seeing Alissa do the coconut on her video demystified the whole thing a lot too.

Best,
Rawmney

[weirdestpersonalive]

I think I'll have to try that coconut shake too! It sounds so good! I LOVE coconut! Can't wait to try it. Iwll have to get most of the ingrediance first though.
Thanks for the recipe!
Laura

[Maria]

Thank you Karenisraw. It sounds dangerous to whack with large knives, but a good way to release some frustration! ;)

I'm gonna have to try a young coconut now. Never was too fond of the hairy brown ones, but this type is clearly different.

[JinxieKat]

OOoo you don't have to wack the coconut with a big knife. Trust me, I never do. I use the smallest sturdiest knife in my kitchen on the baby ones. Works like a charm.

Take a bigger knife and clean off the white stuff off of the pointed top of the coconut. It will just shave off easily until you get to the brown nut underneeth. Take your small, but sturdy knife, carefully insert the point into the nut and begin rocking back and forth while applying even pressure. Once the knife as sunk into the coconut start to move the knife foward while leaning the handle towards the coconut slightly. The knife will cut in a circular direction and the cocunut shell will give away creating a round hole in the top of the coconut. Drain the water, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh.. Coconut opened without risk of life or limb if you are uncordinated like me. One side note though, if your small but sturdy knife, I use the pareing knife from my knife set, has a long slender tip be very careful that you don't break the tip while trying to poke through the nut. I did the first time, but now it makes a great coconut knife *lol* I also have a cheep knife set, so it doesn't surprise me.

Jinx

[denro]

Okay, here ya' go from San Diego...at the Couleur Cafe in Lemon Grove they have been making this for me and others, although they cut off making them recently because of the time and work to prepare:

VITA MIX:

Coconut Water and Coconut Meat
One Avocado
Vanilla
Agave
Cinnamon (I Believe)

Blend to thick consistency

Add layers of sliced Banana, interspersed with Sprouted Buckwheat or some other crunchy mix...layer the banana and Buckwheat in from the bottom of the glass to the top, with the bananas.

Eat with a spoon...

Yummy, trust me!

Enjoy!

[kellymarie]

this helped me alot!!

http://greenzones.org/greenchefs/deliciouslyraw/mint-pudding/

kelly

[greeninlosangeles]

I just use a little saw to open coconuts. So my kitchen looks a little dangerous.

[firefaery]

Sad because I just threw out my young coconut. I couldn't figure out how to hack into it. Where has this thread been all my life? I'm making this tonight-though needing to buy a new coconut. This time, though, I'll have a clue! YUM!

[Matilda]

This is how I learned to open the coconut. Do not know if it is easier for anyone or not.

I turn to the underside of the coconut. There you will find kind of a soft sweet spot. I take a butter knife and poke it in there. Make a hole. Turn the coconut over to drain out the water.
After the water is out, I take the coconut and slam it on the floor a couple of times until it splits open. Than I scoop out my meat. :)

[firefaery]

I gotta say, I'm liking the butter knife approach. Got my coconut, and I think I'm going to try to add a frozen banana in lieu of the ice cubes...I'll let you know how it goes! How much meat can I expect to get out of this thing? I don't really want to throw away anymore....

[firefaery]

Oh, and now I've got to mop my floor :p

[Matilda]

firefaery:

I've gotten as little as 1/4 cup of meat to over 1c of meat.
And the meat that you get will vary as well. From slimy to hard. I think there are variables from time of year to the age of the coconut. Not sure. Still new with the whole thing.

Oh...I've taken my coconuts outside to do the slammin'. ;)

[firefaery]

Outside? You mean the OBVIOUS place? :rolleyes: Can I blame this on being pregnant and having a 2 and 3 year old that keep me awake like I live in a turkish prison? Probably not...Oh well. My floor is sparkly now.

[Matilda]

Oh, it's not neccessarily obvious. I tried doing it in my kitchen once when I didn't feel like going out to the cold winter. It scared the crap out of my two kids. I don't know if it was the noise that scared them...or they were worried mommy was going a little crazy. :p

[fuzzywater]

Matilda,

Thank you! I've been avoiding buying young coconuts because I didn't want to have to deal with opening them (plus, they're expensive), but NOW..... yay! A new way to open a coconut that has nothing to do with a cleaver! I might actually have to try getting one and see what all the excitement is about!

Woot!

[firefaery]

WOW! I used all the water (2 cups) and all the meat (1/2 cup), honey, cinnamon, vanilla and 2 frozen bananas. My kids are begging for more! I also put raw almond butter in theirs for more fat-it was really good that way too. Thanks for the idea! BTW-what nutrients are in the water of the coconut? I know about oil-but have never read about the water... :confused: