Coconut milk

santan / กะทิ kathi / nước cốt dừa

Flavor and role: A rich liquid pressed from grated coconut flesh, nutty and creamy. The thick layer at the top of the can is coconut cream.
Typical dishes and uses: Nasi lemak, green curry, laksa, tom kha gai, coconut desserts
Substitutes: 400ml coconut milk = 200ml coconut cream + 200ml water. If coconut flavour is not needed, ½ double cream + ½ milk.
Storage: Unopened 1–2 years at room temperature. Once opened, transfer to another container: 3–4 days in the fridge, 2 months frozen (stir if it separates after thawing).
Main countries: Thailand · Malaysia · Indonesia
Used in this book: Nasi Lemak Bai Sach Chrouk Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crispy Sizzling Crêpes)Bicol Express Bobó de Camarão Fish Amok (Amok Trey)Thai Green Curry with Chicken (Gaeng Keow Wan)Hoppers (Appa) and Egg Hoppers Kaya Toast Khao Soi Kiribath (Sri Lankan Milk Rice)Kuih Dadar Curry Laksa Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niao Mamuang)Massaman Curry Moqueca baiana Num Banh Chok Ohn No Khao Swe (Burmese Coconut Chicken Noodles)Panang Chicken Curry (Phanaeng Gai)Parippu Beef rendang Jamaican Rice and Peas Roti Jala with Chicken Curry Sayur Lodeh (Javanese Vegetables in Coconut Milk)Sri Lankan Chicken Curry (Kukul Mas Curry)Tom Kha Gai Thai Red Curry Coconut Albóndigas Green Curry Coconut Arroz con Pollo (Colombian × Thai)Goan Coconut-Curry Seafood Rice (Portuguese × Goan)Thai Coconut-Lemongrass Asopao Kenduri-Style Ayam Masak Merah, Double-Fried with Coconut Finish Charcoal Bai Sach Chrouk with Crispy Egg and Scallion Oil Coconut-Garlic Pork Quesadillas with Khmer Pickle Pico (Cambodian × Mexican)Coconut Grilled Pork Rice Burger Bakso Laksa (Indonesian × Malaysian)Kluay Ping Banana Boats with Salted Coconut Caramel (Thai × American)Crispy Mekong-Style Bánh Xèo with Mung Beans and Coconut Cream Kimchi Bánh Xèo with Pork Belly and Gochujang Dipping Sauce Crispy Bánh Xèo Shrimp Salad Bowl Basbousa Tres Leches with Toasted Coconut Cream Coconut-Water-Braised Crispy Pork Belly Bicol Express Bicol Express Coconut Rigatoni with Crispy Pork Belly and Parmesan (Filipino × Italian)Bicol Express Dynamite Chilli Rolls with Coconut-Lime Dip Beef Rendang Bitterballen with Sambal Mayo (Dutch × Indonesian)Bobó de Camarão with Shell Stock and Seared Shrimp Cassava Gnocchi with Bobó Shrimp Sauce (Brazilian × Italian)Bobó Shrimp Escondidinho Gratin Thai Red Curry Cazuela with Coconut, Pumpkin and Corn Brown-Butter Coconut Chin Chin with Orange Zest Coconut Lemongrass Clam Chowder Chilled Coconut Congee Pudding Cups with Mango and Lime Pandan-Coconut Crema Catalana (Spanish × Southeast Asian)Khao Soi-Style Coconut Curry Dak-kalguksu Thai Red Curry Coconut Dal with Lemongrass Tadka Peach Butter Mochi Cobbler Silky Amok with Toasted Kroeung and Coconut Cream Amok Moules Marinière with Baguette Baked Amok Fish Toasts with Lime Mayo Thai Red Curry Coconut Fiskesuppe Thai Red Curry Frikadeller (Danish × Thai)Gado-Gado with Pressed Rice Cakes and Shrimp-Paste Peanut Sauce Crispy Smashed Potato Gado-Gado Platter Charcoal Turmeric Gai Yang with Charred-Shallot Jaew Green Curry with Hand-Pounded Paste Green Curry Shrimp Spaghetti (Thai-Italian)Green Curry Fried Rice with Crispy Fried Egg Coconut Pandan Hobakjuk (Korean × Thai)Soaked-Rice Hoppers with Seeni Sambol Kimchi Cheese Egg Hoppers with Gochujang Mayo Coconut Hopper Sundae Bowls with Palm-Sugar Caramel Thai-Style Coconut Chicken and Squash Curry Hainanese Caramel Kaya Toast Kaya Butter Toast Crunch Parfait Chiang Mai Khao Soi with Hand-Made Paste Khao Soi Curry Udon Khao Soi Fried Rice Mango Coconut Kheer (Indian × Thai)Coconut Kik Alicha with Mustard Seed Tadka (Ethiopian × Indian)Pandan Kiribath with Seeni Sambol Mango Kiribath with Salted Coconut Cream (Sri Lankan × Thai)Crispy Kiribath Bites with Lunu Miris Mayo Chicken Kottu with Handmade Godamba Roti Kuih Dadar with Gula Melaka Coconut and Salted Coconut Cream Matcha Kuih Dadar with Red Bean and Gula Melaka Coconut (Malaysian × Japanese)Kuih Dadar French Toast with Gula Melaka Coconut Syrup Prawn-Head Stock Curry Laksa Prawn Laksa Spaghetti Laksa Butter Fried Rice Red Curry Coconut Lion's Head Meatballs (Chinese × Thai)Coconut-Pandan Malva Pudding with Palm Sugar Sauce (South African x Southeast Asian)Swahili Coast Yeasted Coconut Mandazi (Mahamri)Cardamom-Coconut Mandazi Waffles with Mango and Honey Yogurt Pandan Mango Sticky Rice with Crispy Mung Beans Mango Coconut Dessert Maki Crispy Coconut Sticky Rice Cakes with Mango-Lime Salsa Slow-Braised Beef Shin Massaman with Whole Spices Massaman Chicken Pot Pie Massaman Chicken Loaded Fries Thai Red Curry Coconut Lentil Soup Fish and prawn moqueca with pirão Thai red curry moqueca with lemongrass Shrimp moqueca rice bowl with dendê farofa Thai Red Curry Coconut Couscous Coconut-Lime Chocolate Mousse (French × Thai)Nasi Lemak with Spiced Fried Chicken (Ayam Goreng Berempah)Sambal Anchovy Coconut Onigiri Sambal Fried Chicken Nasi Lemak Burger Smoky Grilled-Fish Num Banh Chok Kroeung Fish Tacos with Coconut-Lime Crema (Cambodian × Mexican)Kroeung Fish Cakes with Coconut Curry Dip and Herb Wraps Ohn No Khao Swe with Toasted Chickpea Flour and Crispy Noodle Crown Ohn No Khao Swe Coconut Curry Tteokbokki (Burmese × Korean)Ohn No Khao Swe Wonton Nachos Tom Yum Seafood Paella Slow-Braised Beef Panang (Phanaeng Neua) with Toasted Spices Panang Beef Cottage Pie with Coconut Sweet Potato Mash (Thai × British)Panang Pork Smash Burger with Peanut-Lime Slaw Coconut Panna Cotta with Lime Mango Roasted Curry Powder Parippu with Crispy Shallots Parippu Coconut Lentil Ramen (Sri Lankan × Japanese)Parippu Cheese Rice Gratin Pandan Coconut Pastéis de Nata Mango Coconut Lime Pavlova Pandan-Coconut Poffertjes with Palm Sugar Syrup Coconut-Lime Pouding Chômeur with Toasted Coconut (Québécois × Caribbean)Tom Yum Shoyu Ramen with Prawns Padang-style dry rendang Rendang beef tacos Crispy rendang wings Sunday Rice and Peas from Dried Beans Jerk Chicken Rice-and-Peas Paella Rice-and-Peas Arancini with Jerk Mayo Coconut Risalamande with Mango-Lime Sauce (Danish × Thai)Overnight-Rested Roti Canai with Malaysian Chicken Curry (Kari Ayam)Roti Jala with Fresh Rempah Chicken Curry Bulgogi Roti Jala Wraps with Gochujang Mayo (Malaysian × Korean)Crispy Roti Jala Cups with Coconut Curry Chicken Salad Tom Kha Coconut Samgyetang Satay Chicken Rice Bowl with Crispy Shallots Sayur Lodeh Coconut Risotto with Crispy Tempeh (Indonesian × Italian)Sayur Lodeh Coconut Gratin with Tempeh Crumb Red Curry Coconut Sopa de Fideo with Shrimp (Thai × Mexican)Soto Ayam Ramen Sri Lankan Black Chicken Curry with Toasted Coconut Sri Lankan Coconut Chicken Curry Udon Sri Lankan Curry Chicken Cheese Toastie with Pol Sambol Tom Yum Sundubu Jjigae Black Sesame Tangyuan in Pandan Coconut Milk (Chinese × Thai)Coconut-Lemongrass Chicken Thukpa (Nepali × Thai)Tom Kha Gai with Quick Bone Stock and Charred Aromatics Tom Kha Coconut Miso Ramen Tom Kha Creamy Chicken Rice Bowl Ugali with Coconut Sukuma and Kachumbari Coconut Waakye with Jerk Chicken (Ghanaian x Jamaican)Thai Coconut Lemongrass White Chicken Chili

Updated 2026-10-10