From oil pulling to using it as an alternative to diaper cream, coconut oil may be the current multitasking darling, but let's not underestimate coconutĀ water, which is clearly a force to be reckoned with, as well. Sure, the sweet drink initially seemed to be a passing trend, but health experts continue to sing its praises as a hydrating, electrolyte-packed alternative to popular sports beverages (it has five times the potassium thatās available in Powerade and Gatorade) and even regular H2O.
Now, chefs and celebs — like ZICO Coconut Water spokeswoman Jessica Alba, who recently co-hosted a cooking demo featuring the product — are jumping on the bandwagon, noting how the drink is actually a pretty versatile ingredient in cooking.
Here, 6 savory dinner and delicious dessert recipes in which coconut water plays a key role.
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Are there any other recipes you'd like to try that include coconut water?
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Flourless Chocolate Cake
Moisture is key for a flourless chocolate cake, so it's no surprise that coconut water (especially the chocolate kind, like ZICO Chocolate Premium Coconut Water) can be added to the straightforward, but outrageously decadent recipe.
To do: Pre-heat an oven to 375 degrees, and grease a 9-inch round cake pan. Melt 1 lb. bittersweet chocolate, 1/2 cup coconut water, and 4 oz. unsalted butter over a double boiler or in the microwave, and let cool. In another bowl, combine 6 eggs yolks and 3/4 cup of sugar, whisking until it's "ribbon-like." Add chocolate to the egg mix with a rubber spatula. Whip egg whites until they peak. Then fold into the chocolate mix. Pour the batter into a cake pan and bake for 40 minutes or until top of cake loses its shine and cracks appear.
Pina Colada BBQ Sauce
Combining 1 cup of coconut water to 2 cups of pineapple juice is the key to making a tropically-seasoned BBQ sauce that works well on pork ribs or chicken.
Coconut Water Vinaigrette for a Summer Salad
Buying ready-to-go dressings can be easy, but it can be even more satisfying to make your own — and coconut water is a yummy addition to a quick vinaigrette. Just combine 1/4 cup with 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper for enough to dress greens (think kale mixed with summer fruits!) for up to 6.
Rice Pudding
Adding summer berries to yogurt is a no-brainer, but if you want to mix it up, try rice pudding, which gets a sweet seasonal kick if you sub in 1 cup of coconut water instead of plain water. (Make it even more coconutty by using coconut milk instead of whole milk!)
Savory Meat Marinade
Throwing kabobs of chicken on the grill can be a really easy dinner solution. Making 'em even more delectable, though, is a juicy marinade. One to try: 3/4 cup coconut water (like ZICO Natural Premium Coconut Water) added to 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1-2 garlic gloves (peeled), and 1 teaspoon salt. Blend and let 4 chicken breasts marinate in the mixture for 12 hours in the fridge.
Coconut Water Popsicles
Homemade ice cream treats can be as fun to make as they are to eat. All you need are popsicle molds, seasonal fruit (try melon or berries), 1/2 cup of coconut water, and 2 tablespoons of agave or whatever sweetener you prefer (maybe stevia as a natural, no-cal option). Combine in a blender until smooth, put into ice pop molds, and freeze. Boom!
