Coconut Shrimp
Delicious and crunchy coconut crusted shrimp, and a delicious yogurt dipping sauce.
If you’re needing an island getaway but can’t quite make it there, bring the islands to you with this coconut shrimp recipe. These coconut shrimp are an air fryer recipe which means shrimp perfectly cooked to crispy coconut perfection. And, it’s so easy that it’s like having a mini vacation in your kitchen.
Served alongside a sauce made with yogurt, pineapple, lime, and coconut; this creamy, zingy, fruity dip is simply delicious. These flavors combine to create a light flavor that is perfect for a summer dish or brighten up the dark days of winter.
Health benefits of shrimp
Shrimp alone are jam packed with nutrition. They are a good source of:
- Selenium
- Vitamin D
- Omega-3s
- And Iron
The breading and the oil in a fried coconut shrimp recipe can add a lot of fat and carbs. However, here are a few ways to make healthy coconut shrimp:
- Baked coconut shrimp – Baking instead of frying!
- Grilled coconut shrimp – Grilling instead of frying
- And air fryer coconut shrimp – My favorite method because you get the same results as frying without the addition of oil!
All of these use less oil, but the air fryer is hands down the best at cooking and crisping to perfection. You get the same crunchy, crispy, coconut shrimp.
Where did coconut shrimp originate?
There’s a lot of debate about where coconut shrimp originated. So many tropical coast locations have shrimp in their cuisine. The mixing of shrimp and coconut probably originated in the south pacific specifically South East Asia where coconut is a common flavor.
So, while we have no idea of the true origins, to whoever invented it, lets just give a collective thank you for the culinary yumminess.
And let’s thank whoever invented the air fryer too, so that we can make crispy fried dishes like coconut shrimp with less effort, mess, and oil.
The air fryer works with the same technology as a convection oven. The air is circulated, and the moisture is evaporated. Which means, you get the same crispy crunchiness as frying with oil, without the added calories.
How do you make beer battered coconut shrimp?
I am obsessed with coconut shrimp, and the most popular version is a beer battered coconut shrimp. Where you take shrimp, and dip it in a batter made with beer, roll it in coconut, and fry it. Then dip it in a sweet or savory dipping sauce.
This air fryer coconut shrimp uses the same basic method, only instead of a beer batter, I keep it simple with an egg and flour or corn starch wash. This is easy, requires only pantry ingredients, and allows the flavors of the sweet coconut and meaty shrimp to shine through.
Tips for Coconut Shrimp:
- Use jumbo shrimp for the best results. You want those big, succulent shrimp so you aren’t getting all batter.
- Keep things cold. You want your shrimp defrosted but chilled. Same with the batter. If things get too warm the batter won’t stick to the shrimp.
- Use separate bowls for:
- Cornstarch + salt
- Egg whites
- Coconut flakes
- Have a great dipping sauce that compliments the flavor of the shrimp and coconut instead of overpowering it. For me that is this fantastic yogurt dipping sauce. It utilizes a lime yogurt, mixed with fresh pineapple, and more coconut for a truly tropical treat.
Instead of flour and whole eggs I use corn starch and egg whites. With the egg whites I find that this cuts down on fat and calorie without compromising the flavor or texture. And corn starch requires a thinner coat for the crispy finish, which I simply like better than the flour.
How do you air fry coconut shrimp?
Cooking coconut shrimp in the air fryer couldn’t be easier. The air fryer does all the heavy lifting. All you have to do is:
- Batter the shrimp
- Add the shrimp to the fryer basket without overcrowding, there has to be room for the air to flow around the shrimp if you want to get the fried like textures.
- Set the air fryer for 330℉ for 15 min and let it do its thing.
- Repeat until you’ve got all the shrimp you want.
It really is that simple. The air fryer is your best friend. With it you’ll be able to make coconut shrimp food network would be proud to showcase.
It starts like this:
Then after the air fryer does its magic, it looks like this:
I love serving this coconut shrimp with:
-
- Spiced Sweet Potato Wedges
- As an appetizer along with Stuffed Mushrooms or Zucchini Bites
- Greek Cucumber Salad
If you Love The Air Fryer Try These Recipes:
- Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breast Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Fries
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Air Fryer Turkey Legs
Coconut Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 egg whites
- 1 cup flakes sweetened coconut
- 1/2 pound large raw shrimp
Yogurt Sauce
- 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt greek style
- 1 Tablespoon coconut flakes sweetened
- 2 Tablespoons orange marmalade
- 2 Tablespoons crushed pineapple
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, combine the cornstarch and salt.
- In a second shallow bowl, add the egg whites
- In a third shallow bowl, add the coconut
- Working with one shrimp at a time, dredge in the cornstarch mixture, then egg whites, then coconut.
- Spray air fryer with non-stick cooking spray. Add shrimp to air fryer basket without over-crowding
- Select the shrimp setting, 330 degrees, for 10-15 minutes. (Depending on size of shrimp)
- Repeat until all shrimp are cooked.
Yogurt Sauce
- Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Thin if needed with pineapple juice or coconut milk.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Jocelyn says
I love how absolutely crispy and delicious these are! Plus, that dipping sauce is divine!!!
Kristyn says
I love the crisp & taste of these!! And, I love how fast they can be made in the air fryer! Thanks for sharing!
Jamielyn says
YUM! These look so crispy and delicious!
Lauren says
I am saving this to make this weekend because I just got an air fryer! I ma so excited!
Jennifer says
I’m going to make these this weekend! We love our air fryer!
Carol says
How many shrimp are considered a serving?
Rachael says
For the nutrition calculator I went with 3 jumbo shrimp as a serving.
Jess says
Where is the recipe for the dip?
Allison says
Could you please share the recipe for the dipping sauce?
Rachael says
So sorry, bot sure how I missed sharing it. It is 1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt, 1/4 cup drained crushed pineapple, 1 tsp lime juice, and a 1 tbs of shredded coconut.
Shalayah says
Amazing recipe! Works well with small shrimp as well :). Do you happen to have the nutritional value for the yogurt dip?
Rachael says
I don’t have it calculated, but you could use myfitnesspal to figure it out pretty easily.
Sherrie says
Do u use any type of oil then I didn’t see it in the directions ?
Rachael says
I spray the air fryer with non-stick spray, but I do not use any other oil.
Deb says
These are so easy and so good and crispy. Thank you !!
Cassidy green says
Would using cooked shrimp change the time?
Rachael says
If the shrimp is already cooked it will be like rubber. I would not recommend doing this at all.
brutus sanchez says
I found the shrimp to be way too sweet with all the coconut. And yes, I used unsweetened coconut. I cooked two batches, one at 320 for 15 minutes and one at 320 for 10 minutes. Both times I thought the shrimp had dried out and gone over. I had the same experience with Bam Bam Shrimp in the air fryer at a higher temp and shorter time. I’m thinking that shrimp and air fryer do not pair well.
Rachael says
That is a bummer, we have made this several times and it has always been awesome. What brand air fryer are you using? I will play around with the recipe on a few other models to see if it matters.