What is it?

If you’re a close reader of food magazines and websites, you may have noticed that coconut oil is showing up in more and more recipes. For those of us who still remember when coconut oil was vilified, this may seem surprising. What’s going on?

For starters, the coconut oil that caused an outcry back in the 1990s was the highly processed stuff full of bad-for-you trans fats. Today’s unrefined (or virgin) coconut oil does not contain trans fats and is even being studied for its positive role in everything from thyroid function and weight loss to diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. And though it’s very high in saturated fat, its composition is different from the saturated fats in animal products and may actually improve HDL (or “good”) cholesterol.

While the jury is still out on the health claims, we believe using pure (not hydrogenated) coconut oil in moderation is fine for one main reason: It’s delicious. It has a savory yet sweet, slightly nutty flavor. It’s useful in recipes such as curries, where a little coconut flavor is welcome.

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Grilled Australian Lamb Tacos with Pomegranate-Mint Salsa

  Ginger-and-garlic rubbed lamb plus a sweet-sour pomegranate and mint relish puts a Mediterranean spin on the beloved Mexican street food.

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  Recipe

  Pan-Seared Sea Scallops with Thai Green Curry, Snap Peas, and Carrots

  Perfectly seared scallops stand out in this fragrant curry. There are a lot of ingredients involved in making the curry paste, but they all go right into a blender, which…

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  Spicy Tomato and Lentil Soup

  This thick Indian-spiced spin on tomato soup, great on its own, would pair well with grilled cheese, especially one made with a little chutney. Look for roasted chickpeas where nuts…

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  Recipe

  Dark Chocolate and Coconut Popcorn

  Popcorn as dessert? Why not, when it’s streaked with dark chocolate melted by the heat of the just-popped popcorn and tossed with sweetened coconut.

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  Sesame Coconut Granola

  Coconut sugar, oil, and shredded coconut add a haunting flavor that makes this granola downright addictive. Rolled wheat and triticale flakes add an extra dimension of texture to the usual…

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  Recipe

  Indonesian Beef Satay

  Satay is a street-food favorite for a reason: the meat is tender as butter and beautifully charred, and the sauce is rich and spicy. This version substitutes cashews for the…