Coconut a regular part of the diets of many people in the tropics and subtropics. Coconuts are distinct from other fruits because their endosperm contains a large quantity of clear liquid, called "coconut milk" in the literature, and when immature, may be harvested for their potable "coconut water", also called "coconut juice". Mature, ripe coconuts can be used as edible seeds, or processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh, charcoal from the hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk. Dried coconut flesh is called copra, and the oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking
Coconut and coconut milk are used, especially in Vietnam's southern style of cooking, including "kho", "chè", and curry ("cà ri"). In southern India, the most common way of cooking vegetables is to add grated coconut and then steam them with spices fried in oil. People from southern India also make chutney, which involves grinding the coconut with salt, chillies, and whole spices. "Uruttu chammanthi" (granulated chutney) is eaten with rice or "kanji" (rice gruel). It is also a main side dish served with "idli, vadai", and "dosai". Coconut ground with spices is mixed in "sambar" and other various lunch dishes for