World Coconut Day 2026: The

Crispy Coconut Shrimp

Recipe You Need To Try

World Coconut Day 2026 is a day to celebrate it coconut-y by trying coconut recipes like this delicious coconut shrimp recipe. It’s an appetiser, entree or snack, made with peeled and cleaned shrimp, with a three-step coating that begins with a dusting of seasoned flour, a dip in beaten egg, and a generous press of sweetened shredded coconut mixed with panko breadcrumbs. The egg dip is what helps the flour and breadcrumbs stick to the shrimp, making for a yummy snack. The panko is also used intentionally, as it helps keep this fried dish from getting soggy. This World Coconut Day, make the most of the abundant coconuts available across the country with a dish that is crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ready in half an hour, no deep fryer required. This dish might be a little sweet given the use of sweetened coconut, as its natural sugars caramelise slightly as the shrimp fry, giving the crust a nice crunch. As for the choice of shrimp, large ones, peeled and deveined with the tails left on, are the best fit for this recipe. Frozen raw shrimp work perfectly well, too, as long as they're fully thawed and patted bone-dry before coating. The frying bit needs to be done quickly, with no more than two to three minutes a side over medium heat, and in batches so the pan isn't crowded and the shrimps fry well. Top up the oil as needed between frying. The shrimp themselves cook almost instantly, and what you need to be careful about is cooking the coconut just enough to turn a deep golden, not brown; the latter is burnt. No coconut shrimp platter is complete without a dip, and the pairing here is a two-ingredient sweet chilli sauce for the perfect World Coconut Day centrepiece.