Caribbean: Venezuela: Venezuelan Cocada (Coconut Smoothie)

INGREDIENTS:

FRESH COCONUT MEAT:

You’ll need about two coconuts. Fresh coconuts are usually found in most groceries store. You can also find them in Asian or Latino grocery stores.

MILK:

I like to use whole milk. However, you can use any milk you have handy.

SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK:

I recommend using the full-fat version.

VANILLA EXTRACT:

For optimal flavor, reach for pure vanilla instead of imitation. Even better, try homemade vanilla extract!

Ice and cinnamon for serving

HOW TO CRACK OPEN A COCONUT:

The coconut has three “eyes” at the stem end, usually one of those eyes is soft and easy to pierce. So, identify the softer eye and use a screwdriver to pierce.

Invert the coconut over a glass or a bowl (shake if necessary) to get all the water out.

Hold the coconut with a kitchen towel; hit it with a hammer, in the same place several times, and it will start to crack, keep hitting in the same area until you can pry it open.

Separate coconut meat from the shell with a spoon and then chop the meat.

Place milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut meat, and vanilla, if using, in a blender. Blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.

Strain the mixture through a fine sieve. NOTE: I like to add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut left in a fine sieve to the strained mixture for extra texture, but this is totally optional

Place the mixture in the blender again, and add ice to your taste. Blend until ice is completely crushed.

Serve immediately. Sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with more sweetened condensed milk, if desired. Enjoy and transport yourself to the beautiful Venezuelan beaches.

TIPS FOR THE PERFECT VENEZUELAN COCADA:

FROZEN COCONUT MEAT:

This creates the perfect creamy consistency. If time allows, place the coconut meat in the freezer until frozen. 

LIQUID FIRST:

As with most smoothie recipes, pour the liquid (milk) into the blender first, then add the remaining ingredients. Not only is this gentler on your blender, but the cocada will blend more easily this way.

CONSISTENCY:

After blending all the ingredients together, check out the consistency. If it’s too thick, add in a bit more milk. Or blend in more coconut meat or ice to thicken it up.