If you are looking for an appetizer dish to make for a party, these crispy baked Coconut Shrimp with sweet chili sauce are one of the easiest shrimp recipes I can recommend. It takes only 20 minutes of prep time, and then you pop it into the oven to finish. And the best part? These shrimp are baked, not deep-fried, making them a healthier alternative. The panko and shredded coconut coating bakes to a golden brown, giving you all the crispy goodness without the guilt.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Less oily, lighter, and oh-so-crunchy! Using Panko breadcrumbs is the key. Bonus: no deep fryer is needed. The shrimp stay crispy after baking because I used the same “pre-toasted panko” technique as you may have seen in my Baked Tonkatsu, Crispy Baked Chicken, and Crispy Salmon recipes. You’ll get a crispy texture even after reheating. Unlike most deep-fried coconut shrimp, these baked morsels don’t get greasy and remain crunchy. A fun and crowd-pleasing item to bake for an impromptu gathering or even as a main course.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Medium or Large Shrimp — They work perfectly for this recipe, and you will find about 22 medium/large shrimp per pound—a good number to work with! If they do not come already prepared, make sure to devein them. Olive oil — A bit of oil is needed to pre-toast the panko. Vegetable oil will work if it is all you have. Panko (Japanese bread crumbs) — These are so much lighter and crisper than run-of-the-mill breadcrumbs. Sweet shredded coconut — I like sweetened coconut for this recipe as it browns up much nicer, and the bit of extra sweetness makes it that much more irresistible. Flour — The shrimp gets pre-dredged in flour before the delicious coconut breading. Paprika — The addition of paprika adds to the nice golden finish. Sweet chili sauce — I cannot imagine a better dip for these shrimps. Of course, if sweet chili sauce isn’t your thing, that’s okay! I have provided some great dipping alternatives in the ‘tips’ section! Cilantro — This is the classic garnish for this dish. Just a few sprigs are needed to make the presentation pop. Leave out if you’re not a fan.
How to Make this recipe
Preheat the oven. Toast the panko in a frying pan until golden brown. Season the shrimp while the panko is cooling. Dip the shrimp in the flour mix, then the beaten egg, and finally, the panko/coconut mixture. Place on a baking sheet and bake until nice and crispy!
Recipe Tips
Be sure to pat dry the shrimp before seasoning and dredging. Cooking for a bigger group? Because this recipe is quite simple to double (or even triple), that won’t be a problem. If you have extra time, make homemade sweet chili sauce yourself. I really like the homemade chili sauce I made for the Grilled Lemongrass Chicken recipe.
Ideas for Dipping Sauce
My family loves dipping them in Thai sweet chili sauce, but there are so many other dips that will work:
Lime and yogurt dip. This makes a subtle, cooling dip. You can whip up your own using plain, unsweetened yogurt with freshly squeezed lime juice, lime zest, honey, a pinch of cayenne, salt, and pepper. Serve with lime wedges for garnish. Chutneys: An Indian mango or pineapple chutney will go amazingly with the shrimp, too.
What to Serve with Coconut Shrimp
Coconut shrimp make a fabulous snack or appetizer, but with a side dish, they could be an entree. There are tons of great options, but here are a few that I like:
Storing and Reheating Coconut Shrimp
You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days or in the freezer for a month. Using an oven or toaster oven to reheat the breaded shrimp will keep them crispy. Reheating in the microwave will not yield the same texture. Did you know that the shrimp and prawns are from completely different families? However, it is quite common for the names to be interchanged in the culinary world. In this recipe, it won’t matter if you used shrimp or prawns – bear in mind, though, that if the shrimp are really big, such as jumbo shrimp, you may want to increase the cooking time a bit. In that case, it would be good to still bake them at 400 for 15 minutes but then give them 5 minutes longer at 325.
