Coconut Taro Gratin Recipes

COCONUT CHICKEN AND TARO ROOT

Steps:

• Mix cornstarch and water together in a large bowl until dissolved. Add soy sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and salt. Mix in chicken; cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator, about 15 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan or deep-fat fryer. Fry taro until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add shallots and ginger; cook and stir until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add chicken; cook and stir until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer chicken mixture to a large saucepan. Add fried taro. Pour in enough water to cover 3/4 of the mixture. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 15 minutes. Stir in coconut milk and basil. Season with salt and sugar.

TARO COCONUT TAPIOCA DESSERT

Steps:

• In a saucepan with a lid, bring 4 cups of water to a boil, and stir in the tapioca pearls (pearls will swell in size). Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook the tapioca until pearls begin to soften, about 7 minutes. Cover the pan, and let the tapioca pearls stand for 10 to 15 minutes, until the centers are clear. Gently drain the excess water, and set the pearls aside.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan and stir in the taro root. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer the taro until soft, about 10 minutes. Add coconut milk and rock sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar, and simmer for 20 more minutes to blend the coconut milk and taro. Gently stir in the soft tapioca pearls until well combined. Let cool to room temperature, or serve chilled.

BOILED TARO WITH COCONUT MILK

Steps:

• Scrub the outside of the taro.
• Place in a pot with enough water to half cover the taro.
• Cover and boil for about 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. (Make sure the taro is cooked very well, for the starches can irritate and scratch the throat if not cooked through completely).
• Remove and cool.
• Peel away the outside skin and chop taro into large cubes. (Cooked taro at this point can be mashed and formed into cakes that are delicious sauteed with butter).
• Place the coconut milk and the taro cubes into a saucepan and heat thoroughly.
• There should be enough milk to just cover the taro.
• Taste during cooking to see if taro needs more salt.

COCONUT TARO GRATIN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, sweat the onions and garlic in butter over medium heat until the onions are clear.
• add the flour, salt, pepper and cook for 1 minute, stirring. do not brown the roux.
• whisk the coconut milk and water slowly into the skillet to prevent any lumps from forming.
• bring the sauce to a boil and reduce by half, stir to prevent sticking. remove from heat. set aside.
• spray a casserole dish with pan release.
• drain the water from the taro. add the coconut sauce and toss to coat the slices.
• pour the taro slices in the casserole dish and spread evenly.
• cover with foil and bake at 350*f for 30 minutes.
• remove foil and sprinkle panko bread crumbs. return to oven and bake at 400*f for 5 minutes or until bread crumbs are light brown.
• remove from oven and let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
• goes great with any grilled meat or fish.
• if you want to sprinkle parmesan cheese or romano cheese go ahead -- i'm sure the manmakahnas won't mind. cheese is a guamanian adaption so make them happy.