Fried coconut shrimp is the absolute best appetizer. It's easy, and everyone loves it, any time of year. Serve it up with a ginger lime honey dipping sauce and the sauce and it's just *chef's kiss*.
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FAQ's about Fried Coconut Shrimp
Coconut shrimp is shrimp that has been battered with breadcrumbs or coconut flakes. Typically it's fried, but it can also be baked.
Coconut shrimp is often served with different sauces to go with it, for example, sauces flavored with coconut, lime, honey, or other tropical flavors.
While shrimp itself is low in fat, adding the breading and frying definitely makes it less healthy than roasting or boiling it.
Why Fry Rather than Bake?
To me, baking coconut shrimp is a great option if you're looking for a healthier take. But to get that crispy coating, frying is the way to go. It's hard to get the same result when you bake it.
That being said - it's also way easier to bake them. Just throw all the shrimp on a baking pan at once, bake, and take out of the oven. No standing over a hot stove.
Should I Leave the Tails On?
Yes, but it doesn't matter that much. It just makes it easier to flip them over while your frying them. If some fall off or they come with their tails off, don't worry about it.
Do you have any Other Dips I can Try?
I sure do. I made a whole post about different dips to try with any kind of shrimp, including coconut.
How to Make Fried Coconut Shrimp
Making Fried coconut shrimp is pretty easy, but there are a few steps, and you do have to stand over a frying pan. That being said, it's a basic battering method for almost anything you fry, so here we go.
Ingredients
For this recipe (and most shrimp recipes) I really prefer Argentinian shrimp. Argentinian shrimp are caught off the coast of, you guessed it, Argentina. Unlike other species of shrimp, the are red when they are pulled out of the ocean, and when they're raw (so the shrimp turning pink isn't necessarily an indicator of doneness). They have a super sweet flavour and a beautiful meaty texture that some have compared to lobster. Once I tried them, I haven't looked back.
You can absolutely sub your favourite type of shrimp in this recipe though. They all work!
Ingredients for the Dipping Sauce
This I kept this one as simple as possible:
- Honey
- Ginger
- Lime
- Water
Batter & Frying the Shrimp
There are three different steps to this batter. First is the base layer, which is a mix of flour and cornstarch. Whenever I'm frying something with a batter, there is cornstarch involved. It's the secret ingredient to making everything extra crispy.
So, we're going to have three shallow bowls or pie plates. In the first is our cornstarch and flour mixture. The second is two lightly beaten eggs, and in the third is a mixture of panko and sweetened coconut flakes. You can definitely use unsweetened if you want - I just have a major sweet tooth, so that's my preference.
At this point, you also want to make sure you are heating up your pan. I love my cast iron skillet for this. It just heats the oil so evenly, and it's non-stick as well. Pour enough vegetable oil in the bottom so it's completely covered, about three to four tablespoons. You might need to add more as you cook the shrimp in batches.
Now, one by one, dip the shrimp in the flour/cornstarch, then the egg, then the coconut and panko. It's super messy and goopy I know - you can use tongs if you want, but I find the batter just builds up on them until you can't even use them anymore. Next, lay them in your pan, making sure they have plenty of space around them. Cook for about 2 minutes before you flip them.
Pay careful attention to the amount of heat you're using. If the coconut is browning too fast, then turn it down. If the shrimp are overcooking but your batter still isn't golden, turn it up.
Flip the shrimp and let them cook for another two minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined plate, or better yet, a cooling rack over a baking sheet.
Make the Honey Ginger Lime Sauce
This one is easy. Gather all the ingredients, whisk in a small bowl, and that's it! Only add as much water as you need though - it tends to get runny super quick.
Tips & Tricks
- Make sure the shrimp is as dry as possible before coating it in the batter. This helps make it crispy!
- Keep an eye on the temperature your frying at. Start at medium, but then adjust if the shrimp are browning too quickly, or over cooking. I found I had to adjust my heat pretty often to keep it consistent.
- Add more oil to the pan in-between batches.
- After you take the shrimp out of the pan, put them on a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet. This will make sure they stay crispy.
Freezing & Reheating
These guys actually do freeze pretty well. Place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer until frozen, and then store in a large freezer bag. Thaw and then reheat by placing them on a baking sheet in the oven at 350F for 10-15 minutes.
Other Seafood Appetizers
Seafood makes some awesome appetizers, and there's no limit of things to choose from. Here are some of my favs:
📖 Recipe
Fried Coconut Shrimp With Honey Lime Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh or frozen shrimp peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3-4 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ C flour
- ½ C cornstarch
- 2 eggs
- 1 C coconut flakes
- ¾ C panko bread crumbs
Honey Lime Dipping Sauce
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1 lime zest and juice
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- ½ teaspoon water if needed to thin out the dip
Instructions
For the Coconut Shrimp
- Prehat a non-stick skillet with 3-4 tablespoon vegetable oil in it over medium-high heat.
- Prep your shrimp by patting them dry with a paper towel. Season them with salt.
- Set up three shallow bowls or pie pans. In the first, mix the cornstarch and flour together. In the second, put the two lightly beaten eggs. In the third, mix together the panko and coconut.
- Working one shrimp at a time, dip them first in the flour mixture, then the eggs, then the panko and coconut, making sure each is coated thouroughly. Then place in the pan. Keep dredging the shrimp until there's no room left in the pan. Cook for two minutes per side, and place on a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet.
- Continue with the remaining shrimp. You may have to add extra oil to the pan in between batches. Serve with honey lime dipping sauce.
Honey Lime Dipping Sauce
- Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine. If it's too thick add a ½ teaspoon of water.
Notes
Nutrition
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Hi, I'm Cara! I'm a food writer, journalist, and recipe developer. I'm obsessed good food, good wine, good cocktails and entertaining. I've picked up a few tips over the years, and love sharing them with others.
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