Description
Honey Walnut Shrimp is a delicious Chinese-American dish featuring crispy fried shrimp tossed in a creamy, sweet honey mayo sauce and topped with candied walnuts. Perfect for a flavorful main course that pairs wonderfully with steamed rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Coating
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Candied Walnuts
- 1/2 cup walnut halves
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Candy the Walnuts: In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil over medium heat. Add the walnut halves and boil for 2–3 minutes until they’re coated in the syrup. Remove walnuts with a slotted spoon and place them on a parchment-lined tray to dry and cool, forming a crunchy candy coating.
- Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, and salt until smooth and well combined. Set aside to let flavors meld.
- Prepare the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture. Toss the shrimp in cornstarch, ensuring each piece is evenly coated for a crispy finish when fried.
- Fry the Shrimp: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp in batches to avoid overcrowding, cooking each side for about 2–3 minutes until golden and crispy. Once cooked, transfer shrimp to a paper towel–lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Toss Shrimp in Sauce: Once all shrimp are fried, toss them gently in the prepared honey mayo sauce until fully coated, making sure every bite is flavorful and creamy.
- Combine with Candied Walnuts: Add the cooled candied walnuts to the shrimp and gently stir to combine, creating a delightful crunch with every bite.
- Serve: Serve the honey walnut shrimp warm, ideally accompanied by steamed rice for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- For extra crunch, double-fry the shrimp by returning them to the hot oil for a second quick fry.
- Use large or jumbo shrimp for the best texture and juicy bite.
- This dish is best enjoyed fresh but can be prepped in advance and assembled just before serving to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
