Did you know that the coconut’s name comes from the Spanish word ‘coco’ which means ‘head’ or ‘skull’? That’s because coconuts have three indentations in them that make them look like faces. Neat! Another thing I learned today: coconuts are not nuts at all, but a type of fruit known as a drupe. Coconuts are part of the palm family, and grow well in tropical climates, which is likely why you’ve seen them featured in a lot of tropical recipes (mmmm piña coladas!).

Aside from these fascinating factoids, coconuts have a lot going for them, especially when you consider their plethora of uses from beauty products to dessert ingredients. There’s the multi-purpose, natural miracle product everyone’s obsessed with: coconut oil. We also have coconut milk, which boost the creamy factor of a variety of dishes both savory and sweet. Then there’s the actual ‘meat’ of the coconut. Some people like to eat it straight up as a treat on its own, and coconut shreds often make their way into cookies, such as macaroons (not to be confused with macarons, and other baked treats. Some people use it to create amazing things you’ve never even heard of like ‘smoconut’ which is crispy, smoky and highly addictive just like bacon. Is there anything the almighty coconut can’t do?!

How to Cook with Coconut

Unless you’re handy with a machete and want to demonstrate your coconut cracking skills, it’s easiest to purchase your coconut in one of many of its prepared forms. Depending on the recipe you use, you might be after some coconut chunks, shreds, milk or oil. Be sure to use a light hand when cooking with coconut because it’s pretty high in calories and fat, but it does pack some nutritional value in the form of dietary fiber and iron.

Here are some coconut dishes to try:

• Toasted Coconut Tilapia with Pomegranate Salsa
• Roasted Butternut Coconut Soup
• Curried Coconut Quinoa and Greens with Roasted Cauliflower
• Baked Coconut Shrimp
• Luvo’s new Vegetable Coconut Curry Pilaf
• Coconut Macaroons
• Fig, Coconut & Blackberry Ice Cream
• Watermelon, Coconut and Strawberry (Vegan) Ice Cream

How do you like your coconut? Share in the comments or over on Twitter at @luvoinc.