Are you looking for a new way to prepare coconut shrimp in the air? You don’t even need a deep fryer to enjoy Shrimp. Instead, you can use an air fryer, which cooks food at lower temperatures without using Oil. The result is a crispy golden-brown crust and juicy, tender flesh.
Shrimp is one of the most versatile seafood dishes out there. Depending on their species, they come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. And they are also very affordable compared to other types of fish or meat. This article will guide you on how to cook Shrimp in an air fryer.
Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Recipe
Cooking coconut shrimp in the air fryer is a delicious dish made using coconut oil and Shrimp, which has been cooked for several hours until tender. You can serve coconut shrimp with spicy sauce and vegetables.
It is a dish made from coconut milk and seafood. The coconut shrimp recipe requires about 20 minutes of preparation. Once cooked, the coconut shrimp tastes excellent served hot or cold. The best part of eating coconut shrimp is that it tastes like fried calamari.
Where did Coconut Shrimp originate?
Coconut Shrimp originated from Thailand and is used as an appetizer for weddings and other celebrations. They are made by frying small raw prawns in Oil until golden brown.
Then, the shells are removed, and the Shrimp are tossed with fresh lime juice, Salt, chili paste, and chopped green onions.
Which ones are the Best Shrimp to use for Coconut Shrimp?
For this dish, you’ll need to find large, raw Shrimp with their tails still attached and peel them yourself. If you’re serving coconut shrimp as an appetizer, I suggest keeping their seats on. To get started, you can choose to cut off the tails if you prefer.
Since they will diminish in size after cooking, giant Shrimp work great in this dish. However, you can use medium-sized Shrimp, although They will be pretty small. This honey garlic shrimp dish also works well with medium-sized Shrimp.
Health benefits of Shrimp:
Shrimp is one of the best sources of protein for your diet. The health benefits include strengthening bones, improving digestion, relieving constipation, increasing energy levels, boosting immunity, reducing blood pressure, preventing diabetes, and lowering cholesterol.
Shrimp contain Omega-3 fatty acids.
Which helps reduce inflammation throughout the body. Shrimps also contain vitamin B12, which helps maintain healthy red blood cells.
Shrimp can reduce cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure. Shrimp also contains high amounts of protein, which helps build muscle mass and keeps you full longer.
What do you need to make Coconut Shrimp?
The tools you need include a large wok, some shrimp, a bowl of flour, a deep fryer or air fryer, and a large pot filled with water. To make coconut shrimp, all you need is fresh coconut meat, Salt, hot pepper sauce, Oil, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper.
How Long Does It Take to Cook?
Shrimp, depending on size, can be cooked thoroughly in an air fryer for 10–12 minutes. If you want a uniformly crispy result, flip them over halfway through cooking.
How to coat the Shrimp?
Coating the Shrimp in three fast stages, as we do with baked chicken fingers, will ensure that the coating truly sticks to the Shrimp.
First, dip the Shrimp in flour, beaten eggs, and coconut breadcrumbs. Flour makes the egg stick, the egg makes the coconut stick, and the Coconut itself provides a prominent flavor.
To prevent the Coconut from falling off, combining it with Panko breadcrumbs is essential.
Recipe 1 (Deep fried)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Serving: 4 people
Cooking Difficulty of the air fryer recipes: Easy – perfect for beginners using their new best air fryer. Store the leftovers in an airtight container.
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Calories: 413 calories
Ingredients
- Half a cup of white flour or whole wheat flour
- Salt, About Half a Teaspoon
- Ground black pepper, half a teaspoon
- The whites and yolks of 2 giant eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
- One cup of sugar-coated coconut flakes
- 1 pound of uncooked, big Shrimp
- Three to four tablespoons of Oil (Coconut or vegetable)
- One tablespoon of minced cilantro (optional).
- Preparing Sauce for the air fryer coconut shrimp recipe (Optional)
- 3 Tablespoons of Thai Chili Sauce
- 6 Tablespoons of fruit preserves, such as orange, peach, or apricot jam – these will be perfect in your air fryer recipes.
Instructions
- Put out three bowls of similar size to begin. Mix Flour, Salt, and pepper can all in the same bowl. Then, in a separate bowl, whisk the eggs.
- In the third container, mix the Coconut and Panko.
- Shrimp should be dipped in flour, eggs, and the coconut mixture last, using a light touch to ensure the coating sticks. There should be a generous amount of Coconut on each Shrimp. Put the Shrimp on a platter after coating them and continue covering the rest.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, pour enough Oil to cover the base. Do not overcrowd the pan while frying the coconut shrimp; cook in batches of, say, seven or eight Shrimp. Fry for two minutes, then flip and repeat until both sides are golden brown. Since we like ours well done, I usually give the frying process 2:30–3 minutes on each side.
- While the rest of the Shrimp are frying, transfer the cooked coconut shrimp to a paper towel-lined platter. Garnish with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro. To serve with Shrimp, combine the ingredients for the dipping sauce and mix well.
- You may keep Shrimp in the fridge for up to 3 days if you cover it and refrigerate it.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 403kcal (20%)
Carbohydrates: 8g (3%)
Protein: 25g (50%)
Fat: 30g (46%)
Saturated Fat: 7g (44%)
Cholesterol: 148mg (49%)
Recipe 2 (Oven Baked)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook Time for air fryer recipes: 25 min
Serving: 8 people
Cooking Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: America
Course: Appetizer
Calories: 162 calories
Ingredients
- One kilogram, twenty-four giant raw Shrimp
- Half a cup and one tablespoon of sweetened coconut flakes
- Panko crumbs, or gluten-free bread crumbs, 1/2 cup plus one tablespoon
- Two tablespoons flour (all-purpose or gluten-free) 1 tbsp
- a single large egg, a teaspoon of Salt, and some nonstick cooking spray
- To Make the Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce to go with your leftover:
- One-half cup of apricot preserves; sugar-free is OK.
- Rice wine vinegar, 1 tbsp – this will add a distinctive flavor to your air fryer shrimp recipe.
- Half a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a tiny bowl, mix everything you need to make the sauce.
- Turn the oven temperature up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit – or use your best air fryer. Lightly coat a baking sheet made of nonstick material with cooking spray.
- Mix the coconut flakes, panko crumbs, and Salt in a bowl.
- Spread the flour out on a plate. In a third shallow bowl, beat an egg.
- Simply sprinkle a little salt on the Shrimp. Shake off excess all-purpose flour before dipping Shrimp in flour, egg, and panko mixture.
- Spray the tops of the Shrimp with extra cooking spray and lay them on a cookie sheet; bake on the center oven rack for about 10 minutes. After 6-7 minutes, depending on the size, flip the frozen shrimp and cook for an additional 6-7 minutes. Take them out of the oven and serve them with a sauce to dip in.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 161.5kcal,
Carbohydrates: 22g,
Protein: 10g,
Fat: 3.5g,
Sodium: 164mg,
Fiber: 2g,
Sugar: 15.5g – note this is for the optional sauce in the air fryer coconut shrimp recipe.
Recipe 3 (Air Fried)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook Time: 6 min
Serving: 2
Cooking Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Calories: 530 calories
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 pounds of Fresh or Frozen Shrimp
- 1 cup Unsweetened Coconut
- One teaspoon of Salt
- One teaspoon of Black Pepper
- One teaspoon of Paprika
- 3/4 cup Panko Bread
- 3/4 cup of all-purpose Flour
- Two eggs
Directions
- Mix everything you need in a tiny bowl to make the sauce.
- Make sure your air fryer is at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly coat a baking sheet made of nonstick material with cooking spray.
- Mix the coconut flakes, panko crumbs, and Salt in a bowl.
- Spread the flour out on a plate. In another bowl, beat an egg.
- Simply sprinkle a little salt on the Shrimp. Shake off excess flour before dipping Shrimp in flour, egg, and coconut crumbs.
- After spraying both sides of the shrimp with cooking spray, lay them in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
- Cook the Shrimp in the air fryer for 4 minutes on one side, then 2 minutes on the other, in 2 batches (6 min total). Carry on with the rest of the Shrimp. Prepare with a sauce for dunking.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 529.65kcal
Carbohydrates: 28.64g
Protein: 33.03g
Fat: 30.61g
Saturated Fat: 8.81g
Cholesterol: 173.2mg
How do I know When my Coconut Shrimp is done?
Using an air fryer basket and a meat thermometer is the only surefire method of checking whether or not the Shrimp is cooked all the way through according to the size of your shrimp. The internal temperature of cooked Shrimp should register between 165-175 degrees Fahrenheit on a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion.
The best way to check for doneness is to insert a toothpick into the center of the Shrimp. If the toothpick comes out clean, then your Shrimp is ready.
What do I Serve with Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp?
The best sides for coconut shrimp are green beans, cornbread dressing, macaroni salad, sweet potato fries, and coleslaw. You should serve these Shrimp with salad, rice, pasta, potatoes, vegetables, etc.
How to Store?
Shrimp fried in Coconut can be stored in the freezer for up to two months. Then, reheat in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) for ten minutes or until thawed and warm.
Variations:
It’s simple to discover alternatives that will produce the same number of servings if you’re unable to locate or don’t want to utilize specific turkey parts.
- You can adjust the seasonings to your liking. Try it with Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, dry adobo, or your unique mixture of spices in place of the standard blend. Sometimes all you need to make a delicious fried shrimp is salt and pepper.
- For a peppery bite in your air fryer shrimp recipe, add cayenne to the spice mix; for milder heat, consider Aleppo pepper or ancho chili powder. Adding hot sauce to the buttermilk brine adds a smoky, spicy flavor, but if you use a lot, you may want to cut back on the salt content.
- Use cornstarch in place of approximately a fourth of the flour for a more delicate crunch.
- The Shrimp can alternatively be deep-fried in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with about 2 inches of Oil. With this procedure, the Shrimp can be ready to eat sooner than usual, so keep an eye on it.
Things you should avoid:
When cooking Shrimp, avoid adding too much onion powder, garlic powder, Salt, pepper, Paprika, cayenne pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, bay leaves, black peppercorns, and nutmeg. These ingredients can mask the flavor of the Shrimp, making them bland.
Also, do not use all butter when sauteing the Shrimp. Instead, use only half the butter and add some olive oil. It will prevent the Shrimp from sticking together, making it difficult to break apart once cooked.
Why did I choose this Recipe?
The main ingredient for Air Fryer Coconut Shrimps is coconut oil, which has been used for centuries to treat various health conditions such as acne, arthritis, eczema, herpes, and other skin diseases.
However, the use of coconut oil is quite controversial due to the lack of scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness. Moreover, studies show coconut oil may increase cholesterol levels and cause heart disease.
What Makes This Recipe So Great?
Shrimp can be served as an entree, an appetizer, or a side dish, making it a very flexible ingredient. Of course, it’s up to you what you do it with, but either way, your guests will be begging for more of this Recipe.
Why Should You Choose the Recipe?
Flavor-wise, this coconut shrimp dish is unlike anything else I’ve ever had. The sweetness of the Coconut goes well with the mild saltiness of the Shrimp, so I always add more when making coconut shrimp in the air. Wow, what a pair. Sweet chili sauce is a famous dipping sauce because it is both sweet and spicy.
Love the variety of textures? You’ll find them all here. The breadcrumbs keep the coconut crust crisp without making it seem oily, and the Shrimp are juicy and full of flavor.
Some Extra Tips:
- For the most outstanding results, sizeable raw Shrimp with their tails still attached. This Recipe calls for coconut shrimp. If it is frozen, let it defrost before beginning. I suggest you get them peeled and deveined because that will save you time when you return them to your house. I strongly advise keeping the tails on the coconut shrimp when preparing them as an appetizer because doing so makes it much simpler to prepare the Shrimp, coat them, and handle them. If you do so before starting, you are free to cut off the tails.
- You can use cooked Shrimp from the freezer in this dish, but starting with raw Shrimp will yield the most outstanding results. Defrost the frozen vegetables before proceeding with the Recipe as written.
- To get the most delicate flavor out of the coconut shrimp, we like to fry them in Oil made from coconuts. You need a sufficient amount to cover the base of your skillet, typically approximately three tablespoons or close to 4 tablespoons.
- If fresh Shrimp aren’t available, use frozen. Defrost frozen Shrimp thoroughly before coating and air frying those.
- Before coating the Shrimp, pat it dry to remove excess water. Without this, the Shrimp fried in an air fryer is more likely to turn mushy due to steaming.
- Ensure the air frying basket isn’t too full; the shrimps should be placed in a single-layered arrangement with space between them. It helps produce crispy air-fried Shrimp.
- Replace regular all-Purple flour with gluten-free coconut flour. It works because it enhances the coconut taste.
Statistics:
Protein 31g Estimated values based on one serving size.
Source: tasty. co
Daily Value * Total Fat 10g 13%
Source: bhg.com
Per Recipe 4 Calories 307 %
Source: bhg.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why can’t I use Coconut to season the Shrimp?
The idea of coating wet shrimp in Coconut seems good in theory, but in practice, the Coconut slides right off. Because of this, you’ll also need flour and an egg.
How about using shredded sweetened Coconut?
Undeniably, yes. The coating on the coconut flakes gets crunchy and slightly caramelized as the sugar melts. It’s mind-blowing. You can use unsweetened shredded Coconut if that’s what you like, but the cookies won’t be as sweet and won’t have as much crunch.
May I substitute regular breadcrumbs if I don’t have Panko?
Yes, you can. Regular breadcrumbs work just as fine as panko breadcrumbs.
Can I cook raw Shrimp in an Air Fryer?
Using the “air fry” setting, you can cook raw Shrimp in an air fryer. You should set the temperature at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Pat the shrimp dry and make sure to remove them from the heat when they turn opaque.
How can I make my Coconut Shrimp crispiest?
To make coconut shrimp crispy, dip them into egg white first, then coat them with panko breadcrumbs. Then fry them up in hot Oil for 2 minutes per side. The secret is using high heat to cook the Shrimp quickly.
Conclusion:
So, there you have it— here are some easy-to-follow recipes for Coconut Shrimp that won’t sacrifice flavor. By following these air fryer recipes, including the air fryer shrimp recipe, you’ll have a mouthwatering dish ready to serve in no time, whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a full meal. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to start cooking. We hope our article seems helpful to you.
Meet Natalie P. Williams, the editor-in-chief of fryerly.com. With a background in journalism and a passion for healthy eating, Natalie has built the blog into a trusted source for air fryer cooking tips, tricks, and recipes.
