Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Red Chili Sauce
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These restaurant-style coconut shrimp are remarkably easy to make: you can do all of the prep ahead and the sauce comes straight out of a bottle.
I’ve had coconut shrimp at many restaurants, but this homemade version beats them all. It’s remarkably easy to make: you do all of the preparation in advance, so all that’s left to do at dinnertime is quickly fry the shrimp, and the sauce comes straight out of a bottle. Serve as an appetizer or light dinner with my Asian-style slaw.
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Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Red Chili Sauce
These restaurant-style coconut shrimp are remarkably easy to make: you can do all of the prep ahead and the sauce comes straight out of a bottle.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds raw extra large shrimp (16-20 per pound), peeled and deveined with tails left intact, thawed if frozen
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 large egg whites
- 2 cups unsweetened medium shredded coconut (available at Whole Foods or natural food markets - see note below)
- 2½ tablespoons sugar
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Thai Sweet Red Chili Sauce (available in Asian section of most supermarkets)
Instructions
- Place the cornstarch, salt and cayenne pepper in a large zip-lock bag and mix well. Add the shrimp to the bag, seal shut and shake to coat evenly. Set aside.
- Using a fork, beat the egg whites in a small bowl until frothy. Place the coconut and sugar in a large shallow bowl or pie dish and mix well.
- Holding each shrimp by the tail, shake off excess cornstarch, dip into the egg whites (let the excess drip off), then dredge in the coconut mixture, turning to coat evenly (if the sugar drops to the bottom of the dish a bit, move the shrimp around so it gets coated with both the sugar and coconut.) Place the shrimp on foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook. This can be done several hours ahead of time.
- Pour enough oil into a large nonstick pan to reach a depth of ½-inch; heat over high heat until hot. To test if the oil is hot enough, use tongs to hold one shrimp by the tail and submerge it in oil; if it sizzles and crackles, it’s ready. Working in batches so as not to crowd the pan, add the shrimp to the hot oil and fry, turning once, until golden brown. It should take between 40-60 seconds per side; if the shrimp are browning too quickly, turn the heat down a bit. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the shrimp to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Arrange the shrimp on a platter and serve with the Sweet Red Chili Sauce.
- Note: I like to use unsweetened shredded coconut and add sugar to it, as opposed to sweetened flaked coconut, because it's healthier, much easier to work with, and adds great texture to the dish.
- Note: Nutritional information was calculated assuming that approximately ¼ cup of the oil is absorbed into the shrimp when frying.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 447
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated fat: 17 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Sodium: 1140 mg
- Cholesterol: 191 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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You are my favorite online chef- have both your cookbooks. But this one is not my favorite. Probably my lack of skill but this makes a mess and the shrimp are hard to cook right (if you use extra large shrimp). Too much skill and time involved. Don’t think of it as a weeknight meal if you make it with the Asian slaw (delicious but so many elements!). ATG
Can’t find d the medium shredded coconut at Whole Foods anymore. Nor do any of the local health food stores carry it. Is there another substitute?
Hi Marylou, you can use the sweetened flake coconut instead.
Can I freeze these after prepping?
Hi Jo, glad you enjoyed these! While I’ve never done it and can’t say for sure, I don’t think you’d get the best result by breading and freezing before cooking – sorry!
How much can I do ahead of time? Would love to prep them completely, then fry right before guests arrive. Doable?
Hi Cheryl, you can fully prep them and refrigerate for several hours before frying them. Hope everyone enjoys!
My friend and I made Coconut Shrimp last week. It was one thousand times more delicious than we imagined it would be! We used one pound of shrimp (half the recipe), but when it came to the other ingredients, we forgot to halve the recipe. Oddly, there was very little leftover batter or coconut. If I ever use two pounds of shrimp, I will double the rest of the recipe. BTW, you are my go-to online chef. I have purchased both of your cook books and given several away for gifts. Thank you for offering up such tasty and reliable recipes.
Can I bake the shrimp? If so, how long and at what temperature?
Hi Janice, The shrimp is definitely better fried, but you can bake it if you’d prefer. I’d bake them in a 400-degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Please LMK how they turn out if you try it!
Hi Jennifer!
I absolutely love these and have lost count of the number of times I have made them. What are your thoughts on using an air fryer to cook them instead of frying?
Hi Angela, So glad you like these! I don’t own an air fryer so unfortunately, I can’t tell you confidently whether or not this would work in one. These tips may help you to convert this and other recipes for your air fryer. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Thank you so much for your quick reply and the link! I will experiment with a few of these shrimps and let you know how it goes!
First time making this recipe for supper tonight; easy to follow and worked out perfectly. Definitely a keeper! Thank you for another wonderful recipe Jenn.
Also made the coconut macaroons, so easy and they taste just like a ‘Bounty’ chocolate bar…decadently delicious!