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This coconut lime shrimp recipe is quick, easy, fresh, and goes perfectly with rice. A great weeknight meal option!

coconut lime shrimp in a white bowl with a lime wedge

Like all good shrimp recipes, this one comes together fast. Lime juice and zest, cilantro, and basil make this taste super fresh.

I’m really into coconut milk these days. I keep making my vegan Thai sweet potato coconut curry that I posted last week, and I had a hankering for shrimp in a coconut sauce, so I whipped up a recipe for that!

You may also like my coconut lime chicken.

metal skillet with easy coconut lime shrimp

Coconut and lime just go together really well. It’s one of those combos like peanut butter and jelly that just never go out of style. I used to eat PB&J straight out of the jars when I was like 4.

My mom didn’t seem too pleased about that royal mess. Not sure why that memory popped into my head right now, but I’d like to resume that habit now that I’m all grownup and can do anything I want (yeah right). 🙂

bowl of coconut lime shrimp over rice

My top tip for making this is ensuring that you don’t add the shrimp in too quickly. The sauce becomes better as it reduces. If you add the shrimp in too fast, the sauce will be too watery and/or you’ll end up with rubbery shrimp.

I add the herbs towards the end so they don’t get cooked to oblivion.

I learned a tip from my friend Meghan of the Fox and Briar blog that’s been life-changing (I don’t get out much, ok?). Keep your fresh ginger in the freezer. I don’t know about you, but I always end up wasting at least some fresh ginger because I can never use it all up in time.

A bonus for keeping the ginger in the freezer is that it makes it super easy to grate. I hate grating ginger, so this was huge for me. It usually clogs up my Microplane and just becomes a mess. Not so if you freeze it. Now you know!

metal skillet with coconut lime shrimp

Do you like cooking with coconut milk? Will you try this coconut lime shrimp recipe?

This coconut lime shrimp recipe is quick, easy, fresh, and goes perfectly with rice. A great weeknight meal option!
5 from 5 votes

Coconut Lime Shrimp

This coconut lime shrimp recipe is quick, easy, fresh, and goes perfectly with rice. A great weeknight meal option!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons shallot chopped finely
  • 1 pound medium shrimp peeled & deveined
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • Juice & zest of 1 lime
  • 1 (13.5 ounce) can full fat coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 6 large leaves fresh basil torn
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Cooked rice (optional)

Instructions 

  • If you're making rice with this, cook it according to package directions.
  • Add olive oil to a skillet on medium-high heat. Sauté the shallot for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's lightly browned.
  • Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for about a minute, until fragrant.
  • Add the broth, lime juice and zest, coconut milk, and brown sugar. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add the shrimp, cilantro, and basil, and cook for another 5 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through (don't overcook). Season with salt & pepper as needed.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • I encourage you to adjust this recipe to your personal tastes. Give the sauce a try before you add the shrimp and add more lime juice, sugar, or salt & pepper if needed.
  • I recommend Thai Kitchen coconut milk. It's less watery than some other brands I've tried.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Cholesterol: 286mg, Sodium: 950mg, Potassium: 349mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 161IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 186mg, Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

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Hi! I’m Natasha.

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5 from 5 votes

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20 Comments

  1. Jessica says:

    5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe many times now and it is amazing every time. The sauce is so aromatic and delicious. It’s a favorite in our house.

    1. Natasha says:

      That makes me so happy!! 😀 Thanks, Jessica!

  2. Nicole says:

    5 stars
    This was amazing and easy to make. My new favorite meal!

    1. Natasha says:

      Yay!! Thanks for letting me know, Nicole!

  3. Eileen Corah says:

    5 stars
    I made this tonight for my husband and I – wow! Love it ☺️ Really nice flavours and looks very pretty.
    I’ll make a bigger batch next week when the kids are over.
    👍🏻👍🏻💐

    1. Natasha says:

      That’s awesome!! I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂

  4. Sammie says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is music to my tastebuds. I love lime & coconut together and will also pop my fresh ginger in the freezer first thing tomorrow. Pinned, I absolutely have to make this.

    1. Natasha says:

      Thanks, Sammie!! The ginger trick is a good one… it seriously changed my life hahaha. I hope you like the recipe!

  5. Lorraine says:

    5 stars
    This was wonderfully delicious! It was just as good as leftovers too. I served it with Cilantro Cauliflower Rice, just perfect together. Quick and easy too, a new favorite!

    1. Natasha says:

      Yay! I’m so pleased to hear that. Thanks for taking the time to write a comment! 💜💜

  6. Federica says:

    Can i use frozen schrimps? If yes…. Should I follow the same cook time of the recepe?

    1. Natasha says:

      Run the shrimps under cool water to thaw them first. Then cook them as directed. Hope you enjoy the recipe!

  7. Victoria says:

    This looks amazing I can’t wait to try it! What size can of coconut milk are you using?

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you! I hope you love it. It’s 13.5 oz – just updated the recipe 🙂

  8. Jamie Holifield says:

    Would chicken be a suitable substitute? Shellfish allergy in the household.

    1. Natasha says:

      I don’t see why not, Jamie. Just make sure to cook the chicken longer in the sauce. 🙂

  9. Joanne : No Plate Like Home says:

    Great tip on freezing ginger. I always seem to trash my old ginger. I am a shrimp lover and this recipe sounds delicious.

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you!! I was super happy when I heard it.

  10. sue | theviewfromgreatisland says:

    You just can’t go wrong with these incredible flavors, you could even leave out the shrimp and I’d be happy as a clam!!

    1. Natasha says:

      Aw thanks, Sue!! 🙂