Comfy Cuisine: Coconut Chicken Tenders with Sweet and Sassy Dipping Sauce

What could be better than transforming chicken into a fried-favorite variation of crunchy coconut shrimp?  Coat the tenders in coconut, fry and pair with a sweet and sassy sauce for a combination of sweet, spicy, cold and crispy.

Make extra sauce – because they will be double dipping!


For the sauce, combine:

1 cup Saucy Susan Peach Apricot Sassy Sauce

1 Tbsp. Apple Cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. chili garlic sauce

For the tenders:

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 cup canned coconut milk

1-1/2 cup sweetened, shredded coconut

1-1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs

2 lbs. chicken tenders, white tendon removed, seasoned with salt and pepper

Canola oil

Whisk together cornstarch, salt, and cayenne in a shallow dish.

Pour coconut milk into another shallow dish.

Combine coconut and panko in the third dish.

Toss tenders in cornstarch mixture; shake off excess.  Dip tenders in coconut milk, then dredge in coconut mixture pressing to adhere.  Transfer to a plate and chill 1-2 hours.

Heat about 1 cup Canola oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat.

Fry tenders in batches until golden brown and cooked through, 2-3 minutes per side.

Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate and season with salt.


Serve tenders with dipping sauce