Baked Coconut Shrimp with Homemade Pineapple Sauce

Enjoy the taste of the tropics with this crispy and flavorful Baked Coconut Shrimp recipe. The shrimp is coated in a mixture of coconut flakes and panko breadcrumbs, then baked until golden brown and perfectly crispy. Serve it with a tangy homemade pineapple sauce for a tropical twist. It's a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main course that will transport you to a sunny beach resort.

Ingredients

• 1 pound of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cup of shredded coconut
• 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup of pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup of ketchup
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup of chopped fresh pineapple
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a shallow dish, mix together the shredded coconut, panko breadcrumbs, salt, and black pepper.
3. In another shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and milk.
4. Place the flour in a third shallow dish.
5. Dredge each shrimp in the flour, then dip it in the egg mixture, and finally coat it in the coconut breadcrumb mixture. Press gently to adhere the coating to the shrimp.
6. Place the coated shrimp on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining shrimp.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the shrimp is cooked through and the coating is golden brown and crispy.
8. While the shrimp is baking, prepare the pineapple sauce. In a small saucepan, whisk together the pineapple juice, ketchup, honey, soy sauce, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes.
9. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens.
10. Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the chopped pineapple.
11. Serve the baked coconut shrimp with the pineapple sauce on the side, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro, if desired.

Interesting Facts