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Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 67 reviews

Honey Walnut Shrimp is a popular Chinese-American dish featuring crispy battered shrimp coated in a sweet and creamy honey-mayo sauce and topped with candied walnuts. The shrimp are lightly fried to golden perfection and then tossed in a luscious sauce with a subtle hint of spice from crushed red pepper flakes, creating a delightful balance of textures and flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

For Candied Walnuts

  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup walnut halves

For Sauce

  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp condensed milk
  • 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

For Shrimp

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Instructions

  1. Heat Oil: Add vegetable oil to a medium deep skillet and heat over medium-high heat until suitable for frying shrimp and walnuts.
  2. Candy the Walnuts: In a small saucepan, combine water, granulated sugar, and walnut halves. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 2 minutes to candy the walnuts. After boiling, transfer the walnuts to a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow them to dry and cool completely.
  3. Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, condensed milk, and crushed red pepper flakes until smooth. Set this sweet and creamy sauce aside for later use.
  4. Make the Batter: Using a handheld mixer, whisk together the egg whites and cornstarch in a bowl until soft peaks form. This will create a light, fluffy batter for the shrimp.
  5. Fry the Shrimp: Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, dip each peeled and deveined shrimp into the batter, ensuring full coating. Carefully place shrimp into the hot oil skillet and fry for 2-3 minutes or until they turn golden brown and crispy. Remove fried shrimp with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a paper-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  6. Toss and Serve: Once all shrimp are fried, toss them gently in the prepared honey-mayo sauce until fully coated. Plate the shrimp and top with the candied walnuts. Serve immediately to enjoy the contrasting textures and flavors at their best.

Notes

  • Ensure the oil temperature is hot enough before frying to get crispy shrimp without absorbing excess oil.
  • Dry the candied walnuts thoroughly; any residual moisture can cause the sugar to become sticky.
  • The sauce can be adjusted in sweetness or heat by modifying honey or crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
  • Serve this dish immediately for optimal texture as the shrimp tend to soften if left too long after frying.
  • For a gluten-free version, ensure cornstarch is certified gluten-free and use gluten-free mayonnaise.

Keywords: Honey Walnut Shrimp, crispy shrimp, candied walnuts, creamy sauce, Chinese American recipe, fried shrimp, sweet shrimp dish

Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/honey-walnut-shrimp-recipe/