I am surprised at how much I have started to like coconut recently. This comes from someone who has eaten/drank as much coconut as one would eat potatoes or drink milk as a child. I was actually never fond of milk and unfortunately there were no alternatives like almond or soy milk available at that time. There was coconut milk but in a place where one had easy access to coconut water, the water was preferred, more than the milk. In tropical countries, coconut is found in abundance. In India, where I grew up, drinking coconut water or cooking with freshly grated coconut is a way of life. People are equipped and ready to give themselves a arm workout when the need arises. Which is frequently. The grated version is used in curries, sweet dishes, rice and fillings while the milk (which is actually extracted by passing the grated coconut through a cheesecloth) finds its uses in many different dishes. Yet, I don’t have any memory of a particular liking for coconut. Maybe some of the dishes that it was used in were a favorites but not coconut itself. I guess it needed a few cakes, friands and crepes to acknowledge this liking.
In the present day I cannot imagine standing long hours trying to grate a coconut or extracting milk when it is so convenient to get hold of a packet of desiccated coconut or a can of coconut milk that is ready for consumption and is so much easier to store. Ask my mother and she will tell you that the packed variety is nowhere close to the fresh one. True! But in this turbo charged, everything-needing-attention world I could do without cracking open a fruit by hitting it on the ground (that was how it was cracked open back home).
This breakfast dish is very tropical. I have used coconut milk in the crepe batter and desiccated coconut in the filling. Then there is yogurt, fresh mangoes, raspberries, basil and a palm sugar caramel. In the sweet treats that I ate as a little girl, coconut was often paired with palm sugar, hence the idea. Other than the caramel, the dish is a healthy breakfast option so if you are on a diet, leave out the caramel and run a tablespoon of maple syrup or honey through the yogurt instead to sweeten it. The flavors are amazing together, very refreshing! If you do not have access to fresh mangoes, you could use canned ones or replace with seasonal fruits. Like persimmons, figs and even bananas.
Coconut Crepes With Yogurt, Mangoes And Palm Sugar Caramel
Makes 5-6 crepes
1/2 cup plain flour, sifted
2/3 cup coconut milk
2 eggs, lightly whisked
40 g butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
2 cups unsweetened Greek yogurt (if leaving out caramel, you could use sweetened yogurt)
2 mangoes, chopped into cubes
10-12 raspberries/strawberries
fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Icing sugar, to dust (optional)
For the palm sugar caramel
1/2 cup palm sugar, roughly chopped
1/2 cup water
Place the flour in a bowl making a well in the centre. Slowly whisk in the coconut milk, eggs and butter. Let stand for 15-20 minutes. Heat a non-stick frying over medium heat. Add 2-3 tbsp of the crepe batter, swirling the pan to coat the base evenly. Cook for a minute or until edges start to brown. Turn and cook for another minute until golden. Transfer to a serving plate. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
Divide the desiccated coconut, yogurt, mangoes and raspberries between the crepes. Serve with palm sugar caramel and basil. Dust with icing sugar.
To make the palm sugar caramel, heat the palm sugar and water together until smooth and thickened. The mixture solidifies on cooling down so reheat before serving.
Simply beautiful. It is so nice to see your beautiful food photography on a larger screen instead of my phone on instagram. I love your soft and delicate creeps with your lovely flavors and toppings. I prefer coconut milk to regular milk in my dessert recipes too. sharing of course!!! Take care, BAM
Thank you lovely! You have an amazing blog with mouthwatering photos. Have a lovely weekend:-)
These are some of the prettiest crepes I have ever seen!! Love this idea!
Such a sweet comment..thank you Katrina:-)
I loved the peek into your childhood food memories. This would be a heavenly breakfast for me and totally new.
Glad you liked the idea Maureen. The flavors are truly awesome!
What a combo… Everything that is delicious in one single dessert! I love both coconut and mango, fruits that I grew up eating in my tropical country. I wish I could have at least one of those scrumptious crepes!
So good, isn’t it? Thank you lovely:-)
OMG! I so loved this recipe and that beautiful antique platter is so so gorgeous. Amazing clicks, loved them all. 🙂
Thank you so much Anu! I love that platter too..it makes the food shine:-)
ooooh these are beautiful. Such a great twist on traditional breakfast crepes
Thanks Rochelle…glad you liked them:-)
Your photos are so atmospheric, Sonali! I get a little distracted and mesmerized and have to snap myself out of it so I can study the recipe! These are some ridiculously gorgeous crepes!! And it’s funny about your history with coconut. I never was a fan of coconut things as a kid but I always loved the smell, taste of coconut milk. I would love to try these crepes. The flavor must be incredible!
The flavour is incredible! You are too sweet…like those crepes:-)
Loving this Indian take on crepes.. I love coconut too and the addition of a palm sugar caramel is just genius!
Thank you Thalia! Palm sugar is an amazing ingredient..not used that much though. Glad you liked the idea!
How divine! I think I’m going to make these over the long weekend for my hubby and I! xx
Aww..thank you so much! I hope you and your family love it as much as I do:-)
Sonali, I recreated this coconut crepe recipe. It came out fabulous! My hubby and I loved it. Thank you for sharing.
I want to put it up on my blog soon and link you to the post. Will let you know once I do it 🙂
Your photographs are breathtaking!
Yay! I am so happy that you and your family liked it. Thanks for making it;-)
I have put up the blog post and linked you to it. Do drop by..Thank you 🙂 <3
http://anartsyappetite.com/2015/08/21/coconut-milk-crepes-with-greek-yogurt-fresh-fruits-and-honey/
Can’t wait to check it out. I am sure it’s amazing!