Homemade Coconut Shrimp Recipe and Dipping Sauce
Published April 1, 2022. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This easy-to-make delicious Coconut Shrimp recipe is served up with a complimentary zesty orange dipping sauce. You will love the amazing flavors in this tasty classic appetizer.
I would eat seafood every day if I could. The different types of fish and shellfish can be prepared in a myriad of delicious ways. If you love seafood as much as I do, then check out my Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass or my Grilled Swordfish.
Coconut shrimp consists of peeled shrimp that are coated in a coconut breading that is then fried and served. In addition, they are commonly served with a dipping sauce. They are simple to prepare and can be served as an appetizer or as an entrée alongside a side dish.
The history of the origin of coconut shrimp is unknown, but many believe it’s the Caribbean or even Polynesian. Since coconut shrimp do not have an origin country, you will see them served at a myriad of different restaurants across the world.
Coconut Shrimp Ingredients
- Shrimp – I like 16/20 size shrimp for this, however, you can use whichever size you’d like.
- Flour – All-purpose flour will be used for the initial coating and for the egg wash.
- Corn Starch – This will be used in the egg wash to help create a tempura like batter.
- Eggs – large eggs will be used to make the batter for dipping the shrimp into before frying
- Club Soda – You can use club soda or cold water, or even beer.
- Coconut Shreds – Use sweetened coconut shreds for this recipe.
- Breadcrumbs – I prefer to use panko as I think it works best.
- Oil – Any neutral flavored oil will work.
Ingredients for the Dipping Sauce
Here is what you’ll need to make the coconut shrimp dipping sauce:
- Orange Marmalade – This is essentially a sweet orange jam or preserves with orange peel.
- Chili-Sauce – use the sweet chili-sauce for this recipe. You can use sambal if you want some spice.
- Mustard – I prefer Dijon or whole grain mustard.
- Honey – Any good raw honey will work.
- Hot Sauce – I like Tabasco, but and hot sauce will work.
How to Make Coconut Shrimp and Dipping Sauce
use easy-to-follow procedures to make this delicious Coconut Shrimp and Dipping Sauce recipe:
For the sauce add all the ingredients to a medium-size bowl and whisk until combined. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
In a shallow bowl or cake tin, whisk together the flour, salt, and pepper until combined. Set aside.
Next, whisk together the eggs with club soda, flour, corn starch, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl or cake tin until combined. Set aside.
Mix the coconut shreds and panko in a shallow bowl or cake tin until combined. Set aside.
Dust the shrimp with the flour, then dredge in the egg wash, and finally coat completely in the coconut breading.
Fry the shrimp in the oil for 2 to 4 minutes or until browned and cooked throughout. Drain on paper towels.
Serve the shrimp alongside the dipping sauce.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: While these are meant to be eaten immediately, you can keep them warm on a sheet tray with a rack in the oven at low temperatures (165° to 200°).
How to Store: Cover and keep the shrimp in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They will freeze covered after being cooked for up to 3 months. See chef notes on freezing raw. The dipping sauce will store in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 2 weeks. It will not freeze.
How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of coconut shrimp to a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper and heat at 350° for 4-5 minutes or until hot. If reheating frozen and cooked, place them on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper and heat at 350° for 13-15 minutes or until hot.
chef notes + tips
- You can freeze these once they have been breaded up before frying and will keep covered for up to 6 months.
- There is enough egg wash batter in this recipe for 2 pounds of shrimp, so feel free to scale down.
More Seafood Recipes
Video
Homemade Coconut Shrimp Recipe and Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
For the Shrimp:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup club soda
- ¾ cup corn starch
- 3 cups sweet coconut shreds
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 pound peeled and deveined tail on 16/20 shrimp
- oil for frying
- salt and ground white pepper to taste
Instructions
- For the Sauce: add all the ingredients to a medium-size bowl and whisk until combined. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Heat some oil in a medium-size pot over medium heat and keep at 350°.
- For the Shrimp: In a shallow bowl or cake tin, whisk together 1 cup of flour, salt, and pepper until combined. Set aside.
- Next, whisk together the 2 eggs with club soda, ¾ cup of flour, corn starch, salt, and pepper in a separate shallow bowl or cake tin until combined. Set aside.
- Mix the coconut shreds and panko in a separate shallow bowl or cake tin until combined. Set aside.
- Add a few shrimps at a time into the seasoned flour to coat. Dust off any excess then dredge in the egg wash, and finally coat completely in the coconut breading. Place on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper until all the shrimp have been breaded.
- Fry the shrimp in the oil for 2 to 4 minutes or until browned and cooked throughout. Drain on paper towels. Cook in batches for 3-5.
- Serve the shrimp alongside the dipping sauce.
Absolutely amazing!!!!
Made this tonight and melted from the flavor and the crunchy texture!!
Saved a bunch for another round later.
Excellent recipe!
Thank you!
My pleasure! Thanks for giving it a shot!
This maybe the 2nd time I gave this recipe 5 stars, and I’ll probably do it again because this is so easy and tasty! Not alot of prep no chopping. Don’t skip the sauce.
OMG so good I want to make these.
Made these tonight and they were delicious! The sauce is absolutely great and is a must have to go with the shrimp.
I started out with my oil a little too hot but adjusted and it worked out fine. Will definitely make again and probably will try tomake ahead and freeze them. Thank you again for another great recipe.
awesome
I just made this recipe and it turned out absolutely amazing! Coconut shrimp has always been a favorite of mine, but I’ve always been disappointed with other recipes I found online. This will now be my go-to.
This recipe Is a must try. Not any harder than regular fried shrimp, and sounds delicious
fantastic!
Didn’t have any club soda so we used beer! It was amazing. Used apricot preserved instead of orange marmalade and it was also amazing. You ROCK! Thank you.
that’ll work!
I made this recipe and it totally “elevated” my cocktail party. My guests couldn’t believe that I made them myself, thought I bought them at a fancy restaurant. Chef Billy’s recipes are always clear and easy to follow. His notes are always entertaining and educational.
Thank you, Chef!
Commis Carole Nannes
many thanks!
Absolutely perfect loved this recipe
amazing!
Excellent recipe. The only place we were able to find this previous was in a local restaurant. The taste of this recipe far exceeds what we were expecting. Thank you for all your great recipes.
Many Thanks!
Made the shrimp and sauce yesterday. Absolutley delicious and you’re right do not skip the sauce. Will definitely be making again! Thanks for the recipe Chef Billy!
so good!!
Made this the other night! My husband and I Loved it!!! 😋. So easy to be make and so much better than anything we have ever had at the restaurant 🥰
thanks for giving it a shot!!
I made this and it tasted great. Didn’t look as nice as the Chef’s though. Mine turned out darker.
thanks for giving it a shot!!
Ok, these are The Bomb. Or “Dope!” as my kids would say.
Make these. DO IT!
Awesome!
OH BILLY! You totally hit it out of the park with this Coconut Shrimp! And the orange sauce was perfect addition. I have made several of your recipes and they all come out amazing! My husband is loving being my taste tester.
Thank you for sharing all the goodness❣️
This recipe is so stinkin good!! Enjoy all your recipes that I’ve tried and am very thankful for your sharing your love of food!
Thank you chef Billy Parisi! I have made so many things you post and just want to thank you for giving me the confidence to do anything, you are amazing I love all your recipes and videos. I appreciate you thank you again.