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Air Fryer Coconut Prawns Recipe (Crispy Coconut Shrimp)

These homemade crispy air fryer coconut prawns or as many of you say, coconut shrimp, are the perfect amount of crispy and crunchy, paired perfectly with my homemade sweet and sour sauce.

Get your air fryer working with this crumbed prawn recipe that is always a hit when entertaining and just as popular for a quick and easy dinner at home. Super crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, cooked to perfection in your air fryer!

Air fryer coconut prawns with homemade dipping sauce

Crispy Air Fryer Coconut Prawns (Coconut Shrimp)

Whether you are an Aussie like me, enjoying coconut prawns on a summer day spent outdoors, with great company and cold drinks.

Or if you are from another part of the world where it’s all about the air fryer coconut shrimp, either way, this recipe is a must-try that you will want to make again and again.

Especially once you share with friends and family and have them coming back for more.

They are a favourite alongside these lemon garlic prawns.

The air fryer makes cooking crispy breaded recipes so easy, with no deep fryer in sight! As a result, you get a crispy, crunchy coconut crust that is ideal for dipping.

Especially when served with my homemade sweet and sour sauce. They really are a perfect pair!

Check out these easy air fryer recipes for beginners if you are new to being an air fryer owner or are ready to try some new inspiration in the kitchen!

Air fryer coconut shrimp

These crispy coconut shrimp pair perfectly with some of my other air fryer favourites, including homemade onion rings, salt and pepper calamari and air-fried sweet potato fries.

Helpful Tip #1 – Make your sauce first and while it simmers, you can prepare the prawns for air frying.

How to make coconut prawns in the air fryer

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER COCONUT PRAWNS

You only need 6 ingredients for the coconut prawns – raw prawns, eggs, flour, cornstarch, panko breadcrumbs and shredded coconut.

This recipe is so easy to make and it does not take very long at all.

  1. Prepare 3 bowls, whisking the eggs in the first bowl, mixing flour and cornstarch in the second and mixing the coconut with the panko breadcrumbs in the 3rd bowl. 
  2. Dip the prawns in the flour and cornstarch mixture, then dip into the egg and finally, roll in the coconut and panko crumbs bowl until well coated.
  3. Place the crumbed prawns in the air fryer basket and spray lightly with oil. Aim to space your prawns out so they are not overlapping in the air fryer basket. This will allow them to cook more evenly. Cook at 200C (390F) for 7 minutes or until golden and crispy. 

The printable recipe card with a FULL ingredients list and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of this post.

The recipe makes approximately 12-16 medium to large coconut prawns so if you are entertaining or serving as a meal for the family, you can easily double the quantities or even triple them if needed.

If doing so, you will need to cook your prawns in batches in the air fryer so they cook evenly and get their crispy texture.

The quantities listed in the recipe will serve approximately 3 to 4 people, depending on whether you are serving your crispy prawns with any side dishes.

Coconut prawns in air fryer

HOMEMADE SWEET AND SOUR DIPPING SAUCE

These crispy air fryer prawns are the perfect contrast to a sweet and sour dipping sauce, giving you a flavour burst that compliments the sweetness of the coconut shrimp.

And this homemade sauce is so easy to make!

All you need is sugar, ketchup, white vinegar, water, and coconut.

And if you want to give it some spice, add some chilli oil.

Simply add all your sauce ingredients to a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and allow it to thicken while you prepare your crumbed prawns for the air fryer.

For another simple dipping sauce idea for crumbed prawns in the air fryer, check out my sweet potato fries dipping sauce made with Greek yogurt or my homemade tzatziki recipe paired with Greek gyros.

Homemade sweet and sour dipping sauce

FAQS & TIPS

What is the difference between prawns and shrimp?

Shrimp and prawns are similar and many may even argue they are in fact the same thing. Shrimp is the common name used in the USA, while in Australia and most other Commonwealth countries, prawn is the more common term. You can find detailed differences here.

Can I reheat the coconut prawns?

Yes. The best way to reheat the prawns is in the air fryer or on an oven tray in the oven for a few minutes, until they regain a crispy texture. Take care not to burn them.

Need ideas for side dishes? Check out this huge collection of side dish ideas to pair with fish, which would also pair perfectly with this dish. And be sure to check out more simple air fryer recipes.

Or check out these side dish ideas as well:

Air fryer coconut shrimp coconut prawns

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp With Sweet & Sour Sauce

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes

The perfect crispy air fryer coconut prawns with homemade sweet and sour dipping sauce make this an entertaining favourite!

Ingredients

  • 500g of raw prawns (shrimp), peeled to the tail
  • · 2 eggs
  • · 1/4 cup of flour
  • · 1/4 cup of cornstarch
  • · 3/4 cup of panko
  • · 1/2 cup of sweetened shredded coconut

Sweet & Sour Sauce

  • 1/4 cup of sugar
  • · 1/4 cup of ketchup
  • · 1/4 cup of white vinegar
  • · 1/4 cup of water
  • · 1/4 cup of sweetened shredded coconut
  • · 2 tablespoons of chilli oil, optional for heat

Instructions

  1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine all the ingredients for the sauce and bring to a boil, stirring often. Once boiling, reduce the heat and allow your sauce to rest.
  2. Prepare 3 bowls, whisking the eggs in the first bowl, mixing flour and cornstarch in the second and mixing the coconut with the panko breadcrumbs in the 3rd bowl. 
  3. Dip the prawns in the flour and cornstarch mixture, then dip into the egg and finally, roll in the coconut and panko crumbs bowl until well coated.
  4. Place battered prawns in the air fryer basket and spray lightly with oil. Cook at 200C (390F) for 7 minutes or until golden and crispy. 

Notes

Tips: This recipe can be made using prawns that are still partially frozen. Adjust cooking time to ensure they are cooked right through.

Sweetened coconut can be substituted for unsweetened coconut if you prefer.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 167Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 527mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 12g

These figures are provided as an approximate guide only.

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Crispy air fryer coconut prawns recipe
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