12 Fresh Coconut Recipes That Put the Sweet Meat to Delicious Use

After you've gone to the trouble of cracking a coconut, what do you do with the meat? The soft, nutty taste works well in so many different contexts, from desserts to savory dishes. Here, our favorite recipes starring the versatile coconut.

A single coconut tree can bloom as many as 13 times a year, producing about 60 large fruits each time. Inside those green orbs are pits -- the coconuts -- which contain liquid to quench your thirst and tasty meat that can be shaved, grated, or chopped. When shopping for fresh coconut, pick a heavy one without cracks or damp "eyes"; shake it, and you should hear the juice inside.

President Tyler's Pudding Pie

Virginia-born president John Tyler was partial to this simple showstopper (hence the pie's name). It's worth grating your own coconut -- the fresh, creamy meat turns delightfully chewy in the oven and offsets the custardy filling perfectly.

Fluke Seviche with Coconut

Fluke is cured in tangy lime juice, then finished with fresh coconut, ginger, garlic, black mustard seeds, lime zest, and a touch of salt and sugar in this lively seviche.

Onde Onde

Our take on the classic Indonesian dessert dumplings call for a three-ingredient dough (sticky rice flour, coconut milk, and salt), brown-sugar filling, and fresh coconut exterior.

Coconut "Yogurt"

Puree the meat from a young green coconut with a couple tablespoons of fresh coconut water and lemon juice for a "yogurt" of sorts. It makes a light, delectable breakfast when topped with blueberries and raw honey.

Baked Coconut Chips

Thin strips of fresh coconut are tossed with brown sugar and white pepper, then given a quick turn in the oven until fragrant and golden. Serve hot or at room temperature, preferably alongside a glass of cooling Limeade.

Ready for more? Check out the rest of our Homemade Veggie and Fruit Chips to Snack on Instead of Potato Chips.

Birch de Noel

Fresh coconut pull double duty in this spectacular holiday dessert -- it's grated for the cake filling and shaved and baked for the garnish.

Coconut Patties

Fresh coconut is grated and cooked with brown sugar, nutmeg, and a splash of water for the super flavorful filling in these classic West Indian-style pastries.

Apricot Pie with Coconut Crumble

Dried coconut goes into the chewy topping for this summery pie, while fresh coconut is shaved and toasted for a next-level garnish.

Coconut Crepes with Fresh Mangoes

Freshly grated coconut and unsweetened coconut milk amp up the batter for these Indian-inspired crepes stuffed with juicy wedges of mango.

Coconut Bars

Grated fresh coconut is just one of five ingredients in these unfussy no-bake bars. They're also gluten- and egg-free -- just the thing for a bake sale!

Coconut Gelato

Coconut is a triple threat in this tropical ice cream recipe -- it calls for grated fresh coconut, coconut cream, and dried coconut flakes.

Cardamom-Coconut Rice

Shaved fresh coconut makes a lovely final flourish for this cardamom- and cinnamon-spiced basmati rice.