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Jamaican coconut drops
Drops: chewy ginger and brown-sugar coconut clusters
Coconut drops are the lumpy brown clusters sold beside grater cake at Jamaican roadside stalls and markets from Ocho Rios to Mandeville, made with coconut cut into small dice rather than grated, so every bite is chewy. Brown sugar and fresh ginger boil down around the coconut into a sticky, toffee-like glaze. The most common mistake is stopping before the syrup is thick enough, which leaves the drops wet and runny; it must coat the spoon heavily. Chef's tip: dice the coconut very small and even, about 5 mm, so the drops hold together.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz fresh coconut fleshcut into 5 mm dice
- 10 ½ oz dark brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp fresh gingerfinely grated
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Line a tray with baking paper or a lightly oiled banana leaf.
Step 2: Put 10 ½ oz fresh coconut flesh and 1 cup water in a heavy pan, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes to soften the coconut a little.
5 minStep 3: Add 10 ½ oz dark brown sugar, 1 tbsp fresh ginger, ½ tsp ground nutmeg and 1 pinch salt and stir until dissolved.
2 minStep 4: Boil steadily, stirring more as it thickens, until the syrup is dark, glossy and clings heavily to the coconut, and a drip on a cold saucer sets tacky within seconds.
18 minStep 5: Take off the heat, stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract, and at once drop heaped tablespoons onto the tray. Work fast; it firms as it cools.
Step 6: Leave for 30 minutes until set. Store in an airtight tin for up to a week.
30 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 25 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does jamaican coconut drops take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of dark brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
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