Easy Buffet Style Creamy Chinese Coconut Shrimp Recipe (2024)

This Easy Buffet Style Creamy Chinese Coconut Shrimp Recipe is a quick and easy 30-minute dinner! The tender shrimp is sautéed in coconut oil, then stirred into the sweet coconut sauce!

The decadent, silky, creamy sauce goes perfectly with shrimp and prawns. To soak up all of the sauce, serve the dish over rice, quinoa, or even creamy mashed potatoes.

Keep this Creamy Coconut Shrimp recipe on hand for a busy weeknight or special occasion! I guarantee that it will be one of your favorite recipes!

Chinese Fried Shrimp with Coconut Sauce

If you like a quick weeknight dinner, you'll love this savory but simple Chinese recipe! Start your rice and peel the shrimp for this creamy coconut shrimp and dinner is ready in about 30 minutes!

Serve this soon-to-be family favorite dinner with white rice, mashed potatoes, or quinoa.

This dish can also be a main dish. It goes well with a variety of vegetables. Spice it up with Air fryer Jalapeno Poppers, and serve it with Easy Air Fryer Asparagus Parmesan or Air Fried Taco Bell Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes.

Want some salad on the side? Try my Gluten-free Tabouli Salad | Easy keto Tabbouleh or Easy Refreshing Pomegranate Salad.

Chinese Restaurant Style Coconut Shrimp

Why You'll Love this Shrimp with Coconut Sauce

• Chinese Buffet Style Shrimp is a quick and easy recipe bursting with flavor, perfect for busy weeknights. No need to visit the local Chinese buffet.
• The sauce! The creamy coconut sauce is to die for. It tastes amazing and is excellent as a dipping sauce for crusty bread.
• It's a tasty appetizer or filling main course that will soon become your favorite dish.
• Crispy coconut shrimp satisfies your Chinese food cravings without having to go to the restaurant. And making this dish from scratch is far healthier than ordering take-out. This homemade version is sure to become a favorite.

Chinese Fried Shrimp with Coconut Sauce Ingredients

This recipe requires only a few basic ingredients, many of which can be found at your local grocery or specialty food store. The following ingredients are required to make this rich, creamy coconut shrimp recipe:

Shrimp: You can use fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp.

Coconut cream: Coconut cream is an essential ingredient for the coconut sauce. It gives it a smooth creamy texture.

Sweetened condensed milk: It adds a sweet flavor that pairs well with coconut milk and coconut cream.

Mayonnaise: You need some mayonnaise for the coconut sauce.

Salt: Please do not leave out the salt. A small amount goes a long way toward enhancing all of the flavors.

Coconut milk: I recommend using the canned kind because it has a richer flavor and texture.

Cornstarch: Cornstarch makes the sauce thicker.

Green onions (optional): Garnish your shrimp dish with green onions (aka scallions).

Oil: Use any flavorless vegetable oil to fry the shrimp.

Tempura Batter Ingredients

Flour: Use all purpose flour or cake flour.

Eggs: Use a cold egg so that the tempura batter doesn't absorb oil.

Soda Water: Soda water makes your batter light and airy. You can also add sprinkling water if you don't have soda water. Make sure the soda water is chilled before combining the batter ingredients.

Corn starch: Cornstarch holds the batter together and adds crispiness.

See recipe card for quantities.

A Great Recipe for Weeknight Dinners

How to Make Chinese Buffet Coconut Shrimp

Tempura batter and Frying shrimps

First, whisk together egg and chilled soda water in a medium bowl. Pour it over flour and corn starch. Keep mixing until all combined. Skip this step if using a store-bought tempura batter.

Next, add the shrimp to a large bowl, and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Pour tempura batter on the shrimp; make sure every shrimp is coated with the batter.

Then, add oil to a large skillet on medium-high heat. Fry battered shrimp in hot oil on each side for 3-4 minutes until crispy.

Finally, place cooked shrimp on a paper towel to drain excess oil.

Coconut Sauce

First, in a sauce pan, combine coconut milk, coconut cream, sweetened condensed milk, mayonnaise, corn starch, and salt. Mix until all combined.

Next, cook the coconut sauce on medium heat while constantly whisking until you have a silky smooth sauce.

Assembly

Place fried shrimp in a large bowl, pour coconut cream mixture on top, and mix until shrimp are coated with the sauce.

Finally, garnish with green onions, and enjoy.

Tender Shrimp Nestled in a Sweet Sauce

Substitutions

• Gluten free: Use gluten-free flour instead of all purpose flour to make the tempura batter.

Variations

• Spicy: This Chinese buffet style recipe is also delicious when spiced up. You could flavor the creamy coconut milk sauce with sweet chili sauce, cayenne pepper, or sriracha sauce.
• Zesty: Garnish the dish with some fresh lime zest and some lemon wedges. This will take your dish to Amazing!

Equipment

For this Chinese recipe, you will need a large skillet/ frying pan for shrimp and a sauce pan for the sauce.

Storage

Creamy coconut shrimp heats well in the microwave! Simply place a paper towel over the top of the bowl while heating it for a few minutes. If you have any leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

If the sauce thickens, stir in a little water and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

The Perfect Combination of Nutty and Sweet Flavors

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

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