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Recipe: Coconut Shrimp

May 6, 2020
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Coconut shrimp arranged on a blue plate with sauce in the middle. | From "Pati's Mexican Table: Season 5, Episode 5."
Courtesy of Pati's Mexican Table

This recipe was originally published on patijinich.com.

Coconut Shrimp

Camarones al Coco

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
  • 1 cup corn flake crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt, divided
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 4 large eggs, well beaten
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 2 pounds extra large shrimp, tails on
  • Serve with Mango Habanero Hot Sauce

To Prepare

On a large plate, combine unsweetened and sweetened coconut flakes with the corn flake crumbs and ½ teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.

Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl and beat them well with a whisk or fork along with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside.

Pour the all-purpose flour onto another large plate and set aside.

Add enough oil to a large frying pan or casserole to get about 3/4-inch height. Set over medium heat.

One by one, dredge the shrimp in the flour so they are completely covered and shake off the excess. Then, dip them completely in the beaten egg mixture. Immediately coat them with the coconut mix, but do so gently so the coconut won’t fall off: place each egg coated shrimp on the plate and with your hands add some of the coconut mix on top, pressing lightly so they are completely covered. Don’t shake them off at this point. Set them aside on a plate or board.

Once you are done coating the shrimp, check your oil. If you have a thermometer, it should be around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You may raise the temperature to medium-high if it isn’t still there. Another way to test is to dip in the tip of a shrimp, the oil should actively and happily bubble all around it.

Fry the shrimp in batches, without overcrowding the pan, until they are cooked through, crisp and golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Flip them using rubber tip tongs from the tail, so you don’t break the beautiful coconut coating. Don’t over cook them either! Place them on a drying rack or platter covered with paper towel, and serve.

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