5 Recipes Made Instantly Better with Coconut Water

Packed with potassium, low in calories and free of fat and cholesterol, ultra-refreshing coconut water is a health craze with no signs of slowing down. Not a fan of coconut water? Just add it to your food! Perfect in salad dressings, salsas, smoothies and even chocolate cake (yes, really!), coconut water is quite the healthy-cooking essential. It adds nutritional value to your meal while boosting the sweetness. Talk about a win-win! Click through for step-by-step recipes using coconut water. Bon appétit!

(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients for Salad:

• 1 bunch Kale, washed with stems/ribs removed

• 1 peach, sliced

• 1 plum, sliced

• 1 nectarine, sliced

• ½ cup blackberries

• ½ cup sliced almonds

Ingredients for Coconut Water Vinaigrette:

• ¼ cup coconut water

• 2 T. fresh lemon juice

• 2 T. olive oil

• 1 t. salt

• ½ t. black pepper

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients except almonds and blackberries into a large bowl and “massage” kale with the vinaigrette until leaves become soft and dark green (about 2 minutes)

• Toss sliced fruit with dressed kale

• Garnish with blackberries and slice almonds

Recipe from ZICO Premium Coconut Water

Ingredients for Chicken:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into one-inch cubes

• ¾ cup coconut water

• 3 T. olive oil

• ¼ cup fresh lime juice

• 1 t. chili powder

• 1 t. cayenne pepper

• 1-2 garlic cloves, peeled

• 1 t. salt

Directions for Chicken: (Need 20 Metal Skewers)

• Combine all chicken ingredients, except chicken, in a blender and blend until smooth

• Marinate chicken pieces for 12 hours in refrigerator

• Skewer the chicken pieces onto metal skewers

• Grill chicken for 6-10 minutes per side or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees

• Remove chicken from skewers and garnish with mango salsa

Ingredients for Mango Salsa:

• 2 mangoes, peeled and diced

• 2 T. minced red onion

• 1 t. lime zest

• ½ cup coconut water

Directions for Mango Salsa:

• Combine all ingredients in large bowl and refrigerate until serving

See also: 10 Savory Recipes with Coconut

Recipe from ZICO Premium Coconut Water

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup coconut water

• ¾ cup fresh strawberries, stems removed

• ½ cup fresh pineapple, peeled and chopped

• 1 large navel orange, peeled

• 1 ½ cups ice

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth

Recipe from ZICO Premium Coconut Water

(Serves 6-8 depending on popsicle molds)

Ingredients:

• 4 cups watermelon chunks, seeds removed

• ½ cup coconut water

• Juice of 1 fresh lime

• 2 tablespoons agave nectar

Need:

• Popsicle Molds

Directions:

• Combine watermelon, coconut water, lime juice and agave nectar in a blender

• Puree until smooth

• Transfer to popsicle molds and freeze

Recipe from ZICO Premium Coconut Water

(Makes 19-inch round cake and Serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup coconut water

• 1 lb bittersweet chocolate

• 4 oz unsalted butter

• 6 eggs, separated

• ¾ cup sugar

• Pinch of salt

Need:

• (1) 9-inch round cake pan

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees and grease (1) 9-inch round cake pan

• Melt chocolate, coconut water and butter over a double boiler or in your microwave, and let cool

Directions continued:

• In a medium bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar and whisk to a ribbon like consistency

• Add chocolate mixture to yolk mixture with a rubber spatula

• Whip egg whites and salt to a soft peak

• Gently fold egg whites into chocolate mixture and pour the batter into prepared cake pan

Recipe from ZICO Premium Coconut Water