I'm a pastry chef at a very popular restaurant, and the owner LOVES coconut. One of our most popular desserts is Coconut Cream pie which I had almost perfected but personally was never been happy with. I'd using canned coconut milk but after watching your video, decided to try making my own Coconut Milk from scratch. OH MY GOSH!! What a complete game changer. I've almost doubled the number of pies in the last 3 weeks and we're still running out. Thank you Rajiv. This is awesome.
@@rajivsurendra OK...I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to get a Coconut Cream pie to New York City from New Mexico. (I use coconut macaroons as part of the crust so there's a coconut flavor throughout.) OR...you could come visit New Mexico and I'll show you around. Guaranteed you'd fall in love with the food here and would be taking back a bunch of roasted green chile in your suitcase. I have some Native American friends who are incredible artists, silversmiths and weavers -- so if you ever run out of ideas for videos, come visit and meet the amazing artisans around here.
Yeah he is selling us on all the things to do or make! Just love to watch, and learn. He makes you feel like he is just talking to you like there no camera involved. Lol love it
Living here in the Philippines. I can bet a million times that cooking using fresh coconut milk is unbeatable compared with any other milk. Pilipino's love "ginataan" (usually vegetables dishes with coconut milk). Hard work is very much paid off.
The first birth of a yt channel for me. So often I read comments like "I've been your subscriber since you had 5000 subscribers and I am so proud how far your channel had come." And now I witness this channel growing and gaining more and more viewers. So thrilling. And this one already started out with 15.100 at the time I write this in January 23. 🥰
I am not a fan of coconut at all, but my grandmother is; one day I’ll buy that tool and make some coconut treats alongside her in the kitchen before it’s too late. Thank you for sharing this technique and the family stories. It never feels like a random RUclips video but more of an educational story from a friend. Happy New years!
Finally he has his own channel! I made our bed all fancy like Rajiv showed and my husband is HERE for it! As asian kids we always chose quick functional vs fancy functional. I like this fancy stuff. We deserve this fancy stuff. Keep giving, Rajiv!❤️
OH MY GOD. the hammer is such a genius idea! i'm south indian and have been cooking with store-bought coconut milk, this will change my life. thank you!
Omg omg omg I only just saw your channel trailer yesterday, and subscribed immediately! Just woke up to the New Year and lo & behold there's not 1 but 3 lovely new videos waiting!! I AM SO EXCITED AND DELIGHTED to watch them all as soon as I get some breakfast on the way. What a wonderful way to start off the year 😊. Happy New Year everyone!
We are so blessed that this content is free. It hits you in the solar plexus when he said about how the ancestors are connected to him in the noisiest city in the world in 2023. Beautiful.
My Jamaican mom flooded me with childhood memories this past Christmas holiday with the sight and sound of her grating coconut to get fresh milk for a pudding (a dense “cake”). That “shhii-shhuu shhi-shhuu” sound means she is putting in work! I appreciate this video so much!
Rajiv, you are showing us how rewarding slow living can be. And I love your kitchen - it's small but it's dynamite! What I mean is everything has a history. I can tell your silverware is antique, the mirror near the stove, those french lace curtains in your room, oh I could go on and on. You have items of value, from the good old days when artisans made things by hand. What you have is a perfectly curated home. I love your lifestyle and your videos. Have a wonderful and successful 2023!
Thanks for sharing your childhood memories of making coconut milk at home 😊. My mom grew up in the Caribbean. She would find the coconut like you mentioned. For tge coconut water she poked a hole in the eye of the coconut with a hammer& nail. Then stuck a straw in it for us to drink directly from the coconut. She would also split it the way you did. She then let my sister & I chew the flesh immediately no utensils. To get the last bits we'd get a spoon. She would make coconut milk just like you demonstrated. She would add it to cold rice with cinnamon & butter for breakfast. Such delightful & delicious memories😊
Great video Rajiv! In south India we use a little stool with the blade. It helps get all the little white bits. Also we use a clean thin white cloth to strain the coconut milk. It’s super efficient than using hand and sieve. You can just dip the whole thing in water and get more milk.
Pavithra Kodmad - I live in Canada but originally from Guyana, South America. We also used a stool with a blade, and I used to grate dozens of coconut to make oil.
I’ve binged your HGTV videos and am ecstatic to find you made your own RUclips channel! Can’t wait to see what you have to show us and maybe people you’d like to introduce us to ◡̈ 💛
I'm recovering from a c section. With little mobility your videos are inspiring me to bring life into my home with a new son and how I'd like to add to raisin him. Thank you. Your mom did a great job!
Thank for for these gems. Much appreciated. Between the antidote about your Mother ripping out imperfect hems (obviously from the upholstery video), and now hearing about her expecting you to grind out every morsel of coconut, your pursuit of excellence seems to be in your genes and was reinforced by nurturing and example. Bravo!
Rajiv, you make this old man smile with every entry you put out, HGTV, Instagram and now here on RUclips! Your appreciation of the traditional ways of life and bringing their values back to life. And your expressed joy in teaching them and sharing them with us. Love your wit and your humor. Keep it up, Happy New Year and much luck with your channel! 👍
Why not? It seems labor intensive but isn’t it fun to do things yourself? I’m really getting into my diy phase so I can have control over what goes in my body and often times I save money and get a better yield 😮
Excellent video! Love this! Quick note - the background music was way too loud. Just a note. No criticism. I’m thrilled you have your own channel 😃👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I love your little family stories. I’m first generation American. My parents are Dutch-Indonesian. Growing up in a big family we all had to chip in and help. The best memories were made in the kitchen with my cousin’s and Tante’s prepping and cooking for a get together. Sometimes our grandmother would be visiting. She was an amazing cook, an awesome storyteller (in her combination English, Malay and Dutch), and definitely the boss in the kitchen! 🥰 You DID exactly what Oma asked without delay! Now I’m “Oma” (grandmother). Thinking back to those early days in the kitchen just warms my heart.
One of my resolutions for the new year is to make better use of what I attend to. I’m so happy to see Rajiv will have wonderful content for us all to attend to throughout the new year and beyond! Bravo!
This is beautiful and your words are always lovely and on point. I'm Portuguese, been living in the caribbean for 8 years and we get really good coconut and coconut milk from the store. But this makes me want to go to to my mother in law's house and make some with her and learn her special technique. Thank you Rajiv, for sharing your culture, your knowledge and your kindness.
Love your energy that's somehow measured and a little frenetic in excitement at once. Really wonderful to see the channel, and looking forward to future productions. The curry recipes, hair routine, accessories (especially the beautiful matching gold cuffs)--would love to hear about all!
i just got back for a trip to cuba to meet my father side of the family for the first time. I spent one afternoon with my great aunt in the countryside where she made me a no frills lunch and for dessert, hand scraped dulce de coco with the last little bit of sugar she had left. Ive never been a fan of this dessert in the US but Im guessing the fresh off the tree coconut makes the difference. This just brought me back to my favorite meal of the trip 🥰
Keep it up Rajiv! I’m so motivated to disconnect but only connect online to learn more practical and holistic ways of doing things with my hands. I’m looking forward to you upcoming vids. Pace yourself and breathe into this journey. No pressure but only gratitude and appreciation your presentation and care.
My Filipina grandmother (Lola) used to use a cleaver. I miss watching her cook our traditional foods. She used a makeshift scraper made from a spoon which was carved to make a "spork". The spork was screwed to a small stool. Lola would straddle the stool and scrape the coconut "meat" into a finely grated texture. As a child it became my task to grate the coconut and Lola would make sure I didn't leave any white coconut meat on the shell. Beautiful memories of my Lola and the simpler ways of cooking.
Here in the Philippines, there are two traditional tools used to scrape coconut meat off the shell. One is the kayuran -- a narrow wooden bench you sit astride on (like you would on a horse), which has a metal claw extending to one side that's long enough to come up between your legs and within reach of your hands. That claw is where you manually run the shell over several times until you've scraped every last bit of the precious meat off. The kayuran is typically used in coconut plantations, fresh food markets ("palengke"/ "palenque") or in households with big families that use plenty of coconut cream ("kakang gata" -- the first squeeze) and coconut milk ("gata" -- subsequent extraction) in their cooking. For smaller households or urban homes than don't scrape coconut that often, we have hard wooden or smaller metal versions of that kayuran claw. (Looks like a fork with shallow tines and you wield it like one, running it through the meat to scrape.) Not as effective as the real kayuran blade at scraping the shell clean, though, but it'll do. 😂
Rajiv: I love that you’re on RUclips! This channel is just what I needed: The art of living. Love the class on coconuts. Love the ode to classic cursive writing in your intro. I noticed you have a copper tea kettle. I recently bought a vintage one. How do you care for yours? I haven’t used mine yet, but I want to. Any tips?
This is so interesting. I know I could pick out a good coconut for sure with your video. I have never had coconut milk. I hope you include in your videos of stories of your homeland. So very interesting. I know your parents are so proud of you. You know so much about so many things. I want to hear about it all. I am a senior citizen, so I am trying to absorb it all. Thank you so much Rajiv
Congratulations Rajiv! I’ve been waiting for you to have your own channel so I could support you! Your many interest and knowledge are recognized and appreciated! Not all young people spend time around their elders (for different reasons) so they miss out on some important lessons that last a life time. I commend you for bringing what you have to the screen and now directly getting the benefit! I’ll be watching!
I so appreciate knowing how to chose and open a coconut, and how to get the cream and milk. I’d love to see how you make Tamil foods using the milk. I can’t wait for those videos!
This was EVERYTHING! This was an AWESOME lesson on how Coconut Milk is made. I like coconut milk I never even thought about making it myself. I am wowed! WOW! WOW! WOW! “The more you know”
Your videos are so relaxing. What an enjoyable delicious lifestyle you have created. Thank you for sharing your works. I appreciate things as you do, so I understand there is a spiritual tint to all. Beautiful way of living.
So thrilled that you have ventured into your own channel Rajiv. I’ve been loving all of the videos you have created over the past couple of years or so and now to have regular posts full of wisdom delivered in your wonderfully clear and calming manner has been a joyful treat to start off the New Year.
Hey Rajiv I really enjoyed watching you crack open the coconut and story about the back yard being the usual place in Sri Lanka - I'm Australian, and remember cracking Macadamia nuts ( falling from your own tree or the neighbours hanging over the fence) with a bit of broken brick as a toddler outside the back door.... a life skill for sure...and off course you get to eat your own nuts. ... Macadamia nuts. Jacinta :)
Félicitations Rajiv! What a wonderful start to 2013 for absolutely everyone. Your channel is sure to be a huge success. I've already suscribed, given it a thumbs up and of course I will watch right through to the end. Kind regards from Melbourne, Australia. 👱♀️❤
Hi Rajiv, gosh you just brought back a memory in this old head of mine !my Dad had a army bayonet that he used to open coconut We are Irish I’m one of 12 kids yes we’re Irish ! Anyway we only got coconut at Halloween strangely enough , but boy did we appreciate this yearly treat ! My Mammy would chew the white bits then remove from her mouth ! Gross yes sorry we knew no better!! Thank you for this lost memory! 🙏🇮🇪☘️ oh buy the way your beginning to annoy me now young man you know so much , life has thought you well ! God Bless you and keep you safe for you have so much to offer? Sending you a big Hug❤️☘️🇮🇪
You made this look so easy!!!! I am from Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 and I can smell the coconut 🥥as you did! I loved this video and will be making my own as I exclusively drink coconut milk as my milk of choice! Thank you ♥
so happy you started your own channel! I've been binge watching your old ones for the last 4 days! Good luck! Now tell us pray about your 2 kadas with the elephant heads- I am assuming you got it from SriLanka but how on Earth do they stay head side up in all your videos? Mine always fall / rotate
Just binge-watched all three new videos. I love them! Would also love some more videos on your clothing, classics, fabrics etc. I recently bought an authentic Guernsey because of you!!
Rajiv. We were taught to whack on the spine that is across the biggest eye. I don't know why but this appears to work best. We use the parang, our local machete :) We can also use the blender to milk the coconut meat. Cut it into small pieces. Blend. And strain well. 🌺🇲🇾
I just found you on Homemade today. I'm glad you popped up. You made a snowy day in Maine very enjoyable for this senior girl who is much like you in learning and accomplishing everything of interest then gifting or sharing your wisdom. I hope you continue this channel. You have been gifted many blessings...Trixie
Thank you Rajiv for gifting us not one but three videos on new year day! I can see not only you collect antique ironstone but also yellowware as well. Me too! Me too!🤛🤛🤛
I love this video and I can’t wait Tamil cooking lessons!! My in-laws, who live in Kerala, have a coconut scraper attached to a low bench. The option you’ve shown looks more apartment friendly and I’m excited to get one. Well done! Please keep making more of these
Each time I cruise in the islands,I find a local who is able to climb up and get me a coconut!I break it into many small chunks and snack on it during that first day!What a treat!You have inspired me to go purchase one and try to open it !Thank you!!!
Growing up we always ate coconuts but I never knew these tricks to open them! And I NEED to get that coconut scraper. Growing up we used a butter knife but it only cuts it into chunks. Will definitely be trying to make the coconut cream and milk! ✨ Thanks Rajiv :)
Another proud tamil here but a 3rd generation tamil out of India in Malaysia. We tend to wring the coconut flesh in a muslin or rough cloth. After doing the other steps. Oh also we use a sitdown coconut scrapper that's literally just a serrated blade on a stool. That is some backbreaking work.
I just watched one of your HGTV videos and commented that we need shows like this, like slow communication about meaningful small things. And now I found you're recent videos on your own channel!
So excited for you and to see where this channel takes you! And feeling pretty lucky that I get to be a recipient of all your knowledge and craft. Thank you for sharing! Also, I love the story about your aunt getting on you for leaving coconut flesh in the coconut...food carries such powerful memories!
Mr. Rajiv SSurendra, I'm so glad I found you on RUclips. You're like, becoming, the Male version of Mrs. Martha Stewart, whom I have much love & respect for! I love your sharing, reminiscing your life's journey & the profound positive impact its had on you. There's always something new to learn from your videos! Thank you! Wishing you all the bright sunny days to come your way.
Such a treat to have not only one but 3 videos! I love coconut and now I need to get that tool. Thank you Rajeev for this wonderful video . Happy New Year!!
I'm a pastry chef at a very popular restaurant, and the owner LOVES coconut. One of our most popular desserts is Coconut Cream pie which I had almost perfected but personally was never been happy with. I'd using canned coconut milk but after watching your video, decided to try making my own Coconut Milk from scratch. OH MY GOSH!! What a complete game changer. I've almost doubled the number of pies in the last 3 weeks and we're still running out. Thank you Rajiv. This is awesome.
Aw, what a great thing! I'm so honored to have contributed to your change! I wanna try your pie!!!
@@rajivsurendra OK...I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to get a Coconut Cream pie to New York City from New Mexico. (I use coconut macaroons as part of the crust so there's a coconut flavor throughout.) OR...you could come visit New Mexico and I'll show you around. Guaranteed you'd fall in love with the food here and would be taking back a bunch of roasted green chile in your suitcase. I have some Native American friends who are incredible artists, silversmiths and weavers -- so if you ever run out of ideas for videos, come visit and meet the amazing artisans around here.
I went back to making my own coconut milk after your video. What an inspiration.
@@torontocan It's fun, isn't it? Great stress reliever.
Omg, my favorite! I’d order one now if I were close!
I've never had any interest in making my own coconut milk but dang, Raji makes me want to do everything.
Same 😂😂😂😂
lol true
Just went a bought a coconut for the first time in my life 😂
EVERYTHING
Yeah he is selling us on all the things to do or make! Just love to watch, and learn. He makes you feel like he is just talking to you like there no camera involved. Lol love it
Living here in the Philippines. I can bet a million times that cooking using fresh coconut milk is unbeatable compared with any other milk. Pilipino's love "ginataan" (usually vegetables dishes with coconut milk). Hard work is very much paid off.
The first birth of a yt channel for me. So often I read comments like "I've been your subscriber since you had 5000 subscribers and I am so proud how far your channel had come." And now I witness this channel growing and gaining more and more viewers. So thrilling. And this one already started out with 15.100 at the time I write this in January 23. 🥰
Thank you! Please spread the word to anyone you know that might be interested in my videos!
@@rajivsurendra So artful!!! So delightful!!! Thank you so much, so glad to have found your channel!!!
I am not a fan of coconut at all, but my grandmother is; one day I’ll buy that tool and make some coconut treats alongside her in the kitchen before it’s too late. Thank you for sharing this technique and the family stories. It never feels like a random RUclips video but more of an educational story from a friend. Happy New years!
Yesterday was too late baby. Do it tomorrow please 😢❤
They sell that tool on Am*zon for 45 bucks !
Well said, his channel is the channel I never knew I needed even if it's just to hear his stories
Finally he has his own channel! I made our bed all fancy like Rajiv showed and my husband is HERE for it! As asian kids we always chose quick functional vs fancy functional. I like this fancy stuff. We deserve this fancy stuff. Keep giving, Rajiv!❤️
OH MY GOD. the hammer is such a genius idea! i'm south indian and have been cooking with store-bought coconut milk, this will change my life. thank you!
Omg omg omg I only just saw your channel trailer yesterday, and subscribed immediately! Just woke up to the New Year and lo & behold there's not 1 but 3 lovely new videos waiting!! I AM SO EXCITED AND DELIGHTED to watch them all as soon as I get some breakfast on the way. What a wonderful way to start off the year 😊. Happy New Year everyone!
We are so blessed that this content is free. It hits you in the solar plexus when he said about how the ancestors are connected to him in the noisiest city in the world in 2023. Beautiful.
Thank you so much for starting a RUclips channel. I love how you show us how to enjoy the beauty of everyday of life.
My Jamaican mom flooded me with childhood memories this past Christmas holiday with the sight and sound of her grating coconut to get fresh milk for a pudding (a dense “cake”). That “shhii-shhuu shhi-shhuu” sound means she is putting in work! I appreciate this video so much!
@Keronakerona Please share your moms recipe! Would love 2 try.
Can’t wait to see what raj does with carving out a Jackfruit!!
Recently discovered your wonderful & inspiring Chanel. Thank you!
Time well spent 🙂
Rajiv, you are showing us how rewarding slow living can be. And I love your kitchen - it's small but it's dynamite! What I mean is everything has a history. I can tell your silverware is antique, the mirror near the stove, those french lace curtains in your room, oh I could go on and on. You have items of value, from the good old days when artisans made things by hand. What you have is a perfectly curated home. I love your lifestyle and your videos. Have a wonderful and successful 2023!
Thanks for sharing your childhood memories of making coconut milk at home 😊. My mom grew up in the Caribbean. She would find the coconut like you mentioned. For tge coconut water she poked a hole in the eye of the coconut with a hammer& nail. Then stuck a straw in it for us to drink directly from the coconut. She would also split it the way you did. She then let my sister & I chew the flesh immediately no utensils. To get the last bits we'd get a spoon. She would make coconut milk just like you demonstrated. She would add it to cold rice with cinnamon & butter for breakfast. Such delightful & delicious memories😊
Great video Rajiv! In south India we use a little stool with the blade. It helps get all the little white bits.
Also we use a clean thin white cloth to strain the coconut milk. It’s super efficient than using hand and sieve. You can just dip the whole thing in water and get more milk.
I was wondering about using gauze cloth also. Thanks for the tip.
Also known as “cheese cloth”.
Pavithra Kodmad - I live in Canada but originally from Guyana, South America. We also used a stool with a blade, and I used to grate dozens of coconut to make oil.
That's the way coconut is traditionally grated in the Philippines as well.
I’ve binged your HGTV videos and am ecstatic to find you made your own RUclips channel! Can’t wait to see what you have to show us and maybe people you’d like to introduce us to ◡̈ 💛
I'm recovering from a c section. With little mobility your videos are inspiring me to bring life into my home with a new son and how I'd like to add to raisin him. Thank you. Your mom did a great job!
Loved this! Sending to a friend who lives in a remote beach town in Costa Rica. He is surrounded by coconuts! He will love this! Thank you, Rajiv!
Thank for for these gems. Much appreciated. Between the antidote about your Mother ripping out imperfect hems (obviously from the upholstery video), and now hearing about her expecting you to grind out every morsel of coconut, your pursuit of excellence seems to be in your genes and was reinforced by nurturing and example. Bravo!
Rajiv, you make this old man smile with every entry you put out, HGTV, Instagram and now here on RUclips! Your appreciation of the traditional ways of life and bringing their values back to life. And your expressed joy in teaching them and sharing them with us. Love your wit and your humor. Keep it up, Happy New Year and much luck with your channel! 👍
3 videos to welcome us in to 2023! I don't see myself ever doing this, but I loved watching the process. Thank you for sharing!
Why not? It seems labor intensive but isn’t it fun to do things yourself? I’m really getting into my diy phase so I can have control over what goes in my body and often times I save money and get a better yield 😮
What a great start for 2023! Thank you for letting us share your inspired living and blessing us with your beautiful spirit.
Excellent video! Love this! Quick note - the background music was way too loud. Just a note. No criticism. I’m thrilled you have your own channel 😃👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks, I'll let my boss know about the music.
@@rajivsurendra I agree Rajiv, I like the music, just at a way lower volume so I don’t miss hearing your wonderful voice and words!
I didn't realise it was coconut milk from the thumbnail! Mobile is so poor for showing titles! This was fun to watch and educational, I love it!
Enjoyable, well presented and delightful! Thank you for teaching these techniques and sharing your cultural traditions, this was indeed a treat!
Perfect start to the New Year! I lived in Tamil Nadu in south India for a bit and miss Tamil food, so I am excited to see and try your recipes 😋
I love your little family stories. I’m first generation American. My parents are Dutch-Indonesian. Growing up in a big family we all had to chip in and help. The best memories were made in the kitchen with my cousin’s and Tante’s prepping and cooking for a get together. Sometimes our grandmother would be visiting. She was an amazing cook, an awesome storyteller (in her combination English, Malay and Dutch), and definitely the boss in the kitchen! 🥰 You DID exactly what Oma asked without delay! Now I’m “Oma” (grandmother). Thinking back to those early days in the kitchen just warms my heart.
Love this!!! Would love to see more videos about Sri Lankan food, and maybe even a guide/visit to a Sri Lankan grocery store!
Yes, I second this. I am a HUGE fan of Indian food, but know nothing about Sri Lanka food ! Eager to learn more !
One of my resolutions for the new year is to make better use of what I attend to. I’m so happy to see Rajiv will have wonderful content for us all to attend to throughout the new year and beyond! Bravo!
Anyone else adore the moment at @11.35 where Rajiv pauses as the top runs 😍😎
This is beautiful and your words are always lovely and on point. I'm Portuguese, been living in the caribbean for 8 years and we get really good coconut and coconut milk from the store. But this makes me want to go to to my mother in law's house and make some with her and learn her special technique. Thank you Rajiv, for sharing your culture, your knowledge and your kindness.
Love your energy that's somehow measured and a little frenetic in excitement at once. Really wonderful to see the channel, and looking forward to future productions. The curry recipes, hair routine, accessories (especially the beautiful matching gold cuffs)--would love to hear about all!
i just got back for a trip to cuba to meet my father side of the family for the first time. I spent one afternoon with my great aunt in the countryside where she made me a no frills lunch and for dessert, hand scraped dulce de coco with the last little bit of sugar she had left. Ive never been a fan of this dessert in the US but Im guessing the fresh off the tree coconut makes the difference. This just brought me back to my favorite meal of the trip 🥰
watching this while drinking my fresh coconut water is DIVINE. Love your vids Rajiv!!
Thank you, Rajiv! I love your videos & production style. The topics presented are always so interesting & your personality shines!!❤
You are a phenomenal teacher! Patient, thorough, easy to follow and understand. Love it!
Keep it up Rajiv! I’m so motivated to disconnect but only connect online to learn more practical and holistic ways of doing things with my hands. I’m looking forward to you upcoming vids. Pace yourself and breathe into this journey. No pressure but only gratitude and appreciation your presentation and care.
*appreciation on how you presented your videos.
My Filipina grandmother (Lola) used to use a cleaver. I miss watching her cook our traditional foods. She used a makeshift scraper made from a spoon which was carved to make a "spork". The spork was screwed to a small stool. Lola would straddle the stool and scrape the coconut "meat" into a finely grated texture. As a child it became my task to grate the coconut and Lola would make sure I didn't leave any white coconut meat on the shell. Beautiful memories of my Lola and the simpler ways of cooking.
Here in the Philippines, there are two traditional tools used to scrape coconut meat off the shell. One is the kayuran -- a narrow wooden bench you sit astride on (like you would on a horse), which has a metal claw extending to one side that's long enough to come up between your legs and within reach of your hands. That claw is where you manually run the shell over several times until you've scraped every last bit of the precious meat off. The kayuran is typically used in coconut plantations, fresh food markets ("palengke"/ "palenque") or in households with big families that use plenty of coconut cream ("kakang gata" -- the first squeeze) and coconut milk ("gata" -- subsequent extraction) in their cooking. For smaller households or urban homes than don't scrape coconut that often, we have hard wooden or smaller metal versions of that kayuran claw. (Looks like a fork with shallow tines and you wield it like one, running it through the meat to scrape.) Not as effective as the real kayuran blade at scraping the shell clean, though, but it'll do. 😂
We use that in Guyana too, I never knew the name. Thanks.
Rajiv:
I love that you’re on RUclips! This channel is just what I needed: The art of living. Love the class on coconuts. Love the ode to classic cursive writing in your intro.
I noticed you have a copper tea kettle. I recently bought a vintage one. How do you care for yours? I haven’t used mine yet, but I want to. Any tips?
This is so interesting. I know I could pick out a good coconut for sure with your video. I have never had coconut milk. I hope you include in your videos of stories of your homeland. So very interesting. I know your parents are so proud of you. You know so much about so many things. I want to hear about it all. I am a senior citizen, so I am trying to absorb it all. Thank you so much Rajiv
This has to be my favorite topic so far! 😍
You go Rajiv! Congrats on your own channel! You've got yourself a subscriber all the way from Stockholm, Sweden.
Hi i am soo happy finally u started ur own channel and please do post soap and candel making videos.... congratulations for your start ...
LOVED the childhood stories!! 😁❤
This was definitely the video I didn’t know I needed. Absolutely love your content so far!! 🙌🏻
Congratulations Rajiv! I’ve been waiting for you to have your own channel so I could support you! Your many interest and knowledge are recognized and appreciated! Not all young people spend time around their elders (for different reasons) so they miss out on some important lessons that last a life time. I commend you for bringing what you have to the screen and now directly getting the benefit! I’ll be watching!
❤ Thank you! I learned so much! I had not known how to choose or open or scrape a coconut. This was all so interesting.
I’m excited to see more recipes!! Congratulations, Rajiv!! 🫶🏾
I so appreciate knowing how to chose and open a coconut, and how to get the cream and milk. I’d love to see how you make Tamil foods using the milk. I can’t wait for those videos!
Another brilliant video - thank you for reaffirming the value of old fashioned cooking tips.❤
This was EVERYTHING!
This was an AWESOME lesson on how Coconut Milk is made. I like coconut milk I never even thought about making it myself. I am wowed! WOW! WOW! WOW! “The more you know”
I look forward to seeing your videos. So happy you have your own channel 😊
Your videos are so relaxing. What an enjoyable delicious lifestyle you have created. Thank you for sharing your works. I appreciate things as you do, so I understand there is a spiritual tint to all. Beautiful way of living.
So thrilled that you have ventured into your own channel Rajiv. I’ve been loving all of the videos you have created over the past couple of years or so and now to have regular posts full of wisdom delivered in your wonderfully clear and calming manner has been a joyful treat to start off the New Year.
I love your handwritten thank you with perfect penmanship. Can left-handed people do calligraphy well?
I once took a calligraphy class with the calligrapher who worked full time at the White House, Rick Muffler, and he's left-handed!
Hey Rajiv I really enjoyed watching you crack open the coconut and story about the back yard being the usual place in Sri Lanka - I'm Australian, and remember cracking Macadamia nuts ( falling from your own tree or the neighbours hanging over the fence) with a bit of broken brick as a toddler outside the back door.... a life skill for sure...and off course you get to eat your own nuts. ... Macadamia nuts. Jacinta :)
Félicitations Rajiv! What a wonderful start to 2013 for absolutely everyone. Your channel is sure to be a huge success. I've already suscribed, given it a thumbs up and of course I will watch right through to the end. Kind regards from Melbourne, Australia.
👱♀️❤
Love the note about the auntie! We all have relatives like that
Hi Rajiv, gosh you just brought back a memory in this old head of mine !my Dad had a army bayonet that he used to open coconut
We are Irish I’m one of 12 kids yes we’re Irish ! Anyway we only got coconut at Halloween strangely enough , but boy did we appreciate this yearly treat ! My Mammy would chew the white bits then remove from her mouth ! Gross yes sorry we knew no better!! Thank you for this lost memory! 🙏🇮🇪☘️ oh buy the way your beginning to annoy me now young man you know so much , life has thought you well ! God Bless you and keep you safe for you have so much to offer? Sending you a big Hug❤️☘️🇮🇪
we make coconut milk similar to this in Jamaica, love this video...Thanks Rajiv!
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try this at home. Thanks Rajiv!
Thanks Rajeev, after about 8 attempts, it worked.
You made this look so easy!!!! I am from Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 and I can smell the coconut 🥥as you did! I loved this video and will be making my own as I exclusively drink coconut milk as my milk of choice! Thank you ♥
so happy you started your own channel! I've been binge watching your old ones for the last 4 days! Good luck! Now tell us pray about your 2 kadas with the elephant heads- I am assuming you got it from SriLanka but how on Earth do they stay head side up in all your videos? Mine always fall / rotate
Just binge-watched all three new videos. I love them! Would also love some more videos on your clothing, classics, fabrics etc. I recently bought an authentic Guernsey because of you!!
Yay!!! Happy New Year!! Happy New Channel! 🎉⭐️
Oh my, how lovely this first video is. My love of coconut cream is real, so this is a real treat. Thank you
Rajiv. We were taught to whack on the spine that is across the biggest eye. I don't know why but this appears to work best. We use the parang, our local machete :)
We can also use the blender to milk the coconut meat. Cut it into small pieces. Blend. And strain well.
🌺🇲🇾
One of the best thing about you Rajiv is, you make people smile from inside.
Love it! Congrats on the channel. Like everything you do, informative, creative & elegant. All the best in 2023
This was so satisfying to watch
I just found you on Homemade today. I'm glad you popped up. You made a snowy day in Maine very enjoyable for this senior girl who is much like you in learning and accomplishing everything of interest then gifting or sharing your wisdom. I hope you continue this channel. You have been gifted many blessings...Trixie
I watched them all…loved them all. I’m so happy you have a RUclips channel. You are an absolute delight!❤
so excited for more
Looking forward to Tamil recipes 🤗🤩
Thank you Rajiv for gifting us not one but three videos on new year day! I can see not only you collect antique ironstone but also yellowware as well. Me too! Me too!🤛🤛🤛
I love this video and I can’t wait Tamil cooking lessons!! My in-laws, who live in Kerala, have a coconut scraper attached to a low bench. The option you’ve shown looks more apartment friendly and I’m excited to get one. Well done! Please keep making more of these
I feel like this channel is teaching me how to be a true civilized adult
How absolutely fascinating! Love all your work and thrilled to see you have a RUclips channel now.
SO glad you are up and running on RUclips! Keep up the good work
Each time I cruise in the islands,I find a local who is able to climb up and get me a coconut!I break it into many small chunks and snack on it during that first day!What a treat!You have inspired me to go purchase one and try to open it !Thank you!!!
Growing up we always ate coconuts but I never knew these tricks to open them! And I NEED to get that coconut scraper. Growing up we used a butter knife but it only cuts it into chunks. Will definitely be trying to make the coconut cream and milk! ✨ Thanks Rajiv :)
Hi Rajiv! Can you please show us how to make a good Tamil chicken curry? Love your channel.
Rajiv, I love how you do your videos. Very classy, artistic, pleasant and informative. Thank you and subscribed ❣️☺️
Of course I loved this Rajiv. Wonderful! You are such a good teacher.
Another proud tamil here but a 3rd generation tamil out of India in Malaysia. We tend to wring the coconut flesh in a muslin or rough cloth. After doing the other steps. Oh also we use a sitdown coconut scrapper that's literally just a serrated blade on a stool. That is some backbreaking work.
I just watched one of your HGTV videos and commented that we need shows like this, like slow communication about meaningful small things. And now I found you're recent videos on your own channel!
I grew up in Sri Lanka when i was a kid, my mom always made coconut milk for curries. It was everyday thing. Love all your videos Rajiv! All the best.
Rajiv, I was so tickled to see that you have created your own channel. BRAVO
So excited for you and to see where this channel takes you! And feeling pretty lucky that I get to be a recipient of all your knowledge and craft. Thank you for sharing!
Also, I love the story about your aunt getting on you for leaving coconut flesh in the coconut...food carries such powerful memories!
Sharing your content. Great job!
Love this! If you're ever able to do a similar video but for oat milk I'd be interested to see it! I purchase mine from the store and use daily.
I am going to have to try this when my grandson is visiting. He will love doing this !! Thank so much!!! ❤
Mr. Rajiv SSurendra, I'm so glad I found you on RUclips. You're like, becoming, the Male version of Mrs. Martha Stewart, whom I have much love & respect for! I love your sharing, reminiscing your life's journey & the profound positive impact its had on you. There's always something new to learn from your videos! Thank you! Wishing you all the bright sunny days to come your way.
I loved, now I know how to open a coconut.☺️
(52 years of ignorance minimum 😬)
Rajid you are a treasure 🙌
What a perfect start to 2023! Thank you Rajiv!
This is how I wanted to start 2023! Great beginning! Happy New Year! 🎆♥️🎆
Never tried to open a coconut myself, so the tips are highly appreciated. 😄
Such a treat to have not only one but 3 videos! I love coconut and now I need to get that tool. Thank you Rajeev for this wonderful video . Happy New Year!!
Wonderful!! Thank you! I can't wait to try the dishes you're going to make, and I love these new videos!
I'm very happy you've finally created your channel. I wish you all the best on this journey .
I saw your St Therese statue in another video and the fact that you love her attracted me to your channel. 🌹