Coconut Shrimp With a Thin Baked Crust and a Lime-Chile Dip

What changes—and what stays

From conventional 650 calories in a comparison restaurant portion of deep-fried sweet coconut shrimp with a sugary dipping sauce to 415 calories

Bake 12 oz/340 g shrimp on a rack with 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut, 1/2 cup panko, and 2 tsp oil for the entire batch. Toasted coconut supplies aroma, panko creates air pockets, lime zest scents the crust, and chile-lime yogurt gives tang without a syrup glaze.

Ingredients for 2

Measure first; timing is part of how this recipe uses less fat.

• 12 oz (340 g)large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/3 cup (28 g)unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup (45 g)panko breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup (80 g)plain nonfat Greek yogurt, divided
• 2 tsp (10 g)neutral oil
• 1 medium (70 g)lime, zested and juiced
• 1/2 tsp (1.5 g)paprika
• 1/4 tsp (0.5 g)chile flakes
• 1/2 tsp (3 g)kosher salt
• 10 oz (285 g)shredded cabbage

Method

Each step includes heat, a visible cue, and a recovery.

1

Step 1 · follow the visible cue

Dry every shrimp before coating

Heat the oven to 450°F/232°C with a wire rack over a sheet pan. Blot thawed shrimp until no water marks the towel; reserve 40 g yogurt for dip and thin the other 40 g with 1 teaspoon lime juice.

Look for: The shrimp surfaces are tacky but not wet, and the coating yogurt falls from a spoon in a thin ribbon.

2

Step 2 · follow the visible cue

Make coconut the accent, not the bulk

Mix coconut, panko, lime zest, paprika, chile flakes, and salt, crushing long coconut strands with your fingers. Toss shrimp in the thin yogurt, then press lightly into the crumb.

Look for: Each shrimp has a thin uneven-textured coat with its curved outline still visible.

3

Step 3 · follow the visible cue

Measure oil over the finished tray

Arrange shrimp on the rack without touching. Drizzle or brush the measured 10 g oil across the entire batch and bake 6 minutes; turn once and bake 4 to 6 minutes more.

Look for: The coating is golden and shrimp flesh is firm, pearly, and opaque rather than gray or translucent.

4

Step 4 · follow the visible cue

Build the dip with acid, not sugar

Stir reserved yogurt with remaining lime juice and a pinch of chile. Toss cabbage with one spoonful of dip, then divide shrimp, slaw, and the remaining dip between two plates.

Look for: The crust stays dry, the dip is spoonable, and no sweet sauce soaks into the coating.

Calories at the same serving size

The estimate uses the listed ingredients divided into 2 servings. Brand labels, trimming, and the amount left in the pan can change the result.

Frequently asked questions