Red Lobster®Parrot Bay Coconut Shrimp

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Top Secret Recipes

version of

Red Lobster®Parrot Bay Coconut Shrimp

by

Todd Wilbur


Fans of this dish say 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 (plus you can whip up a nice cocktail with it while you're cooking, if that's your thing). Panko breadcrumbs -- which lend a nice crunch to the batter -- can be found in the aisle of your market where all the Asian foods are parked. This secret recipe makes two times the size of a serving you get at the Lobster, so there should be enough for everyone. The real thing comes with salsa on the side in addition to the pina colada sauce, but you may not even want to include it.

Pina Colada Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup pina colada mix
1/4 cup crushed pineapple (canned)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Shrimp
6 to 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's Parrot Bay coconut rum
1 cup panko Japanese breadcrumbs
1/2 cup shredded coconut

On the side
Salsa


1. Prepare pina colada dipping sauce first by combining all the ingredients. Cover this and let it chill out in the fridge while you make the shrimp.
2. Heat oil to 350 degrees.
3. Measure 3/4 cup of flour into a medium bowl. In another medium bowl mix together the remaining 3/4 cup flour, sugar, and salt. Stir milk and rum into flour mixture. Let this batter stand for five minutes. While the batter rests, combine panko breadcrumbs and shredded coconut into a third medium bowl.
4. 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. Leave the tail intact.
5. To batter the shrimp, dip each one in the flour, then the wet batter, then coat each shrimp with the panko/coconut mixture. Arrange the shrimp on a plate until all of them are battered.
6. 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. Remove shrimp to a rack or paper towels to drain.
7. Serve shrimp with pina colada dipping sauce on the side, along with a small dish or your favorite salsa.

Serves 3 to 4 as an appetizer.