Dairy Free Coconut Milk Kefir

Kefir
Kefir (pronounced kef-EER) is an ancient cultured, enzyme rich beverage made from animal milks that contains the friendly probiotic bacteria found in yogurt as well as beneficial yeasts that help to improve the health on intestinal flora. Think of it as drinkable yogurt. It has a tangier taste than yogurt and a thinner consistency. You can drink it plain, season it with spices, or used to make salad dressings, uncooked soups, or fruit smoothies.

Non dairy cultures
There’s something about the tangy taste and creamy texture of yogurt, sour cream, and other cultured milk products that people often miss when they go dairy free. Until recently your only options were various soy-milk based yogurt- and kefir-like products that missed the mark. They tasted beany, they had a lumpy or goopy texture, or they required so much sugar to disguise their leguminous nature that they tasted funny. Then there was the digestive distress that many people experienced when they ate soy-based products. Then the concerns about the adverse effects of liberal consumption of soy in non-traditional preparations and how this might affect thyroid health.

Enter coconut milk
Coconut has been making headlines over the last few years. Coconut products contains monolaurin, a fatty acid found in human mother’s milk, which has proven antiviral, antibacterial, and fungal properties that support natural immunity. It has a creamy taste and texture that’s similar to cream (with half the fat and calories) or milk (when diluted). It tastes on the flavor of what you mix it with, making it ideal for both sweet and savory recipes.

Turtle Mountain, makers of Purely Decadent Non Dairy Frozen Dessert made with coconut milk (a great product and a huge improvement over soy-based ice cream alternatives) have been coming out with a steady stream of other coconut milk products, from a drinkable less calorie dense milk alternative to a line of coconut milk yogurt and kefir in a rainbow of flavors.

Vanila Coconut Milk "Ice Cream" >>>

Coconut milk kefir
So Delicious Coconut Milk Kefir comes in original (plain), vanilla, and strawberry. They range in sugar content from 3 grams of sugar per cup for plain to 11 grams of sugar per cup for strawberry, and 12 grams for vanilla. For more on the nutritional composition, click here for original, strawberry, or vanilla.

What’s in in for you?
It’s formulated with 10 active & live cultures
It’s soy free & dairy free
It’s a good source of calcium and magnesium
It’s rich in medium chain fatty acids

What I liked
I tried all three flavors and thought they tasted good. I like that people on dairy free diets now have an alternative to soy-based milk, yogurt, and kefir products. I liked the slightly tangy flavor of these products. I thought even the sweetened flavors were mildly sweet without being overly sweet.Of all three flavors  I prefer the plain (lowest in sugar of all three). I thought the strawberry one tasted like liquid strawberry yogurt. The vanilla tasted vanilla-y.

Both the strawberry and vanilla kefir are sweetened with cane sugar. I’d rather buy plain; however, I realize that many people are accustomed to buying already flavored and sweetened products. I’ve heard people complain that they or their kids don’t like plain yogurt or kefir. Me? I’d rather have it plain. I love the flavor of plain full fat yogur or Greek yogurt with nothing added. If I want to sweeten it I’d rather do it myself with fresh or frozen fruit with or without a little bit of pure stevia extract powder or liquid or mix in one of my delicious fruit sauces (click here or here for recipes). But I’m not your average shopper.

What I missed
I missed was the rich taste of cow and goat milk products that have more fat and the indescribable flavor, body, and mouthfeel that protein adds. Even though coconut milk on its own has a composition more like half and half than milk, the coconut milk kefir, coconut yogurts, and Turtle Mountains So Delicious cartons of coconut milk have been diluted to give them a more milky consistency and a composition more like low-fat milk. Because coconut milk is vanishingly low in protein, diluted milk, yogurt, and kefir made form it also lack the protein of cow’s milk. One cup of coconut milk kefir provides only 1 gram of protein.

If you plan to make smoothies with coconut milk kefir and you want to use them to replace meals, I recommend that you add a generous scoop of protein powder to the mixture. If you do dairy, try plain or vanilla whey protein or goatean (goat milk protein). If you don't do dairy, try egg white protein or hemp protein. I tried a sample of pea protein and thougth it tasted beany, so I don't recommend that!

Strawberry Coconut Milk Kefir Frozen Dessert done churning >>>

What I tried
Since I had three quarts of coconut kefir and I wasn’t drinking them up fast enough, I decided to make a couple of batches of my coconut  milk Ice Dream (like ice cream but made with coconut milk instead of milk and cream). I thought the kefir would add a frozen yogurt like flavor, which it did.

The coconut milk ice cream market
When I began creating and testing recipes for my coconut frozen dessert book, there were not commercial coconut milk products on the market. Now there are several well known brands and lesser known ones making their mark. Still I prefer making my frozen desserts at home using a mix of honey or agave nectar and stevia (to reduce total sugar calories). I prefer to use honey however I added the option of agave nectar in the recipes in my new book to accommodate strict vegans, who avoid honey because they consider it an animal product.

Homemade Strawberry Coconut Kefir Frozen Dessert >>>>

So here you have it, a frozen yogurt like recipe using So Delicious Coconut Milk Kefir.
Because coconut milk kefir is so low in fat, I combined it with full fat coconut milk to prevent it from turning out like ice milk and freezing up to an icy block when placed in the freezer. Make sure the coconut milk you buy contains at least 10 grams of fat per 2 ounces, which is per 1/4 cup). You can use Thai Kitchen, Whole Foods Brand, or something from an Asian market. I like to buy brands that don’t contain sulfites (aka potassium metabisulfite), which some people are very allergic too.

Cinnamon Vanilla Coconut Kefir Frozen Dessert I made >>>

I thought the frozen desserts came out good, albeit lower in fat and not as smooth creamy as my usual coconut milk ice cream. For the best texture serve the dessert right from the ice cream maker. If you do have leftovers to freeze, divide them between small containers, seal tightly, and give them a good 15 to 20 minutes to soften at room temperature before serving to make them scoopable.

Strawberry Coconut Kefir Frozen Dessert

Hands-on: 25 minutes/ Churning: 20 to 25 minutes/Yield: 4 1/2- 5 1/2 cups; 8 servings

I used a combination of Strawberry Coconut Kefir, full fat coconut milk, fresh strawberries, honey, and stevia here. If you decide to use Original (plain) or Vanilla coconut Kefir, you may wish to double the amount of strawberries and increase the sweetener (if using plain). I liked this with Hot Fudge Sauce. You can check out that recipe on My YouTube channel.

FYI: Did you ever wonder what it means to hull strawberries? Simply cut out the stem with a small, sharp paring knife. Mystery solved.

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup unsweetened, preservative-free coconut milk (regular, not lite!), divided
2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin or 3/4 teaspoon agar agar powder (not flakes)
2 tablespoons honey or agavé nectar, additional 1 to 2 tablespoons as needed
1/8 teaspoon finely ground, unrefined sea salt
1 2/3 cups Strawberry Coconut Kefir (see variations below)
1 heaping cup fresh strawberries, rinsed, drained, hulled, and sliced
1/4 teaspoon pure stevia extract powder or clear stevia extract in the recipe above.
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or alcohol-free vanilla flavoring

1. Add 1/3 cup coconut milk to a small saucepan. Slowly sprinkle with gelatin or agar agar powder. Let stand for 2 minutes until it softens and dry spots disappear. Warm over medium-low heat, without stirring, until gelatin or agar agar dissolves. Scrape the mixture into a blender, Vita-Mix, or food processor. Add the honey or agave nectar and sea salt. Cover and process until smooth. Add reserved 1 cup coconut milk. Pour into a bowl and set aside.

2. Purée the Strawberry Coconut Kefir and fresh strawberries in a blender, food processor, or Vita-Mix. Combine this with the gelatin-coconut milk-honey mixture. Taste, add the stevia. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape the sides with a spatula. For a sweeter taste, add additional honey or agave nectar 1 tablespoon at a time or stevia 1/8 teaspoon at a time. Blend, taste, and repeat if needed.

3. Pour into one or more wide mouth jars. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours before churning or cool the mixture more quickly using an ice bath. If you have an electric ice cream maker with its own refrigerant, you can churn the mixture right away. Don’t try to churn the unchilled mixture in an ice cream maker with a sealed in coolant or the canister will melt before the “ice cream” freezes.

4. Scrape the chilled custard into the canister of your ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Serve immediately or spoon into several 8- to 16-ounce freezer-safe containers. Cover and freeze for 3 or more hours for a firmer texture.

5.  Soften solidly frozen dessert by placing it in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes or on the counter for 15 to 30 minutes before serving.

Variations:

*  For a richer flavor, replace coconut milk with coconut cream: To make this, refrigerate 3 cans of coconut milk for at least 12 hours. You may not need all three but chill them all just in case. When you open the cans, scoop out and use the thick mixture that settles on top, reserving the coconut water for drinking or making smoothies.

*  If using Original (plain) Coconut Milk Kefir above: Increase strawberries to 2 cupfuls, replace coconut milk with coconut cream, and use 1/3 to 1/2 cup honey or agave nectar plus 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract powder or liquid. Start with the low end for both sweeteners, and then add more only as needed and in tiny amounts.

Source: Recipe modified from The Ice Dream Cookbook: Dairy Free Ice Cream Alternatives with Gluten Free Cookies, Compotes and Sauces. Click here to order and receive prompt shipment.

Comments

[Laura Schmitt NE]

Fabulous post, Rachel. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the So Delicious coconut yogurt, kefir, and milk to our Midwestern stores. I agree with your assessment about how nice it is to see some non bean based options for the dairy free crowd!

I also agree that your recipes for homemade coconut ice creams ROCK! I did try the SoDelicious variety of coconut ice cream and it was good, but the homemade was FABULOUS!!! We tend to stick to either vanilla or cocoa and I, also, love using honey and stevia with those recipes. Thanks for the update! When we get this product, I will try the ice yogurt version!
I am off to post your link to an online group that I know will love it!
:)
-
Laura

[JM]

Found this product at WholeFoods and I love it!
Great product for smoothies.

[Chelsea]

I do not eat dairy, and I love these new Coconut Milk Kefir beverages. I cannot wait to try your recipe for Strawberry Coconut Kefir Frozen Dessert! Thank you so much for sharing it!

[Chef Rachel]

Hi Laura,
So glad you liked the post and LOVE my recipes for homemade coconut milk-based ice cream alternatives. I appreciate all of your support! I hope your friends, clients, and family members are inspired to try my recipes and share my books w/others who have food allergies, intolerances, or simply want to minimize their sugar intake and eat more home made meals and snacks!

Rachel

Hi JM,
Thanks for commenting on my blog,
Rachel

[Chef Rachel]

Hi Chelsea,

I also have a post I made last week with strawberry coconut milk "ice cream" made w/out the kefir. You might want to try both and see which one you like best! I have a couple of other flavors posted on this blog and dozens more my book, The Ice Dream Cookbook: Dairy Free Ice Cream Alternatives with Gluten Free Cookies, Compotes & Sauces!

Happy cooking,
Rachel

[Gina Doherty]

I just found your product today and was "SO" excited. I purchased a Coconut Milk Raspberry Yogurt. It was divine. I see on your web site that it is gluten free. Why does it not state that on the package itself? Are all your products gluten free? Thanks so much for making a wonderful product for those of us who are allergy challenged.

[Chef Rachel]

Hi Gina,

The coconut kefir is not my product. Sorry for the confusion. I'm not affiliated with Turtle Mountain. I came up with more than a hundred recipes for dairy free coconut milk frozen desserts but they are not in stores. I didn't invent nor do I market any ready to eat products.

My nondairy coconut milk-based frozen desserts are in my book, The Ice Dream Cookbook: Dairy Free Ice Cream Alternatives with Gluten Free Cookies, Compotes & Sauces. You can buy it from my blog or publisher's web site. See the bar at the top of this blog for MY BOOKS. All of the recipes in my book, baked goods included, are gluten free.

Some of Turtle Mountain's products are GF, but some I think are not. You'll need to check their web site.

Sincerely,
Chef Rachel

Chef Rachel

[Barbara]

I can't believe I just stumbled upon this post. I adore So Delicious strawberry coconut milk kefir, and I cannot wait to try this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing, Chef Rachel!

[Nick Matyas]

So, nice your posting. It look's so good in your posting.

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