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coconut shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce

Coconut Shrimp

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Homemade coconut shrimp that's super crispy with a wonderful coconut crunchiness. Easy & quick enough to enjoy on busy weeknights! It takes a few minutes to set up the ingredients for breading the shrimp, but once you get rollin’, you’ll have hot, crispy coconut shrimp ready to eat in no time! 
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 376
Author Kim

Ingredients

  • 1 pound uncooked medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup shredded coconut (the sweetened variety)
  • vegetable or canola oil for frying
  • Optional for dipping: sweet chili sauce, cocktail sauce, ketchup

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add enough oil to fill the skillet about ½" from the bottom.
  • In a shallow dish, combine the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place 2 beaten eggs in a second shallow dish. In a third shallow dish, combine the panko breadcrumbs and shredded coconut.
  • Dredge the shrimp in flour, then dip in the beaten eggs, then coat in the panko/coconut mixture. Press the coconut onto the shrimp to get a nice, thick coating.
  • Carefully drop the coated shrimp into the hot oil and fry 2-3 minutes on each side, until the shrimp is cooked through and the breading is golden brown and crispy. Transfer shrimp to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, if desired.

Notes

BAKED COCONUT SHRIMP: If you prefer, you can bake the coconut shrimp instead of frying them. They won't turn out quite as crispy, but they're still delicious. Arrange the breaded shrimp on a greased sheet pan and spray a bit of cooking spray over the top of  the shrimp. Bake at 425ºF for 10-15 minutes or until browned.
AIR FRYER COCONUT SHRIMP: This coconut shrimp recipe works awesome in the air fryer! This might just be my favorite way to enjoy this recipe! Cook the shrimp in the air fryer at 400ºF for 3 minutes on each side. If your shrimp are extra large, 4 minutes on each side might be better.
Photos by Danielle from Our Salty Kitchen.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 368mg | Sodium: 1372mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 208mg | Iron: 5mg