Coconut Chicken Tenders with Spicy Mango Sauce

Golden, ultra flavorful and amazingly crunchy, these Coconut Chicken Tenders with Spicy Mango Sauce are absolutely addicting! They’re so quick and easy to make, you’ll have a huge batch ready in no time.

The abundance of ice creams and heavy use of bacon, cream cheese, and pasta on the blog may say otherwise but I do believe in the importance of wholesome grains, generous servings of fruits and vegetables and moderate fat intake in our daily diet.

Yet as much as I am all for healthy choices, I have to say, there are certain foods in this life that are meant to be fried. Deep-fried, to be exact. Like popcorn chicken. Or eggrolls. And definitely, french fries.

There must be a kitchen tip, step or hack I missed along the way, but I have tried baking breaded foods on many occasions and they just don’t turn out as golden and delicious as when deep-fried. Cooking foods in a vat of hot oil do entail extra calories and a bit more work but the reward of evenly-browned, ultra flavorful and amazingly crunchy coconut chicken tenders is so worth it in my book.

If you’re looking for a fabulous party food that’s sure to be a hit with the crowd or an awesome weeknight meal the whole family will love, look no further than these coconut chicken tenders with spicy mango sauce! A delicious combination of sweet and savory, tender and crisp, they’ll have your guests begging for more. The good thing is, they’re not only a breeze to make, they also freeze well for future use. You can easily double the batch and have them ready to fry when cravings hit.

Using these tips below, you’ll churn out these beauties perfectly every time, anytime.

• Use cornstarch and egg whites in place of flour and whole eggs to bind things together, making the “base” light and thin instead of heavy and eggy.
• For delicious crunch, use a mixture of shredded sweetened coconut and Panko bread crumbs.
• To ensure the coat adheres better during frying, arrange the coated chicken tenders in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze for about 20 to 30 minutes or until firm. With a little wait time, you’ll have a lot fewer coconut flakes and crumbs floating in the oil and more on your tenders where they matter! To store for future use, just transfer the frozen chicken pieces into resealable plastic bags.
• Make sure your oil is at the optimal range of 350 F to 375 F. I can’t stress enough how crucial the temperature is in deep-frying.  Too hot and the breading will brown well before the inside is cooked through. Too low and the chicken tenders will absorb a lot more oil. To prevent the oil from plummeting, do not overcrowd the pan. Fry in batches as needed but make sure to bring the temperature back to 350 F before adding the next batch.
• Don’t drain the fried chicken tenders on paper towels or the steam will make them soggy. Instead, drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet or pan to catch oil drips.

Amazing on their own, I’ve been known to gobble a bucketful of these coconut chicken tenders straight off the frying pan. But coconut chicken tenders with spicy mango sauce? Out of this world delicious! This dipping sauce, my friends, is the standard dipping sauces should be measured by. Creamy, sweet and spicy from fresh mango pulp, yogurt, mayo, honey and generous dashes of Srichacha, it’s the perfect compliment to an already awesome dish.

Guys, before I sign off, I want to apologize to everyone who subscribes to my email newsletter. A few days ago, I was working on this post and accidentally pressed “PUBLISH” instead of saving it on draft. Unfortunately, my email marketing is set to send notifications to my subscribers automatically so this post went out unfinished. I know your subscribing to my newsletter takes a bit of trust and I hate to “spam” you with unnecessary emails. I am here beating myself up for not being careful enough! Will you please check back here tomorrow? I’d love to make it up to you.

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Coconut Chicken Tenders with Spicy Mango Sauce

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

1 hrs

 

Golden, ultra flavorful and amazingly crunchy, these Coconut Chicken Tenders with Spicy Mango Sauce are absolutely addicting! They're so quick and easy to make, you'll have a huge batch ready in no time.

Course: Appetizer/ Main Entree

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 720 kcal

Author: Onion Rings and Things

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken tenders
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 2 egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
• canola oil or vegetable oil

For the Spicy Mango Sauce

• 1 medium mango
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine chicken tenders and seasoning salt. Massage well and allow to marinate for about 10 minutes.
2. In one shallow bowl, beat egg whites until frothy. In another shallow bowl, place cornstarch. In another shallow bowl, combine shredded coconut and Panko bread crumbs.
3. Dredge chicken in cornstarch, dip in egg white and then dredge in coconut-bread crumb mixture to fully coat, pressing down to adhere well. Arrange prepared chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes or until firm.

4. In a skillet over medium heat, heat about 3 inches deep of oil to about 350 F to 375 F. Add chicken and deep-fry, turning as needed, for about 4 to 7 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Do not overcrowd the pan, cook in batches as needed.

5. With a slotted spoon or tongs, remove chicken from pan and drain on a wire rack. Serve with spicy mango sauce.

For the Spicy Mango Sauce

1. Slice mango and scoop flesh, discarding pit and skin. In a blender or food processor, process mango until blended (like the texture of applesauce).
2. In a bowl. combine mango pulp, yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, Sriracha sauce, lime juice and salt. Stir until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition Facts

Coconut Chicken Tenders with Spicy Mango Sauce

Amount Per Serving (310 g)

Calories 720 Calories from Fat 310

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 34.4g 53%

Saturated Fat 15g 75%

Cholesterol 202mg 67%

Sodium 609mg 25%

Potassium 712mg 20%

Total Carbohydrates 29g 10%

Dietary Fiber 3.5g 14%

Sugars 2.8g

Protein 70.3g 141%

Vitamin A 2%

Vitamin C 3%

Calcium 6%

Iron 43%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please note that the nutritional facts below does not include the spicy mango sauce which provides an additional 117 calories, 3.7 g protein, 3.4g fat, and 354mg sodium per serving. 

Tools/Supplies You Might Need for This Recipe (disclosure: affiliate link):

T-fal FR8000 Oil Filtration Ultimate EZ Clean Easy to clean 3.5-Liter Fry Basket Stainless Steel Immersion Deep Fryer, 2.6-Pound, Silver