What Goes with Coconut Shrimp? (16 Best Sides Revealed!)

Coconut shrimps are crunchy-on-the-outside tender-on-the-inside, giving you that tropical flavor that will make you yearn for summertime. This is why it’s a great appetizer idea for your summer parties.

But honestly, it’s difficult to find side dishes to serve with coconut shrimp.  

So if you’re planning your barbecue party menu, you might be wondering– what goes with coconut shrimp?

Well, we won’t be shell-fish! Instead, in this article, we will share some of the most fantastic coconut shrimp side dishes we love, so keep reading!

Is Coconut Shrimp Healthy?

Coconut shrimp is a delicious, popular dish found in many different cuisines. It typically consists of shrimp either deep-fried or sautéed in a flavorful sauce containing coconut and various spices. But is this tasty treat actually healthy?

The answer to that question depends largely on how the shrimp is prepared.

Deep-fried coconut shrimp can be very high in fat and calories, making it an unhealthy option for regular consumption. However, if you opt for a lighter version of this dish, such as sautéed coconut shrimp, you’ll find that the nutrition profile improves significantly.

Sautéed coconut shrimp retains much of its nutritional value because it isn’t cooked in oil or other unhealthy fats and retains more of its vitamins and minerals.

When cooked without unhealthy fats, the dish can be quite healthy; providing notable amounts of protein, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and iron — all important nutrients needed for optimal health.

So to sum it up: If you’re looking for a healthy meal option, opt for a lighter version of coconut shrimp like sautéed rather than deep-fried!

What Goes with Coconut Shrimp? 16 Side Dishes to Try

Now, without further ado, here are some of the best side dishes that go well with coconut shrimp:

Soups

If you’re looking for something comforting and filling, here are some soup ideas to warm you up:

1. Thai Chicken Curry Soup– Comfort in a Bowl (in just 20 Minutes!)

Many of us love curry, but it’s a bit intimidating to make, don’t you agree? Well, this Thai Chicken Curry Soup is the exception you’re looking for.

The exotic flavors of this soup will transport you to The East in an instant. The surprising part is you can make this soup in a jiffy too!

Within 20 minutes, you can have a bowl of soup with authentic Thai flavors. Not only that, but its ingredients are also relatively easy to source since most of them are readily available in local grocery stores.

Pro Tip: Serve this with coconut shrimp and a fresh crusty bread on the side for a complete meal.

2. Tom Yum–  Everyone’s Favorite Thai Soup

Admit it, Thai soups just hit different, especially during summer. Their comforting flavors, fresh ingredients, and hot savory broth complement coconut shrimp’s refreshing flavors.

One thing we love the most about Tom Yum is it comes in two versions—clear and creamy. The version’s base broth is just the same. The only difference is the creamy version contains coconut milk (hence the creamy texture) and chili paste (for a punch of flavor).

Pro Tip: Using frozen pre-peeled prawns will make the cooking process a whole lot easier.  

Starchy Options

Heads up, carb lovers! This section is for you.

3. French Fries– The Classic Side Dish

You can never go wrong with everyone’s ultimate comfort food.

Just think about the combination of the crunchy and succulent coconut shrimp plus the crispy and fluffy fries. There can be no better combination, right?

Pro Tip: Go for sweet potato fries for a more nutrient-dense version. (*)

4.  Twice-baked Potatoes– All Comforting Flavors in One Dish

Since we’re already on starchy food items, twice-baked potato is one side dish we shouldn’t skip.

This dish uses real and fresh potatoes, so it’s already a step healthier than fries. The good news is it has a lot more flavor, too, since it contains other ingredients like cheese, bacon, scallions, and many more.

• Pro Tip: Top it off with a spoonful of sour cream for a refreshing twist that goes oh-so-well with coconut shrimp’s tropical flavor.

5. Cilantro Lime Rice– Not Your Ordinary Fried Rice

The best sides for coconut shrimp include carbs and veggies, so you must include rice in your menu.

Unfortunately, plain white rice can be a bit boring for the exciting flavors of coconut shrimp. That’s why you need cilantro lime rice. This fried rice is fluffy, zesty, and filled with exotic flavors that perfectly match coconut shrimp’s delightful taste.

• Pro Tip: If you’re on keto, you can make a low-carb version of this—cilantro lime cauliflower rice. (*)

Healthy Choices

If you want to balance off the richness and greasiness of coconut shrimp, serve it with any of these healthy sides:

6. Sauteed Garlic Spinach– for the Much-needed Energy Boost

If you’re looking for healthy greens, spinach is your best bet. This vegetable is considered super green because it offers plenty of health benefits, including boosting your energy levels (*) After all, it’s Popeye’s favorite for this very reason!

But wait, there’s more. Spinach dishes are excellent side dish options because they are versatile and can go well with aromatics or herbs.

Our favorite is giving it a garlicky twist because its savory taste balances the shrimp’s sweet taste. The fact that preparing this dish takes less than 5 minutes is just a big bonus!

7. Grilled Summer Squash with Feta Cheese– Summer Flavors at Their Finest

On its own, summer squash already gives off a mildly sweet flavor that works well with coconut shrimp. But that’s not enough for us, so we have to add more summer flavors to the mix!

The best way to do that is to grill it! The grilling process gives the dish a smoky flavor, bringing out its natural sweetness even more.

After grilling, the squash is marinated to give it maximum summery flavors. Finally, it’s topped off with feta cheese to inject a creamy delight that both the squash and shrimps need.

8. Confetti Coleslaw– Creamy yet Zesty

When it comes to coconut shrimp sides, creamy and rich salads aren’t the way to go because it adds to the heaviness of fried breaded shrimps.

However, confetti coleslaw is an exception because this is one of the few creamy salads that are light and breezy.

Not only that, it’s crispy, crunchy, and packed with juicy and zesty flavors that would give the coconut shrimp a run for its money.

Let’s not forget that it features many colors that would add color to your dining spread.

9. Vegetable Spring Rolls– for an Asian Touch

Spring rolls are fresh, healthy, and, above all, packed with many textures and flavors you’ll love.

Just imagine the combination of crispy vegetables, crunchy rice noodles, and the heat from jalapeño. All of these are enveloped in a thin and chewy gelatinous paper. That’s certainly a party for your taste buds, right?

Pro Tip: Replace the peanut sauce with sweet Thai mango sauce and add avocado slices for a more mouthwatering meal.

10. Gazpacho– With Love, from Spain

Gazpacho brings the best of both worlds. It gives you the refreshing feeling you get from drinking a smoothie while giving you the nutrition you can get from vegetable salad, so thank you, Spain, for this fantastic dish.

This quintessential summer soup is not just famous for its refreshing ingredients. It’s also a big hit during summer because you don’t have to turn on the stove to make it.

All you need to do is chop up the ingredients and process them in a food blender, and you get a delightfully cold soup that brings a breath of fresh air during the warmer months.

Dips and Sauces

While coconut shrimp is already delicious, a dip will take it to a new level. Here are some of our best dip recommendations:

11. Pineapple Salsa– A Taste of the Tropics

No other fruit embodies the taste of the topics the way pineapple does, so this is the dip to try if you want to bring out the best flavors of coconut shrimp.

In addition to pineapple, this salsa contains bell peppers, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and red onion. The mix of ingredients delivers layers of flavors that your taste buds will surely have fun unpacking.

• Pro Tip: if you’re in a hurry, you can buy pre-cut and pre-peeled fresh pineapples in the grocery store.

12. Peach and Habanero Guacamole– Mexican Dip with a Fruity and Spicy Twist

Guacamole is already good enough, but adding Peach and Habanero will make it perfect!

This dip brings summertime flavors to the next level as it doesn’t only give off sweetness but adds some heat as well.

With this sweet-with-heat dip, you get to enjoy the taste of paradise without having to leave your home.

• Pro Tip: Complete the paradise experience by serving this at the poolside.  

13. Lemon Aioli Sauce– Aioli with Zesty Touch

If you’re looking for a sweet yet simple dip, then you should give the lemon aioli sauce a try. This fantastic dipping sauce goes well with any type of seafood because of its creamy yet light texture and citrusy flavor.

What you’ll enjoy about this dip is that it’s easy to make—no cooking is needed, and minimal chopping involved. That’s not all. All of its ingredients are everyday kitchen staples, so you can easily whip it up anytime, all the time.

Something Sweet

Enjoy some sweet-on-sweet action by serving coconut shrimp with these tropical dessert ideas:

14. Grilled Pineapples– Sweet and Smoky

There’s nothing more refreshing than biting into juicy and sweet pineapples. But did you know there’s a way to make pineapples even better? This caramelized brown sugar pineapple is the recipe to try.

The pineapple spears are coated with brown sugar cinnamon glaze to boost their sweetness and give them a hint of spice at the same time. Afterward, they are grilled to perfection, caramelizing the sauce and providing the fruit with a smoky taste and better texture.

15. Summer Fruit Salad– All Tropical Flavors in One Dessert

Fruit salad may seem boring and unoriginal, but it will always be a big hit—that we are sure of! After all, who can resist the refreshing tropical taste of different fruits?

• Pro Tip: The secret to a great fruit salad is the sauce.

Instead of mixing diced and chopped fruits, make the dish more memorable by coating them with a sweet, zesty, and citrusy sauce that would bring out the fruits’ maximum flavor and sweetness.

Up Next: What to do with leftover shrimp