Go Coconuts at your Wedding

Coconuts come in many forms, and are an essential ingredient in many Thai dishes. Why not make their tropical flavour a delicious theme as part of your wedding day feast?

The taste of a fresh coconut immediately conjures images tropical beaches, indulgent holidays and cherished memories – some of which are likely to be in Thailand.

Whether you’re a fan of creamy coconut curries or sticky coconut-based desserts, you’ll find this fresh ingredient comes in many forms in Thai cuisine and tends to crop up in a lot of dishes you might not expect.

If you’re a coconut fan, then why not place it centre stage in your wedding day menu? If you’re hosting your wedding at a private villa, then you can even work closely with the professional on-site chef to incorporate a selection of coconut dishes in the wedding feast for guests to try.

The selection below only scratches the surface but there are plenty of ideas to get you started.

Start with the Soup

Everyone loves a steaming bowl of chicken soup, and tom kha gai is Thailand’s wonderful answer if your taste buds are craving it. Coconut milk forms the broth of the soup, beautifully offsetting the soup’s spicy undertones with its gorgeous creaminess. A plethora of herbs and spices such as chili, lime and basil give this soup its signature flavour, and thanks to the coconut milk, it’s a great option for guests who want to steer clear of menu options that are on the fiery side. You can also ask your villa’s chef to switch the chicken for mushrooms if you’re going to be catering for a lot of vegetarians.

Curry with a Twist

While Thai green curry is a classic favourite amongst the lovers of coconut milk-based curries, this dish offers an alternatives for foodie brides and grooms that want to venture off the beaten track a bit more when it comes to putting their wedding day menu together. Panaeng curry can be cooked using pork, chicken or beef as the meaty component, and you could even ask your villa’s chef to use tofu if he or she is going to be catering for any vegetarians. Fairly similar to Thai red curry in flavour, this rich, thick curry is sure to go down a hit with all of your guests, and is best served alongside a bowl of steamed rice.

Seafood Sensation

If you’re a fan of seafood curries, then look no further than hor mok. A delectable blend of fish, curry paste and coconut milk forms the bulk of this wonderful dish. Of course, if you’re celebrating your wedding in a coastal location like Koh Samui or Phuket, then there’s no reason why plenty of other seafood temptations shouldn’t be incorporated into the dish in addition to white fish. For example, prawns and squid make an excellent addition. If you’re keen to continue the coconut theme, have the curries served in hollowed out coconut shells, with the coconut flesh scraped into the sauce itself where it can soak up all of the wonderful flavours.

Sweet Appetizers

As well as being perfect to satisfy a sweet tooth after all of the savoury dishes at your wedding, many Thai desserts are perfect for snacks, too. Khanom Krok is an all time favourite, and something you may have seen prepared at street food stalls from time to time when out and about exploring. Made from coconut and rice flour, these gorgeous pancake-like snacks are simply irresistible and can be topped with an array of ingredients including sweet corn, coconut paste or even green onions. It’s the perfect appetiser to hand out to guests as they sip on champagne after your wedding ceremony.

One for the Kids

Coconut can be found in a whole host of Thai desserts, but woon ma plow (coconut jelly) just happens to be one of kid’s top choices. This clear coconut jelly is left to harden, then served in a coconut shell for extra wow factor. Light and refreshing, it’s the perfect sweet to finish your meal after plenty of spicy dishes. It’s also a great option if you have any little ones at your wedding that don’t want any heavy desserts before they head off to play in your villa’s dedicated play area.

 

"The Signature Weddings is a bespoke destination weddings service offering a wide range of options to couples. However, some of the products and services mentioned in the blog articles on this page may not be available as part of the Signature Weddings' service."