Description
Honey Walnut Shrimp is a delightful Chinese-American dish featuring crispy battered shrimp coated in a creamy, sweet honey-mayonnaise sauce and topped with candied walnuts for an irresistible crunch and flavor contrast.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp, shell removed and deveined
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Minced green onions, optional, for garnish
Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1.5 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/4 lemon (about 1 tbsp juice)
Sugar Walnuts
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup walnuts
Batter
- 1/2 cup cornstarch plus 2 tbsp cornstarch (total 10 tbsp)
- 2 egg whites
Instructions
- Prepare Sugar Walnuts: Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add water, sugar, and walnuts. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Continue to stir occasionally as the liquid thickens and reduces, which should take about 2-4 minutes. Remove walnuts once candied and lay them out on parchment paper to cool and harden.
- Make the Sauce: In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk, honey, and lemon juice. Mix well until smooth and set aside for later use.
- Prepare Shrimp: Rinse the shrimp under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper to taste.
- Make the Batter: In a bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy. Gradually add the cornstarch (all 10 tbsp) while stirring to form a smooth batter that coats the shrimp well.
- Batter the Shrimp: Add the shrimp into the batter and mix until each piece is thoroughly coated.
- Deep Fry the Shrimp: Heat a pot of oil over medium heat until hot enough for frying (approximately 350°F or 175°C). Add the shrimp one by one into the hot oil, ensuring they are evenly coated and do not overcrowd the pot. Fry for 3-4 minutes or until fully cooked and lightly golden.
- Double Fry for Crispiness: Remove all cooked shrimp with a slotted spoon and drain on a cooling rack. Once all shrimp are cooked, fry them again together for another 3-4 minutes until extra crispy.
- Combine and Serve: Let the shrimp cool for at least 5 minutes. Gently toss the crispy shrimp with the prepared sauce and half of the candied walnuts. Garnish with the remaining walnuts and optional minced green onions. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- The batter consistency should be thick enough to coat the shrimp well without dripping off too much.
- Double frying improves the crispiness of the shrimp significantly.
- If desired, you can adjust the honey and lemon juice in the sauce to balance sweetness and tartness to your taste.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the frying pot to ensure even cooking and maintain oil temperature.
- Use parchment paper for cooling sugar walnuts to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Keywords: Honey Walnut Shrimp, crispy shrimp, candied walnuts, fried shrimp, Chinese-American seafood, sweet shrimp sauce
