I love coconut milk in dishes, it makes the dish delicious making it exotice in taste. Most of the asian countries and the countries in the pacific rim uses coconut milk in their everyday dishes. Naturally, coconut is abundant in this tropical countries, so coconut is a main ingredient in their cooking.

I can't describe the taste, somewhat creamy ,very exotic taste, very tasty and delicious. Also when combined with other herbs and spices the taste changes and enhances the flavor any dish. Coconut milk can be use in savoury dishes like curries, soups, in rice (sweet and savoury) , in a lot of dessert recipes,gives a nice flavor when added as ingredient to cakes, cookies, truffle biscuits, macaroons, puddings ,frozen desserts like ice cream, sorbets, drinks like pina colada and the like. Coconut milk added to dishes ,savoury and sweet, is just delicious.

Coconut milk can be bought in cans or in powder form which is the one I use best because it is very easy to use and economical too. Unless, you want to break open a coconut and grate it to get the coconut meat, then put medium hot water into it and squeeze the milk from it, whew, that is a big task for us, let alone there is a special grater for it so forget that task stick to the ready form. Coconut milk in cans, you just have to shake it before opening the can and pour it , while the powder form, it is better to mix it with warm water first just like normal milk then pour.

To give you an example ,please try this recipe if you have not try it yet:

CHICKEN CURRY with Coconut Milk (Filipino style)

1 kg.chicken breast (cut in 1 inch cubes)
coconut milk (6 tbsp.powder, if not available, 1 can is ok)
1 smallonion
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp.ginger (sliced)
2 tsp. curry powder
1 tbsp. soy sauce
salt and pepper (as desired)
2 small carrots (sliced diagonally)
1 medium potato (sliced diagonally)
sweet bell peppers (any color you want)(slice)
green peas
cooking oil (any)(for sauteing)
2 1/2 cups water (warm)to dissolve the powder ( omit when using coconut in can)

Saute onion,garlic,ginger in oil. Add chicken,soy sauce, saute until chicken turn white in color. Add salt, pepper and curry then pour the coconut milk, mix so not to curdle when it start to boil, do not cover. Simmer for 10 mins. before adding carrots,peas and lastly the peppers. I like it a bit spicy so I throw in a piece of red pepper (optional). When vegetables are tender it's done. I serve it with plain rice.

Enjoy. Hope this helps.

I found an article about coconut milk ,site below,check it out:

http://food-facts.suite101.com/article.cfm/coconut_milk_overview

Coconut milk is added to recipes not only for added tastes but also for its medicinal properties right from ancient times.
It not only enhances the tastes of the dishes and makes it delicious but also is considered as a very healthy one as it helps in digestion and acts as a laxative ,preventing constipation.This also helps in the healing of mouth ulcers .
My grandmother makes a point in using this in her cooking atleast once a week or once in two weeks for the reason said above.And if we complain of any boils in our mouth she immediately would ask us to chew a spoonful of grated coconut till its juices are extracted and keep it for about five minutes before swallowing. This really helps sooth our mouth.

Coconut milk always adds a hint of an Asian or Island cuisine. You can use it to make Coconut Cream (Coconut Jello), a favorite traditional island treat. You can use it to make Coconut Rice or Fish Chowder. Or a Piña Colada! Search the Internet for recipes. You can make it yourself - not hard.