Parrot Bay Coconut Shrimp - Red Lobster Copycat

Dropbear's Note:

the best part is the pina colada dipping sauce. And it's true, that sauce is so good you could eat it with a spoon. But the coconut shrimp is pretty awesome too, even on its own. Red Lobster's secret formula includes Captain Morgan's Parrot Bay rum, which sweetens up the batter as well as adding a great coconut flavor

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 3

Pina Colada Dipping Sauce

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup pina colada nonalcoholic drink mix
• 1/4 cup crushed pineapple (canned)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Shrimp

• 6 -8 cups canola oil (as required by fryer)
• 12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 1/2 pound)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons captain morgan Parrot Bay coconut rum
• 1 cup panko Japanese-style bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut

On the side

• salsa

Directions:

1. Prepare pina colada dipping sauce first by combining all the ingredients.
2. Cover this and let it chill out in the fridge while you make the shrimp.
3. Heat oil to 350 degrees.
4. Measure 3/4 cup of flour into a medium bowl.
5. In another medium bowl mix together the remaining 3/4 cup flour, sugar, and salt.
6. Stir milk and rum into flour mixture.
7. Let this batter stand for five minutes.
8. While the batter rests, combine panko breadcrumbs and shredded coconut into a third medium bowl.
9. Butterfly cut each shrimp before you start the battering: Use a sharp knife to slice through the top of the shrimp (where the vein was) so that you can spread the shrimp open.
10. Leave the tail intact.
11. To batter the shrimp, dip each one in the flour, then the wet batter, then coat each shrimp with the panko/coconut mixture.
12. Arrange the shrimp on a plate until all of them are battered.
13. Fry the shrimp by dropping six at a time into the hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the shrimp are golden brown.
14. Remove shrimp to a rack or paper towels to drain.
15. Serve shrimp with pina colada dipping sauce on the side, along with a small dish or your favorite salsa.

Reviews

[katluvr_12087985]

This is close to the actual recipe Red Lobster uses, from their executive chef. Their dipping sauce does not have sugar in it, but the juice of a whole lemon.. Also, their batter does not use milk, it's the pina colada mix instead. I love this recipe, but does take a little time to make.

[Michelle_78]

Served this for an appetizer for Easter and got nothing but raves!! Everyone loved this and couldn't get enough!! The only change I did was instead of the sour cream, I used Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt as another reviewer suggested. Thanks for sharing!

[Sadlbum]

After reading the first few reviews I had to find out for myself the ingredients of the sauce. I have been a server at Red Lobster for 16 years and never knew the ingredients. As one reviewer said there is nothing sour about this sauce, and I also, would have bet that is was not made with sour cream. Although there is no way of knowing the exact recipe because it is not made in store, the ingredients are listed on the shipping box. The first two ingredients are pineapple and sour cream!!! The recipe for the shrimp is very similar as to how they make them in the store though. I don't know why a server would have told anyone that it is made with yogurt. Personally, that sounds really delicious though!