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Home > Starters/Appetizers > Coconut Shrimp

Home > Starters/Appetizers > Coconut Shrimp

Coconut Shrimp

Last updated July 26, 2021. Originally posted July 26, 2021 By Jyothi Rajesh 10 Comments

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coconut shrimp with red chili sauce
crispy coconut crusted shrimp with red chili sauce for dipping with text

Coconut shrimp is great party appetizer. Golden brown light flaky coconut crust on the outer is so crispy and the shrimp inside is so tender; you’ll fall instantly in love with this quick and easy to make finger food.

Cooking shrimps for close friends and family is always exciting. It’s expensive compared to other protein, but when handled well, it can taste like a million bucks like these bacon wrapped shrimp , bonefish grill copycat bang bang shrimp and lemon garlic shrimp.

crispy coconut shrimp with sweet chili sauce for dipping on white plate
Jump to:
  • About coconut shrimp recipe
  • Ingredients needed
  • How to bread shrimps
  • How to make coconut shrimp
  • How to make air fryer coconut shrimp
  • Tips to make best coconut shrimp
  • FAQS
  • 📋 RECIPE: Coconut Shrimp

About coconut shrimp recipe

1. This coconut shrimp recipe is great appetizer for any party or entertainment. It’s perfect finger food you want to serve for game day or football parties. IT’S PARTY PERFECT!

2. This recipe has been tested multiple times in my kitchen, and I can guarantee you one thing you won’t fail with overly breaded shrimp! Yes that was my first failure. I ended up with overly breaded shrimp and that so overwhelming the shrimp. 

3. You won’t need second coating; the recipe for breading is just perfect. When it comes to breaded deep fried seafood, light even coating to give you crunchy crispy outer is what you want. 

4. After frying you’ll get super crispy outer crust with sweet and tender shrimp inside. Easy to make and guaranteed crowd pleaser. 

coconut crusted shrimp with dipping sauce

Coconut shrimp needs a perfect complement, a dipping sauce to enjoy thoroughly. There are many choices for dipping sauce, I personally like with sweet chili sauce. Other great coconut shrimp sauces for dipping are apricot chili sauce or pineapple marmalade. Make sure to dip in the sauce for each bite, it’s heavenly!

Ingredients needed

Here’s what you’ll need- 

  • 1 lb large/jumbo shrimp
  • â…“ cup plain flour 
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 ½ cup shredded coconut 
  • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
  • Vegetable oil for frying   
ingredients for coconut shrimp recipe arranged on board

How to bread shrimps

You want to have light, even breading on the shrimp. The perfect method to achieve that – have 3 separate bowls with different coating mixes.

Bowl 1 – mix flour, garlic powder, salt n pepper to taste and smoked paprika together. 

flour mix for coconut shrimp recipe
flour mix for coconut shrimp recipe

Bowl 2 – whisk two eggs.

beaten eggs for breading coconut shrimps
beaten eggs for breading coconut shrimps

Bowl 3 – mix unsweetened shredded coconut and Panko bread crumbs.

shredded coconut and panko bread crumbs mix for making coconut shrimp
shredded coconut and panko bread crumbs mix for making coconut shrimp

How to make coconut shrimp

It’s crucial to have shrimps cleaned, de veined and pat dried ready before you start. Any moisture content in shrimp will cause oil spluttering all over your kitchen when fried. It’s hazardous! 

Take help: get your family to help bread the shrimp. A couple of extra hands always helps making the recipe fast. This recipe is two step – coating shrimp in three different mixes and fry.

My kids always offer to help when we plan on making it, little one is fond of coconut crusted shrimps. 

First coat shrimp in flour spice mix, next dip the shrimps in beaten eggs and finally finish it off with coconut-Panko coating. And in no time we had couple of trays of shrimps coated and ready to be fried. Team work is great! 

coating shrimps in flour mix
coating shrimps in beaten eggs
coating shrimps in shredded panko mix
shrimps crusted with coconut

Heat up oil in wide shallow pan. Wait for oil to reach temperature between 350 -375 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully transfer breaded shrimps into hot oil. Do not over crowd the pan. Fry few shrimps at a time, and you’ll have to fry couple of batches. 

cooking oil heated to 350 F
frying coconut crusted shrimp in hot oil

Once shrimps turn golden brown, remove from oil onto a tray lined with kitchen towel. 

fried coconut shrimps on white tray

Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce. 

How to make air fryer coconut shrimp

  • Coat shrimp in flour mix, then dip in egg, finally coat in shredded coconut + Panko bread crumbs.
  • Spray oil of pre-heated air fryer basket.
  • Arrange shrimp on it, and spray oil on top of shrimps as well.
  • Air fry coconut crusted shrimps at 400F for 7 minutes. Flip all shrimp and air fry for another 4 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Serve golden browned air fryer coconut shrimp with dipping sauce.

Tips to make best coconut shrimp

  1. Fresh shrimp works best rather than frozen shrimps. Leave the tail on while cleaning shrimps. Though this is optional, it makes it easier to bread shrimp. Easy to handle while eating too. 
  2. Jumbo shrimp or large prawns are best for the recipe.
  3. Pat dry shrimps well before coating it in flour, egg, coconut mix. Any moisture in the shrimp will cause oil to splutter all over. 
  4. Unsweetened shredded coconut gives a nice savory touch to these fried shrimps. Sweetened shredded coconut gives a nice tropical touch to it. Pick your favorite.  
  5. Wait till oil is heated to 350 to 375 degree Fahrenheit. Fry in small batches. Do not over crowd the pan. Shrimps won’t crisp up evenly. 

FAQS

Can I use small shrimp?

Wouldn’t recommend small shrimps as they are difficult to handle while coating and during frying. Jumbo shrimp or large prawns are best for the recipe.

Can I use frozen shrimps?

No, fresh shrimp works best rather than frozen shrimps. Frozen shrimp won’t take on the seasoning coating well and you won’t get evenly coated golden brown coconut crusted shrimp.

Can I bake coconut shrimp ?

Yes, you can. To make baked coconut shrimp , bread shrimps as mentioned in the recipe. Arrange breaded shrimps on wire rack lined on baking tray and bake at 400 degree Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes flipping once in between. Place under broiler for 2 minutes to get that signature golden brown crust. 

Can I air fryer coconut shrimp?

If you own an air fryer , you have the best option to make golden crust air fryer coconut shrimp without deep frying. Spray oil of pre-heated air fryer basket.
Arrange shrimp on it, and spray oil on top of shrimps as well.
Air fry coconut crusted shrimps at 400F for 7 minutes. Flip all shrimp and air fry for another 4 minutes or until golden brown.

How can I turn this into KETO coconut shrimp?

If you are on keto diet it’s very easy to make this appetizer keto friendly. Replace plain flour with coconut flour and leave out Panko break crumbs( use only cocooned flakes for breading in third bowl). The rest of the recipe remains the same. 

fried coconut shrimp dipped in sauce

More party perfect appetizers to try:

Baked Zucchini Chips

Baked Potato Roses

Instant Pot Chicken Wings

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Deviled Eggs With Bacon

Bang Bang Shrimp

Chicken Enchilada Roll-Ups

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closeup of coconut crusted shrimps
crispy coconut shrimp with sweet chili sauce for dipping on white plate
5 from 9 votes

📋 RECIPE: Coconut Shrimp

Jyothi Rajesh
Coconut shrimp is that easy appetizer that is finger licking good. Golden brown light flaky coconut crust on the outer is so crispy and the shrimp inside is so tender; you’ll fall instantly in love with this quick and easy to make finger food.
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Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Party Food
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 297

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb large shrimp peeled de veined with tails on
  • 2 eggs
  • â…“ cup plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • Bowl 1 – mix flour, garlic powder, salt n pepper to taste and smoked paprika together.
  • Bowl 2 – whisk two eggs.
  • Bowl 3 – mix together unsweetened shredded coconut and Panko bread crumbs.
  • It’s crucial to have shrimps cleaned, de veined and pat dried ready before you start. Any moisture content in shrimp will cause oil spluttering all over your kitchen when fried.
  • First coat shrimps in flour-spices mix. Then coat in beaten eggs. Finally coat in coconut-panko bread crumbs mix. Place breaded shrimps on to tray. Repeat breading process for rest of the remaining shrimps.
  • Heat up oil in wide shallow pan. Once oil temperature reaches between 350 -375 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully transfer breaded shrimps into hot oil. Do not over crowd the pan. Fry few shrimps at a time, and you’ll have to fry couple of batches.
  • Once shrimps turn golden brown, remove from oil onto a tray lined with kitchen towel.
  • Serve immediately hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Video

Notes

    1. Fresh shrimp works best rather than frozen shrimps. Leave the tail on while cleaning shrimps. Though this is optional, it makes it easier to bread shrimp. Easy to handle while eating too. 
    2. Jumbo shrimp or large sized prawns are best for the recipe.
    3. Pat dry shrimps well before coating it in flour, egg, coconut mix. Any moisture in the shrimp will cause oil to splutter all over. 
    4. Unsweetened shredded coconut gives a nice savory touch to these fried shrimps. Sweetened shredded coconut gives a nice tropical touch to it. Pick which you would love.  
    5. Wait till oil is heated to 350 to 375 degree Fahrenheit. Fry in small batches. Do not over crowd the pan. Shrimps won’t crisp up evenly. 
 
Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 20gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 245mgSodium: 654mgPotassium: 230mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 202IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 133mgIron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Follow @CurryTrail and tag #CurryTrail to share your creation!

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Jacque Hastert says

    May 05, 2020 at 4:04 am

    5 stars
    These were finger licking, lip smacking, mouth watering good! I can’t wait to make these again and again!

    Reply
  2. Alena says

    May 04, 2020 at 9:38 am

    5 stars
    Woah these coconut shrimp look so unbelievably crispy and delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe for myself!

    Reply
  3. Charity says

    May 04, 2020 at 7:01 am

    5 stars
    Coconut shrimp are one of my favorite bar foods. Can’t wait to make these for our next diy date night. Adding the ingredients to my peapod cart! Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Laura Arteaga says

    May 03, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    5 stars
    Will definitely try making this next time we have people over! It looks simple to make and something that everyone would love. Pin it and hoping we can make it soon!

    Reply
  5. LaKita says

    May 03, 2020 at 2:39 am

    5 stars
    I love coconut shrimp but have never tried making them myself. This recipe looks so simple to follow that I will definitely be giving it a try soon!

    Reply
  6. Paige says

    May 02, 2020 at 7:33 am

    5 stars
    Love that these can be so delish in an air fryer! I LOVE coconut shrimp, its one of my faves, this is a great recipe!

    Reply
  7. Jenny Graves says

    May 01, 2020 at 9:53 pm

    5 stars
    Just delicious, our new favorite appetizer. Thank you for your notes, very helpful.

    Reply
  8. Tara says

    May 01, 2020 at 7:25 am

    5 stars
    I just purchased and air fryer and have been looking for the perfect recipe to try it out. I think I just found it! The kick from the paprika, and the crunchy coconut, I can taste it already!

    Reply
    • Jyothi Rajesh says

      May 01, 2020 at 11:45 am

      Thank you

      Reply
  9. Priya says

    February 10, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    Those shrimps look so delicious and crunchy!

    Reply

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Jyothi - Author of Curry Trail.

Welcome, I'm Jyothi

My food philosophy is simple, fresh and full of flavors! I love ‘spicy’ food. In fact so much so that I can skip dessert for extra spicy savory food!

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