Instantly Give Chicken A Rich Upgrade With One Canned Ingredient

Chicken is one of America's most popular proteins, and it's in no small part because of how versatile it can be. From hot wings to cold chicken salads, fried, roasted, or grilled, the different ways of preparing chicken are seemingly endless. But for a rich, creamy chicken dish that can be made with a pantry-stable ingredient, have you considered going nuts? Coconuts, that is — by adding canned coconut milk or coconut cream. Canned coconut and chicken can be used to make creamy, sweet-and-spicy curried dishes, many of which can be cooked in a single pan.

If you've never cooked with canned coconut, the difference between coconut cream and milk is similar to that of cow's milk and cream. Coconut cream is essentially just concentrated coconut milk, with less water in it, leading to a denser, richer texture and higher fat content. Coconut milk is a common ingredient in soups and curries, like a delicously simple 6-ingredient panang curry. Coconut cream is used in both sweet and savory dishes, including chicken recipes where it creates a thicker, richer sauce.

You may wonder why coconut chicken recipes often call for canned rather than fresh coconut. The main difference is less about flavor and more about ease of preparation and avoiding food waste. Fresh coconuts are, literally, tough nuts to crack, and contain large amounts of "meat" — the textured part of the coconut you'll find shredded and sweetened in candy bars, and that gives Almond Joy ice cream its unique texture — as well as milk. Fresh coconut meat only lasts for a few days unless frozen, meaning it needs to be used or stored quickly.

Using canned coconut milk or cream saves you the trouble of cracking open a coconut or concentrating milk into cream, and it eliminates the issue of spoilage from unused meat. Moreover, unopened canned coconut milk and cream have long shelf lives, so you can keep them in your pantry for whenever the craving for coconut chicken strikes.

Chicken isn't the only thing that can get a flavor jolt from canned coconut milk or coconut cream. If you're looking for more savory dishes, shrimp famously pairs well with coconut and can also be delicious in a coconut-infused curry or a Thai-inspired coconut shrimp soup. Red meat fans might consider an Indian-inspired lamb curry flavored with coconut milk.

Vegetarians and vegans can also share in the fun, with coconut milk curries packed with vegetables from tofu to sweet potatoes for a filling and flavorful dinner served over rice. Remember, coconut milk itself is a natural source of fats, meaning adding canned milk or cream is a great way to make plant-based dishes richer and more satisfying without the use of animal products. Moreover, there's no need to stick strictly to savory dishes. Coconut milk and cream can both make for decadent desserts, like Thai-inspired sticky rice pudding, or a retro diner-style coconut cream pie.