leche de coco

the belizean staple dish consists of rice and beans, chicken, fried plantain and coleslaw. it’s the standard menu item at any restaurant or market stall and tends to appear frequently our own lunch table. everyone has their own variation, of course, and i happen to think that seidy’s is the best. maybe it’s because she often leaves out the heaping tablespoons of mayonnaise for a simpler salad of cucumbers and tomatoes squeezed with fresh lime juice, salt and pepper. perhaps it’s her concern for our arteries apparent in the absence of fried plantain substituted by a flavorful boiled plantain. or is it the rice cooked in coconut milk…coconut milk she has just made that morning?
i’d never really given much thought to the process of making coconut millk, but it’s really pretty incredible. never having been much of a coconut fan back home (the sweetened dessert coconut is not my favorite), i am really coming to appreciate the coconut for its rich, nutty flavor.
with an abundance of trees, coconuts are easy to come by round these parts. there is usually a small pile of coconuts lying around the yard at any given time. once the outer shell has been removed to reveal the fibrous brown shell we are used to seeing, the milk making process may begin. a few good whacks with the machete will crack that bad boy open, and the liquid inside can become a refreshing drink or simply drained. the next step involves a serrated blade turned by a handle. the blade is secured onto a table top and one half of the coconut is pressed against the blade while the handle turns; thus removing the meat by shaving it off of the shell. once the entire coconut has been shaved, it’s time to move into the kitchen.

water is added to the coconut shavings, and squeezed thoroughly.

the shavings are squeezed and removed from the liquid. the liquid is poured through a strainer into a pot or container. the shavings can then be combined with water and squeezed once more to produce a bit more liquid. and…voila! you’ve got coconut milk. it’s amazing how delicious it makes rice taste. give it a try!