The journalist and cookbook author Von Diaz cooked her way through the classic Puerto Rican cookbook, Cocina Criolla, about six years ago, eventually using the experience as a jumping off point for her own cookbook, "Coconuts and Collards." Her recipe for tembleque, the delicious coconut-milk pudding set with cornstarch and chilled in the fridge, is simple, but it does involve one laborious task: making coconut milk from scratch. As Diaz notes in her book, the effort is greatly rewarded - fresh coconut milk is infinitely more complex, floral and delicious than the kind that comes in a can. Mature coconuts, the ones ideal for making coconut milk, should be brown, hairy and very heavy. If you shake them around, you should be able to hear the water inside. (That said, you can absolutely use canned if you like; just cut the sugar back to a half cup.)
Provided by Tejal Rao
Categories custards and puddings, dessert
Time 2h30m
Yield Serves 10
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- To make fresh coconut milk, extract the coconut water and coconut meat from the coconut: Hammer a screwdriver into the coconut's three eyes, and pour the coconut water through a fine-mesh strainer into a blender. Wrap the coconut in a towel to balance it, and crack it open with a hammer or the dull side of cleaver. Remove the tough outer shell, then use a vegetable peeler to remove any remaining brown skin on the coconut meat. Rinse the meat thoroughly, then roughly chop it. Add 2 cups coconut meat and 3 1/2 cups hot water to the blender, and process. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing at coconut solids with the back of a spoon. Wrap the solids in a piece of cheesecloth, and squeeze firmly with your hands to get every last bit of liquid out. (Reserve coconut solids for another use.)
- In a saucepan, combine the cornstarch, sugar and salt, and mix together with a whisk. Lightly whisk the coconut milk if it has separated, then whisk 4 cups coconut milk into the cornstarch mixture. Add the orange-blossom water.
- Put the saucepan over medium-high heat, and whisk until the mixture starts to thicken. Lower the heat to medium-low, and continue stirring until a few bubbles start to appear and break on the surface and the mixture is just barely boiling. Remove from heat and immediately pour into 10 dry ramekins, using a scant half cup for each portion.
- Allow it to cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until completely cold. Use a small palette knife to release the edges, and tip the tembleque out onto serving dishes (or, alternately, serve directly out of ramekins). Garnish with a dusting of cinnamon.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 718, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 47 grams, Fat 61 grams, Fiber 16 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 54 grams, Sodium 131 milligrams, Sugar 25 grams
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love
tracey marriott
[email protected]I love this tembleque recipe! It's the perfect dessert to make when I'm craving something sweet and coconutty.
Muhammad Taj
[email protected]This tembleque recipe is a winner! It's easy to make, delicious, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Francisca Jimenez
[email protected]I've been making this tembleque recipe for years, and it never disappoints. It's the perfect dessert to serve at a special occasion.
Mosa M. Moetsela
[email protected]This tembleque recipe is a must-try for any coconut lover. It's the perfect balance of sweet and savory, and it's always a hit at parties.
Ibrahim Ousseini
[email protected]I love how easy this tembleque recipe is to make. I can always count on it to turn out perfect, even when I'm short on time.
rina samudra
[email protected]This tembleque recipe is a game-changer! It's so creamy and delicious, and it's the perfect dessert for any occasion.
Mariam Nuhu Ssewagudde
[email protected]I'm a huge fan of tembleque, and this recipe is one of the best I've tried. It's so easy to make and the results are always amazing.
GURUNG PRASAD
[email protected]This tembleque recipe is a lifesaver! I'm always looking for easy and delicious desserts to make, and this one fits the bill perfectly.
Majeed Bhai
[email protected]I made this tembleque for a potluck and it was a huge success. Everyone loved it! The texture was perfect and the flavor was amazing.
Duverger Ritchina
[email protected]This recipe is the real deal. My tembleque came out just like my abuela used to make it. It's the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
Khalid bhutta
[email protected]This tembleque recipe is a keeper! It's so easy to make and it always turns out perfect. I love serving it to guests because it's always a hit.
Amanda Bhebhe
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of coconut, but I thought I'd give this recipe a try. I'm so glad I did! The tembleque was surprisingly delicious. It's light and fluffy, with a delicate coconut flavor.
Badon Khan
[email protected]I love tembleque, and this recipe is one of the best I've tried. It's easy to make and the results are amazing. The coconut flavor is so rich and creamy.
Arman Andy Sahadeo
[email protected]The tembleque was delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfectly. I will definitely be making this again.
Ahmad Shojib
[email protected]This tembleque recipe is a winner! It's creamy, rich, and has a wonderful coconut flavor. I made it for a party and it was a huge hit. Everyone loved it!