05/22/2023
Bon Appetit’
Crunchy Coconut-Sesame Shrimp With Spicy Lime Mayo
Bon Appetit
BY ASHA LOUPY
This platter of golden and crispy shrimp delivers joy and deliciousness whether you’re hosting a fête for friends or just looking for a weeknight dinner with a little extra oomph. It features big, succulent shrimp coated in a mixture of unsweetened shredded coconut, ( note: sweet coconut is fine but try and use the finely shredded type) panko, sesame seeds, and just a touch of sugar, which enhances the natural tropical sweetness of the coconut without overwhelming the delicate flavor of the shrimp.
And what’s anything fried without a dipping sauce? Here, it’s a bright, zippy number featuring Greek yogurt, a little mayonnaise, sambal oelek ; (sambal oelek is a red pepper sauce you can substitute sriracha , tobasco, )
(hello, saucy red chile heat!), garlic, lime, and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil. Make sure to round out your platter with some fresh, crunchy vegetables, like chunky pieces of cabbage, sugar snap peas, and/or cucumber spears. —Asha Loupy
I'll add : some of the reviews on this were saying the sauce is a bit strong and can over power the delicate sweetness the shrimp offers, that reviewer said they will use the Sweet chili sauce .
Ingredients
4 servings
SPICY LIME MAYO
¾cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
¼cup mayonnaise
2Tbsp. (or more) sambal oelek
2tsp. finely grated lime zest
1Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. fresh lime juice
½tsp. toasted sesame oil
½tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt; plus more (optional)
1garlic clove, finely grated
SHRIMP AND ASSEMBLY
1½lb. large shrimp (16–20), peeled, deveined, patted dry
2tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided
½cup all-purpose flour
2large eggs
1cup unsweetened shredded coconut
½cup panko
⅓cup white and/or black sesame seeds
1Tbsp. granulated sugar
Vegetable oil (for frying; about 1¼ cups)
Cabbage wedges, sugar snap peas, cucumber spears, and/or other crunchy vegetables (for serving)
Preparation
Step 1
SPICY LIME MAYO
Whisk ¾ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 Tbsp. sambal oelek, ½ tsp. toasted sesame oil, 2 tsp. finely grated lime zest, 1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. fresh lime juice, ½ tsp. toasted sesame oil, ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and 1 garlic clove, finely grated, in a small bowl to combine. Taste and add more sambal oelek and/or season with more salt if needed. Cover spicy lime mayo and chill until ready to serve.
Step 2
SHRIMP AND ASSEMBLY
Arrange 1½ lb. large shrimp (16–20), peeled, deveined, patted dry, on a rimmed baking sheet and season with 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt. Place ½ cup all-purpose flour in a shallow bowl. Lightly beat 2 large eggs in another shallow bowl to blend. Mix 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, ½ cup panko, ⅓ cup white and/or black sesame seeds, 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar, and remaining 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a third shallow bowl.
Step 3
Working with a couple shrimp at a time, dredge in flour, shaking off any excess, then dip into egg, letting excess drip back into bowl, and dredge in coconut mixture, pressing gently on both sides to adhere and evenly coat. Transfer breaded shrimp back to baking sheet as you go. Chill 10 minutes (this will help the breading stick to the shrimp).
Step 4
Pour vegetable oil (about 1¼ cups) in a large skillet to come ¼" up sides and heat over medium-high. Working in 2 batches, cook shrimp until crisp and golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and let drain.
Step 5
To serve, divide spicy lime mayo among plates or shallow bowls, spreading it on 1 side and mound shrimp on top. Pile some cabbage wedges, sugar snap peas, cucumber spears, and/or other crunchy vegetables on other side. (Alternatively, you can serve family-style on a large platter.)
