Coconut shrimp is a crispy, coconut-covered treat that’s perfect as an appetizer or entree. With its sweet and crunchy coating contrasting the savory shrimp inside, it’s easy to see why coconut shrimp is such a crowd-pleasing dish. But where can you get high-quality coconut shrimp? In this article, we’ll cover the best places to buy or order coconut shrimp, from restaurants to grocery stores.
Ordering Coconut Shrimp at Restaurants
Restaurants are a great option for enjoying fresh, well-prepared coconut shrimp without having to cook it yourself. Here are some of the most popular restaurant chains for coconut shrimp
Red Lobster
This national seafood restaurant chain is known for their signature coconut shrimp that is always on the menu. It’s served with a tangy cream sauce and pineapple skewer. Red Lobster offers both lunch and dinner portion sizes.
Bonefish Grill
Bonefish Grill’s coconut shrimp appetizer features large shrimp with a lightly breaded coconut coating fried until golden brown. It’s served with a sweet and spicy mango chile sauce.
Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse offers coconut shrimp as an appetizer Four large shrimp are coated in flaky coconut breading and served with creamy dipping sauce
LongHorn Steakhouse
LongHorn Steakhouse has coconut shrimp on their appetizer menu. It’s served with a pineapple honey mustard sauce. You get 6-8 pieces depending on shrimp size.
Carraba’s Italian Grill
Carraba’s menu includes coconut shrimp that is dusted with breadcrumbs and coconut before being fried. It comes with a spicy marmalade dipping sauce.
Grocery Stores and Frozen Options
If you want to enjoy coconut shrimp at home without frying it yourself, grocery stores carry convenient frozen options you can bake at home:
Kroger
Kroger’s Private Selection Coconut Shrimp is a frozen bag of peeled, deveined shrimp coated in coconut breading. Just bake in the oven for a quick appetizer or meal.
Trader Joe’s
You can find bags of Trader Joe’s Frozen Organic Coconut Shrimp in the freezer section. It provides a tasty coconut shrimp meal with just 10 minutes of prep.
Whole Foods
Whole Foods carries Cedarlane Coconut Shrimp made with organic coconut and free of antibiotics and preservatives. It’s ready in 10 minutes.
Costco
Costco sells big packs of Kirkland Signature Coconut Shrimp in their freezer section. It’s budget-friendly and only takes 12 minutes to prepare.
Walmart
Great Value Coconut Breaded Shrimp is sold at Walmart stores. It’s a quick and easy frozen coconut shrimp option.
Best Recipes for Homemade Coconut Shrimp
Making your own coconut shrimp at home allows you to control the ingredients and cooking method. Here are some top-rated coconut shrimp recipes:
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The Pioneer Woman’s Coconut Shrimp Recipe – This is a reader favorite recipe using simple ingredients like flour, egg, coconut, panko and shrimp.
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Allrecipes Coconut Shrimp – With over 200 rave reviews, this baked coconut shrimp recipe cuts the calories by skipping deep frying.
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Tasty’s Coconut Shrimp – This recipe uses Greek yogurt and coconut milk for a creamy coconut shrimp coating. It’s baked, not fried.
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Damn Delicious Coconut Shrimp – This recipe by blogger Chungah Rhee yields crispy coconut shrimp with a flavorful honey-lime dipping sauce.
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Joanna Gaines’ Coconut Shrimp – The Fixer Upper star shares her recipe for crunchy coconut shrimp using ingredients like coconut oil, honey, and lime.
Tips for the Best Coconut Shrimp
Follow these tips for delicious coconut shrimp, whether dining out or making it at home:
- For maximum flavor, look for coconut shrimp made with fresh, not frozen, shrimp
- Choose jumbo shrimp for the perfect crispy exterior to plump interior shrimp ratio
- Bake or pan fry instead of deep fry to reduce calories without sacrificing crunch
- Make sure the coconut coating evenly covers the shrimp for each bite
- Opt for lighter dipping sauces to prevent the dish from becoming too heavy
With all these great options for ordering, buying, and making your own coconut shrimp, you’re sure to find a version that will satisfy your craving for this crispy, coconut-covered favorite. Just decide whether you want the convenience of restaurant or store-bought or the control of homemade, and enjoy this tasty appetizer or entree.
