Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
These air-fryer coconut shrimp are the perfect combination of savory and sweet. Serve with a sweet chile sauce, for dipping.
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer Minimum 3.5-quart capacity
- 1 Food Processor For pulsing coconut and panko
- 3 Shallow Bowls or Dishes For the breading station (flour, egg, coconut/panko)
- 1 Rimmed Baking Sheet or Large Plate For holding coated shrimp before frying
- 1 Paper Towels For drying shrimp
Ingredients
Main
- 1 pound large shrimp 16/20 count, peeled and deveined, tails on
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- Nonstick cooking spray for the shrimp
- Sweet chile sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp dry between a couple of paper towels, then season with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper.
- Pulse the coconut and panko in a food processor until finely chopped and uniform in size. Transfer to a shallow bowl.
- Whisk the flour with 3/4 teaspoon salt and few grinds pepper in another shallow bowl or a baking dish. Whisk the eggs with a pinch salt in a third shallow bowl. Dip a shrimp in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess, then dip in the beaten egg. Dredge in the coconut-panko mixture, turning until evenly coated. Transfer to a large plate or a rimmed baking sheet and continue until all the shrimp are coated.
- Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 385 degrees F. Working in batches, place some of the shrimp in the fryer basket in a single layer, then spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Cook, flipping halfway through, until the shrimp are golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Serve the coconut shrimp with some sweet chile sauce for dipping.
Notes
1. Patting the shrimp thoroughly dry is crucial for the breading to adhere properly and achieve maximum crispiness in the air fryer. 2. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches to ensure hot air circulation and even, crispy results. 3. Pulse the coconut and panko until finely chopped but not a paste; this texture helps the coating stick better. 4. For extra flavor in the breading, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or garlic powder to the flour mixture. 5. Cooking time is approximate; check for opaque shrimp after 8-10 minutes as times can vary by air fryer model.