Looking for what to serve with coconut shrimp? We can help you find the perfect side dish that will compliment your tropical shrimp perfectly!
Coconut shrimp is slightly sweet and also salty. You need a side dish that will match both of these flavor profiles. Luckily, there are a lot of options!
From fried rice to green beans, we have found many exciting recipes that you can serve with coconut shrimp.
Fried Organic Coconut Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
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Coconut Shrimp Sides: 20 Recipes You’ll Love
We have searched the internet to find 20 side dishes that go with coconut shrimp. Some are very savory, while others are on the sweeter side. We have found vegetable-based sides as well as heartier starches. There is something here for everyone!
Take a look at all the awesome side dish possibilities, and you will never wonder what to serve with coconut shrimp again. The only dilemma is what to make first!
1. Cilantro Lime Rice
Coconut shrimp has a wonderful tropical flavor, thanks to the coconut. This pairs perfectly with zesty lime.
Our recipe for cilantro lime rice is the perfect side for coconut shrimp. Basmati rice is cooked until tender, then tossed with lime juice and fresh chopped cilantro. Place the coconut shrimp right on top of the rice for a complete, cohesive meal.
If you want to make your fried rice a little spicy, mix in 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. This will make the rice spicy and also taste great with your sweet seafood. Rice is one of the best side dishes to serve with coconut shrimp and is very versatile. You can’t go wrong with rice!
2. Cucumber Salad
Fresh cucumber salad is a delicious coconut shrimp side. The crisp cucumbers mimic the crunch of the seafood. The tangy vinegar sauce is delicious alongside the sweetness of the coconut.
Image Source: The Cookie Rookie
We adore this recipe from The Cookie Rookie. Simple cucumber slices, onion slices, vinegar, and spices are tossed together. Let the cucumber salad marinate to allow the cucumber to absorb the flavors in the dish. This cucumber salad definitely tastes better as it sits!
3. Grilled Pineapple
If you like sweet side dishes, grilled pineapple is the one you should choose. A juicy slice of grilled pineapple is perfect alongside sweet fried coconut shrimp.
Image Source: The Recipe Critic
This grilled pineapple dish from The Recipe Critic is almost like a dessert. The sugary pineapple carmelizes on the girl making it even sweeter. However, it goes well alongside savory shrimp. A slice of grilled pineapple and a plate of coconut shrimp sounds like a meal everyone in the family will love!
4. Sweet Chili Sauce
You don’t need a big side dish to make your coconut shrimp meal complete. In fact, just a simple dipping sauce will work perfectly!
Image Source: Budget Bytes
Sweet chili sauce and coconut shrimp are the perfect combinations of sweet and spicy. This sauce recipe from Budget Bytes is fantastic and easy to make. The red pepper flakes in the sauce give it a nice kick, while the sugar makes it nice and saccharine.
Drizzle the sweet chili sauce over your coconut shrimp or serve it in a small dish to use as a dip. You can never have enough sauce! You may even want to make extra sauce to have on hand.
5. Green Beans
A simple vegetable side dish is sometimes the best answer to what to serve with coconut shrimp. Coconut shrimp already has so much flavor; hence an easy, tasty side can be the way to go.
Image Source: Healthy Seasonal Recipes
These healthy green beans from Healthy Seasonal Recipes only require a few ingredients to make. Green beans, olive oil, garlic, and some salt and pepper are all you need!
The bright green beans will make your coconut shrimp plate look delicious. It is also great to add some nutritious veggies to your dinner!
6. Hawaiian Coleslaw
Everyone loves a creamy coleslaw. While regular coleslaw does go well with coconut shrimp, tropical Hawaiian coleslaw is even better!
Image Source: Platings and Pairings
Platings and Pairings makes a fantastic pineapple coleslaw that you won’t be able to resist. The tropical flavors in this delicious side dish taste great with coconut shrimp. You can also cook this slaw in advance, saving you time later on.
The bright colors in this slaw bring life to your coconut shrimp meal. The black sesame seeds add contrast and flavor. Crispy cabbage and vegetables complement the crunchy shrimp. This is an overall perfect side dish!
7. Grilled Summer Squash
The most simple side dishes can sometimes be the best. That is true with this grilled squash dish from A Couple Cooks.
Image Source: A Couple Cooks
Yellow summer squash is seasoned lightly and placed on a hot grill. The squash has a lovely char, and the sweet veggie tastes perfect alongside coconut shrimp. This side dish is especially great in the summer when yellow squash is in season.
8. Homemade French Fries
If you are already frying your coconut shrimp, why not fry some potatoes at the same time? Fried foods tend to go together quite well.
Image Source: The Cozy Cook
We love these quick and easy homemade french fries from The Cozy Cook. Russet potatoes are used to make golden brown, crispy fries.
You can also bake these french fries in the oven. Either cooking method will give you great results and a perfect side dish to serve with coconut shrimp.
9. Tropical Fruit Salad
A tropical fruit salad may be the best side to serve with coconut shrimp. The sweet flavors of the fruit will enhance the sweetness of the shrimp.
Image Source: Jessica Gavin
We love this recipe from Jessica Gavin, which has mango, watermelon, papaya, dragon fruit, and pineapple. The tropical flavors are amazing! The website will also guide you to slicing the tropical fruits perfectly. Not everyone knows how to precisely cut a ripe mango!
The honey-lime vinaigrette dressing ties the whole salad together. You may want to make extra salad dressing to dip your shrimp into as well.
Make this fruit salad ahead of time and let the fruit marinate in the dressing. This is one food that gets better with time.
10. Tomato Salad
Fresh tomato salad is next on our list of what to serve with coconut shrimp. What to serve is juicy, ripe tomatoes! They are a perfect side for tender, crispy shrimp.
Image Source: Cookie and Kate
This delicious tomato salad from Cookie and Kate will be a perfect match for your shrimp recipe. It is quick and easy to make, requiring just a few ingredients. Use multi-colored tomatoes if possible to make the side beautiful and flavorful.
Tomato salad also checks a lot of dietary boxes, especially when it comes to side dishes. It is gluten-free, low carb, and unprocessed. It is perfect to make for everyone on any occasion!
11. Avocado Salad
This avocado salad from Inspired Taste is a brilliant green. The soft, ripe avocados mix with crisp cucumbers to create a mouth-watering salad.
Image Source: Inspired Taste
The light lime dressing goes well with coconut shrimp. Fresh chopped cilantro adds an incredible flavor to the avocado salad. This avocado salad is similar in taste to guacamole but much heartier.
Choose a ripe avocado for the best results. When ripe, it will have dark skin and give a little when you squeeze it. A hard avocado will not taste as great, and the salad will be lacking flavor. A perfect avocado should also be free from bumps and bruises.
12. Pineapple Fried Rice
Fried rice is a fantastic side to serve with coconut seafood. This recipe for pineapple fried rice from Damn Delicious is even better with your coconut shrimp recipe.
Image Source: Damn Delicious
Cooked rice is fried with garlic, soy sauce, peas, corn, carrots, and pineapple. Using canned pineapple makes the rice very quick and easy to put together. The pineapple juice and soy sauce go together well.
Place your fried coconut shrimp right on top of the pineapple fried rice. This dish will be perfect to cure your cravings for Asian-inspired food.
There is no egg in this fried rice. Feel free to scramble an egg into the mix to add extra protein. Some people require egg in their fried rice for it to really be authentic!
13. Roasted Carrots and Potatoes
Wondering what to serve with coconut shrimp in the wintertime? A hearty, warm side is just what you need.
Our roasted carrots and potatoes are a wonderful side that will pair perfectly with your crispy coconut shrimp. Potato pieces and carrot chunks are tossed in garlic and olive oil. The mix is roasted in the oven until the potato pieces and veggies are tender.
Try using sweet potato to give the side a sweeter taste. This will go well with the sweet shrimp. Toss a little shredded parmesan cheese with the roasted carrots and potatoes for extra flavor.
14. Sauteed Kale with Tahini
A green vegetable is always a good side to serve with coconut shrimp. Asian-inspired greens go especially well with the tropical flavored seafood.
Image Source: Simply Recipes
Try this recipe for sauteed kale with tahini sauce from Simply Recipes. Healthy kale is sauteed with garlic and onions. A creamy sauce made with sesame tahini, sesame seeds, and lemon juice is fixed into the cooked veggies.
The delicious Asian sauce for the kale is so good that you will want to dip your seafood right into it. Tasty sauces always being a meal alive! This recipe will certainly make your seafood dinner delicious and answer the question of what to serve with coconut shrimp.
15. Creamy Coleslaw
Coconut shrimp is crispy and crunchy. A creamy, juicy side goes well with the crispy main course. We love this super creamy coleslaw from Foodie Crush.
Image Source: Foodie Crush
This recipe is especially easy to make when you buy pre-shredded coleslaw mix. This can be found near the lettuce in your local grocery store. Look for coleslaw mix that has various colors of cabbage. This will give your seafood dinner a pretty look.
Of course, you can always shred your own fresh cabbage. The juicy sauce is what makes this coleslaw especially delicious. The apple cider vinegar sauce is sweetened with a little sugar, making it irresistible.
16. Coconut Curry
Creamy coconut curry is the perfect answer to the question of what to serve with coconut shrimp. More coconut is always better!
Image Source: Chocolate Covered Katie
We adore this recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie. Vegetables are cooked in a sweet and spicy coconut cream sauce. Bell peppers, carrots, and snow peas make a beautiful and tasty mix. Turmeric, ginger, and curry paste add tons of taste. You may even want to use the curry sauce for dipping!
Add a handful of Thai basil into the coconut curry after it has cooked to give a bright taste. Add the coconut shrimp right into the bowl with the curry. This is one food that you won’t be able to get enough of! It is also so easy to make, you will want to serve it all the time.
17. Gazpacho
Tomato gazpacho is the answer to the question of what to serve with coconut shrimp. It is refreshing, flavorful, and can be made in advance.
Image Source: Gimme Some Oven
Try this easy recipe from Gimme Some Oven, which only takes 15 minutes to make. Juicy tomatoes, bell pepper, and onions are blended until creamy. Simple spices like ground black pepper and cumin add flavor to the gazpacho.
Gazpacho is enjoyed cold. The cold soup goes well with warm coconut shrimp. There is no cooking needed! This is a perfect summer side to pair with your tropical shrimp recipe.
18. Chipotle Peach Guacamole
Coconut shrimp is sweet but also savory. A side that is also sweet and savory is the perfect match for this dish. Chipotle peach guacamole fits the bill.
Image Source: Two Peas and Their Pod
This recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod is amazing. A ripe avocado is blended with sweet peaches and spicy chipotle peppers. A little lemon, salt, pepper, and cilantro season the dish. Serve tortilla chips alongside the peach guacamole.
Serve the guacamole as a dipping sauce for your coconut shrimp. Blend the guacamole more to be creamier if you intend to use it for dipping.
19. Mango Salsa
Mango salsa from Ambitious Kitchen is a tasty side for coconut shrimp. Avocado, mango, red bell pepper, and red onion are mixed to form a chunky salsa. Add some chopped jalapeno peppers to give the salsa a nice spice.
Image Source: Ambitious Kitchen
The fresh fruit in the salsa is a great match for coconut shrimp. Lime juice is the only ingredient needed to make the salsa sauce. Try adding a drizzle of honey to sweeten the salsa. Freshly grated ginger is also a tasty addition. Get creative, using this recipe as your inspiration.
20. Honey Glazed Veggies
Honey and citrus glazed vegetables are flavorful food to serve with coconut shrimp. This recipe from Tori Avey is especially tasty.
Image Source: Tori Avey
Carrots, yellow beets, sweet potatoes, and parsnips are tossed in a lemon, orange, and honey mix. The veggies are roasted on a baking sheet tray until tender.
The bright lemon and orange flavors are very complimentary to coconut shrimp. The tasty honey brings out the sweetness of the shrimp as well. Try marinating the veggies then skewering them to the grill. Grilling the lemon veggies will give them a nice, flavorful char. Any way to add more taste to your food is a good idea!
The Best Sides to Serve with Coconut Shrimp- from Pineapple Fried Rice to Grilled Veggies
After reading this extensive list, you will never have to ask what to serve with coconut shrimp ever again. There are so many incredible side dishes to try!
From grilled pineapple skewers to simple mango salads, there are recipes here to suit everyone’s taste buds.
Will you try one of the spicy side dishes or opt for an interesting sauce to serve with coconut shrimp? Do you like to cook side dishes with tangy lime juice or cooking something with more cheese? Why not try them all! Enjoy.
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