- 3 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut (about 12 ounces)
- 7 large egg yolks
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons potato starch
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise, or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 pound rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 1/2 cups quartered strawberries (about 6 ounces)
- 1/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar
- Coarsely chopped pistachios, for serving
- Eight 6-ounce ramekins, dessert bowls, or teacups
- Blend coconut and 4 1/2 cups warm water in a blender until creamy, 2-3 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a large bowl, squeezing the cheesecloth to extract all of the coconut milk. Discard coconut solids.
- Vigorously whisk egg yolks and granulated sugar in a medium saucepan until mixture is pale and smooth, 2-3 minutes. Whisk in potato starch and salt. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; reserve pod for another use. Gradually whisk in coconut milk.
- Set saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens to a custard-like consistency and coats the back of the spoon, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and use a rubber spatula to push custard through another fine-mesh strainer into another large bowl. Let cool slightly, stirring occasionally. Divide custard evenly into ramekins (about 1/2 cup custard per ramekin) and chill until set, 2-3 hours.
- Meanwhile, cook rhubarb, strawberries, and brown sugar in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fruit is soft and juicy, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, then chill until ready to serve.
- To serve, top custards with strawberry-rhubarb compote and sprinkle with pistachios.