Home›Dishes›Main Ingredient›CoconutIngredientCoconutNuts and SeedsReference and ClassificationDevelopingThe coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm, a plant of major economic and culinary importance across the tropics, valued for its water, flesh, oil and milk. Its exact center of domestication is genuinely disputed among botanists: the traditional view holds a single Indo-Pacific origin later spread by Austronesian seafaring peoples, while genetic research published in the early twenty-first century has proposed two largely independent centers of domestication, one in the Pacific basin and one in the Indian Ocean basin, a hypothesis that remains contested. Regardless of its exact origin point, coconut became a foundational ingredient in the cuisines of maritime Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific islands, prized both for its versatility and its long shelf life as dried copra. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/FactsCoconutConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesOpen Questions (1 open question)Dissenting Readings (2 dissenting readings)Comments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsDisputedOrigin RegionScholarly debateIndo-Pacific, with a contested dual-origin hypothesis proposing independent domestication in the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins 1Sourced to the subject's own accountBotanists disagree on whether the coconut was domesticated once, in the Indo-Pacific, or twice, independently in the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins; genetic evidence has been read both ways since the early 2000s. See the linked open question.CoconutFilter Results23 entriesDish FamilyAllConfections and Candies (1)Desserts and Sweet Puddings (2)Latin American and Caribbean Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Middle Eastern and North African Rice and Grain Dishes (1)South Asian Breads and Pastries (1)South Asian Rice and Grain Dishes (1)South Asian Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)South Asian Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (2)Southeast Asian Breads and Pastries (2)Southeast Asian Noodles and Dumplings (1)Southeast Asian Rice and Grain Dishes (4)Southeast Asian Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (2)Southeast Asian Salads (2)Southeast Asian Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Sub-Saharan African Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)CuisineAllAustralian Cuisine (1)Brazilian Cuisine (1)Cambodian Cuisine (1)Caribbean Cuisine (1)Chilean Cuisine (1)Colombian Cuisine (1)Cuban Cuisine (1)Indian Cuisine (4)Indonesian Cuisine (8)Lebanese Cuisine (1)Malaysian Cuisine (4)Singaporean Cuisine (2)Sri Lankan Cuisine (1)Era (Origin Period)All-300 (1)802 (1)1600 (1)1875 (1)1878 (1)1919 (1)TraditionAllChristmas Feast Traditions (1)Easter Food Traditions (1)Street Food Culture (5)Format/TypeAllConfections and Candies (1)Desserts and Sweet Puddings (2)Latin American and Caribbean Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Middle Eastern and North African Rice and Grain Dishes (1)South Asian Breads and Pastries (1)South Asian Rice and Grain Dishes (1)South Asian Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)South Asian Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (2)Southeast Asian Breads and Pastries (2)Southeast Asian Noodles and Dumplings (1)Southeast Asian Rice and Grain Dishes (4)Southeast Asian Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (2)Southeast Asian Salads (2)Southeast Asian Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Sub-Saharan African Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)CourseAllDessert (7)Side Dish (3)Snack or Street Food (1)Dietary SuitabilityAllContains Dairy or Egg (5)Contains Fish or Shellfish (1)Contains Meat or Poultry (2)Origin RegionAllAustralia (1)Australia (1)Brazil (1)Cambodia (1)India (6)Indonesia (8)Latin America (1)Lebanon (1)Malaysia (2)Singapore (2)Sri Lanka (1)The Caribbean (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 23AvialCoconutCallalooCoconutChicken ChettinadCoconutCocadaCoconutDadar gulungCoconutFish AmokCoconutGethukCoconutHoppersCoconutKaya ToastCoconutKlappertaartCoconutKleponCoconutKuku pakaCoconutLawarCoconutLupis (food)CoconutMeghliCoconutNasi LemakCoconutPatoleoCoconutPutu PiringCoconutQuindimCoconutSerabiCoconutThoranCoconutUrapCoconutWhite ChristmasCoconutConnectionsAssociated WithCoconut Butter, Ingredients Well-attested Coconut Oil, Ingredients Well-attested MCT Oil, Ingredients Well-attested Open QuestionsWas the coconut domesticated once, in the Indo-Pacific, or independently twice, in the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins?, Open Questions Well-attested Source Coconut (Wikipedia)tier 3Used ByAvial, Dishes Well-attested Source Avial (Wikipedia)Callaloo, Dishes Well-attested Chicken Chettinad, Dishes Well-attested Source Chicken Chettinad (Wikipedia)Cocada, Dishes Well-attested Source Cocada (Wikipedia)Dadar gulung, Dishes Well-attested Source Dadar gulung (Wikipedia)Filipino Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested ConnectedCoconut milk is central to many Filipino dishes.Source Coconut (Wikipedia)tier 3Fish Amok, Dishes Well-attested Gethuk, Dishes Well-attested Source Gethuk (Wikipedia)Hawaiian Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Hawaiian Cuisine (Wikipedia)Honduran Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Honduran Cuisine (Wikipedia)Hoppers, Dishes Well-attested Kaya Toast, Dishes Well-attested Source Kaya toast, WikipediaKlappertaart, Dishes Well-attested Source Klappertaart (Wikipedia)Klepon, Dishes Well-attested Source Klepon (Wikipedia)Kuku paka, Dishes Well-attested Source Kuku paka (Wikipedia)Lawar, Dishes Well-attested Source Lawar (food) (Wikipedia)Lupis (food), Dishes Well-attested Source Lupis (food) (Wikipedia)Meghli, Dishes Well-attested Source Meghli (Wikipedia)Nasi Lemak, Dishes Well-attested Patoleo, Dishes Well-attested Source Patoleo (Wikipedia)Putu Piring, Dishes Well-attested Source Putu piring (Wikipedia)Quindim, Dishes Well-attested Source Quindim (Wikipedia)Serabi, Dishes Well-attested Source Serabi (Wikipedia)Sri Lankan Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Larousse Gastronomiquetier 1Tamil Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Tamil Cuisine (Wikipedia)Thai Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested ConnectedCoconut milk is a base of Thai curries.Source Coconut (Wikipedia)tier 3Thoran, Dishes Well-attested Source Thoran (Wikipedia)Urap, Dishes Well-attested Source Urap (Wikipedia)White Christmas, Dishes Well-attested Source White Christmas (food) (Wikipedia)In the Other AtlasesOriginated InSoutheast AsiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Sources1. Coconut (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaLead sectionThe coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus Cocos.Used By: Filipino CuisineUsed By: Thai CuisineView the SourceWikidata: CoconutWikidata Q3342808, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the SourceLarousse Gastronomiquetier 1Hamlyn, 2009Used By: Sri Lankan Cuisine, entry: CoconutChicken Chettinad (Wikipedia)Used By: Chicken Chettinad, Infobox main_ingredient field: Chicken, kalpasi, yogurt, cream, tomato, onion, garlic, ginger, chili pepper, black pepper, coconutView the SourceAvial (Wikipedia)Used By: Avial, Infobox main_ingredient field: Vegetables, Coconut, CurdView the SourceCocada (Wikipedia)Used By: Cocada, Infobox main_ingredient field: Eggs, shredded coconut, food coloring, sugar, brown sugar, coconut milk, condensed milk, fruit syrupView the SourceSerabi (Wikipedia)Used By: Serabi, Infobox main_ingredient field: Rice flour, coconut milk or shredded coconutView the SourceGethuk (Wikipedia)Used By: Gethuk, Infobox main_ingredient field: Cassava, coconut, sugarView the SourceMeghli (Wikipedia)Used By: Meghli, Infobox main_ingredient field: Rice flour, sugar, anise, caraway, cinnamon, coconut, almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, walnutsView the SourceKlepon (Wikipedia)Used By: Klepon, Infobox main_ingredient field: Rice cake, palm sugar, grated coconutView the SourceUrap (Wikipedia)Used By: Urap, Infobox main_ingredient field: Steamed vegetable salad, shredded coconut dressingView the SourceLupis (food) (Wikipedia)Used By: Lupis (food), Infobox main_ingredient field: Glutinous rice, coconut, palm sugar syrupView the SourceQuindim (Wikipedia)Used By: Quindim, Infobox main_ingredient field: Ground coconut, sugar, egg yolksView the SourceThoran (Wikipedia)Used By: Thoran, Infobox main_ingredient field: Vegetables, CoconutView the SourcePutu piring (Wikipedia)Used By: Putu Piring, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the SourceKuku paka (Wikipedia)Used By: Kuku paka, lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Kuku paka, lead paragraphKuku paka is a chicken dish with a coconut-based curry and is also called kuku na nazi.View the SourcePatoleo (Wikipedia)Used By: Patoleo, lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Patoleo, lead paragraphThe main stuffing is made from freshly shredded coconut, rice flour paste, and palm jaggery; and cooked by wrapping and steaming in turmeric leaves.View the SourceDadar gulung (Wikipedia)Used By: Dadar gulung, lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Dadar gulung, lead paragraphDadar gulung (lit. 'rolled pancake/omelette"') is a popular traditional kue (traditional snack) of sweet coconut pancake.View the SourceKlappertaart (Wikipedia)Used By: Klappertaart, lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Klappertaart, lead paragraphKlappertaart is "coconut cake" or "coconut tart" and it is made from flour, sugar, milk, butter, and the flesh and juice of coconuts.View the SourceHawaiian Cuisine (Wikipedia)Used By: Hawaiian Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Hawaiian Cuisine, Wikipedia article textAs Native Hawaiians settled the area, they fished, raised taro for poi, planted coconuts, sugarcane, sweet potatoes and yams, and cooked meat and fish in earth ovens.View the SourceTamil Cuisine (Wikipedia)Used By: Tamil Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Tamil Cuisine, Wikipedia article textPoriyal (Tamil: பொரியல்) is usually a dry stir-fried vegetable(s) with spices and grated coconut.View the SourceKaya toast, WikipediaUsed By: Kaya Toast, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Kaya Toast, Lead sectionconsisting of two slices of toast with butter and kaya (coconut jam), commonly served alongside kopi and soft-boiled eggsView the SourceHonduran Cuisine (Wikipedia)Used By: Honduran Cuisine, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Honduran Cuisine, Lead sectionCoconut and coconut milk are featured in both sweet and savory dishes.View the SourceWhite Christmas (food) (Wikipedia)Used By: White Christmas, Lead paragraphQuote, Used By: White Christmas, Lead paragraphWhite Christmas is an Australian dessert made from dried fruit such as sultanas, glacé cherries, desiccated coconut, icing sugar, milk powder and Rice Bubbles, with hydrogenated coconut oil (such as the brand Copha) as the binding ingredient.View the SourceLawar (food) (Wikipedia)Used By: Lawar, Lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Lawar, Lead paragraphLawar (Balinese: ᬮᬯᬃ) is an Indonesian dish created from a mixture of vegetables, coconut, and minced meat mixed with rich herbs and spices, originating from Bali, Indonesia.View the SourceOpen Questions (1 open question)Was the coconut domesticated once, in the Indo-Pacific, or independently twice, in the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins?Genetic studies published in the early twenty-first century found two genetically distinct coconut populations and proposed two independent domestication events; other researchers read the same and later genomic data as consistent with a single origin later dispersed by Austronesian voyaging, and the debate has not settled.What would resolve this A broader, better-sampled ancient-DNA study across Indian Ocean and Pacific coconut populations, dated against the archaeological record of Austronesian and Indian Ocean seafaring, would let botanists distinguish shared ancestry from independent domestication.Botany and archaeobotanyCoconut (Wikipedia)Dissenting Readings (2 dissenting readings)Origin RegionSome botanists hold that the coconut was domesticated once, in the Indo-Pacific region, and that Austronesian seafaring peoples carried it west to the Indian Ocean basin over the course of their historic voyaging, accounting for the genetic split without requiring a second, independent domestication.A dissenting reading, from Single-origin dispersal hypothesisCoconut (Wikipedia), WikipediaOrigin RegionGenetic research published in the early twenty-first century found two genetically distinct coconut populations, Pacific and Indian Ocean, and proposed that these represent two largely independent domestication events rather than one origin later spread by human voyaging.A dissenting reading, from Dual-origin domestication hypothesisCoconut (Wikipedia), WikipediaComments (0)No comments yet. 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