38 Coconut Recipes That Are Surprisingly Good For You

38 Coconut Recipes That Are Surprisingly Good For You

Read Time: 18 mins

38 Coconut Recipes That Are Surprisingly Good For You1/38 Coconut Lentils with Rice Test Kitchen Approved Coconut Lentils with Rice Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Years ago I made this recipe for my kids, and they loved it. One of my daughter’s friends would always request this dish when she came over to visit. I recommend basmati rice for this dish. —Diane Donato, Columbus, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 374 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 757mg sodium, 63g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 7g

fiber), 16g protein

fiber), 16g protein. 2/38 Coconut Curry Soup 21 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Coconut Curry Chicken Soup Recipe photo by Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Similar to a Vietnamese pho rice noodle soup, this red coconut curry chicken soup packs big flavor and a bit of heat. The crisp raw vegetables help cool things down. —Monnie Norasing, Mansfield, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 601 calories, 34g fat (26g saturated fat), 65mg cholesterol, 1722mg sodium, 50g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 4g fiber), 27g protein. 3/38 Pineapple-Coconut Smoothie 4

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grace Natoli Sheldon for Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 4 servings. Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Use fresh or frozen fruits in this coconutty recipe. It’s like a pina colada, but better for you and more versatile. —Gunjan Dudani, Bellevue, Washington Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups: 460 calories, 33g fat (33g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 69mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein. 4/38 Coconut-Ginger Chickpeas & Tomatoes 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

This is my go-to quick dish

This is my go-to quick dish. When you add tomatoes, you can also toss in some chopped green peppers (jalapenos, if you like heat) to make it even more colorful. —Mala Udayamurthy, San Jose, California Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup chickpea mixture with 3/4 cup rice: 402 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 590mg sodium, 65g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 10g fiber), 11g protein. 5/38 Breakfast Sweet Potatoes 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Breakfast Sweet Potatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Baked sweet potatoes aren’t

just for dinner anymore

just for dinner anymore. Top them with breakfast favorites to power up your morning. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 stuffed sweet potato: 321 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 36mg sodium, 70g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 8g fiber), 7g protein. 6/38 Thai Coconut Beef 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 8 hours 15 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband and I love Thai food, but going out on weeknights can be challenging with busy schedules. I wanted to create a Thai-inspired dinner that

could double as an easy lunch the following day

could double as an easy lunch the following day. The beef is fantastic in this dish, but chicken or pork would be equally delicious! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 cup (calculated without rice and toppings): 421 calories, 28g fat (14g saturated fat), 88mg cholesterol, 731mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 32g protein. 7/38 Orange Appeal 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Orange Appeal Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Oranges add color and great taste to winter meals! This dish looks very

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1 fruit

bright and appealing served in a glass bowl, and it’s a light and easy dessert to finish off a hearty holiday meal. As far as I’m concerned, the citrusy aroma of oranges is a must at Christmas time! —Billie Moss, Walnut Creek, California Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 210 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 18mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 6g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1 fruit. 8/38 Jamaican Salmon with Coconut Cream Sauce 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

This dazzler is easy and is my go-to meal for company

We try to eat salmon a lot because it’s so healthy, and I love thinking of new ways to make it different and delicious. This dazzler is easy and is my go-to meal for company. —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California Nutrition Facts: 1 fillet with 3 tablespoons sauce and 2 tablespoons coconut: 497 calories, 34g fat (12g saturated fat), 102mg cholesterol, 467mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 1g fiber), 30g protein. 9/38 Coconut-Crusted Turkey Strips 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Coconut-Crusted Turkey Strips Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the

Recipe Creator: My granddaughter shared these baked turkey strips with me

Recipe Creator: My granddaughter shared these baked turkey strips with me. With a plum dipping sauce, they’re just the thing for a light supper. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked turkey with 2 tablespoon sauce: 278 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 519mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 30g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat. 10/38 Butternut Coconut Curry 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Butternut Coconut Curry Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours 35 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

I love my slow cooker because it’s so easy to make dinner with one!

I love my slow cooker because it’s so easy to make dinner with one! This flavorful curry was first created for a potluck, and since then the recipe has been requested often.—Jess Apfe, Berkeley, California Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 200 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 312mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 5g fiber), 3g protein. 11/38 Spicy Coconut Shrimp with Quinoa 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Help yourself to a plate full—generous servings are still lower in calories and big

on protein

on protein. If you have company, you can add a salad and call it a day. —Keri Whitney, Castro Valley, California Nutrition Facts: 1 cup shrimp mixture with 3/4 cup quinoa: 330 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 138mg cholesterol, 451mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 5g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 12/38 First-Place Coconut Macaroons 138 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved First-Place Coconut Macaroons Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings about 1-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These coconut macaroon cookies earned me

a first-place ribbon at the county fair

a first-place ribbon at the county fair. They remain my husband’s favorites—whenever I make them to give away, he always asks me where his batch is! I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie: 54 calories, 2g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 41mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat. 13/38 Green Curry Salmon with Green Beans 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Green Curry Salmon with Green Beans Recipe

When we have an abundance of fresh salmon on hand, this is one way we cook it

photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Like a lot of people here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, my boyfriend, Michael, loves to fish. When we have an abundance of fresh salmon on hand, this is one way we cook it. —Amy Paul Maynard, Albany, Oregon Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 366 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 340mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 fat. 14/38 Star-Spangled Parfaits 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Star-Spangled Parfaits

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 fat, 1/2 starch

Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The best time for this dessert is midsummer, when the blueberries are thick in our northern woods. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten the patriotic colors. —Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts Nutrition Facts: 1 parfait (calculated without coconut): 172 calories, 7g fat (5g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 41mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 5g fiber), 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 fat, 1/2 starch. 15/38 Pineapple Shrimp Stir-Fry 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Pineapple

My family loved it!

Shrimp Stir-Fry Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I came up with this recipe for a luau-themed party and served it with sliced papaya, mango and avocado. My family loved it! If you don’t care for coconut, sprinkle it with chopped macadamia nuts instead. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho Nutrition Facts: 1 cup (calculated without rice): 301 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 139mg cholesterol, 568mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 3g fiber), 20g protein. 16/38 Chicken Curry Soup 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Curry Soup

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

Coconut Cream Cake 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved JACKIE ALPERS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 40 min Servings 15 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Have the urge to splurge?

Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.

Everyone who comes by asks, “What are you cooking?

Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.

⭐ Expert Tips

  • Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

  • Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

  • Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

  • These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

  • Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

  • Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

📣 Join Our Community

Want more inspiration like this? Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly dinner ideas and cooking tips!

Subscribe Now

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *