Honey Walnut Shrimp with Candied Walnuts and Creamy Sweet Sauce Recipe
Honey Walnut Shrimp is a delightful dish featuring crispy fried shrimp coated in a sweet, creamy sauce and topped with homemade candied walnuts. This recipe combines crunchy textures with a luscious honey-flavored sauce for a perfect appetizer or main course that’s both elegant and easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Candied Walnuts
- 1/4 cup honey
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1 cup walnuts, halved
Sweet Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Prepare Candied Walnuts: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey and water. Cook while stirring occasionally until the mixture thickens slightly, then add walnut halves and stir to coat evenly. Spread the coated walnuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and allow to cool completely to set.
- Make Sweet Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, and plain yogurt until smooth and well blended. Set aside for later use.
- Coat Shrimp: In a shallow dish, combine cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. In another shallow dish, whisk the egg and water together. Dip each shrimp first into the cornstarch mixture, then into the egg wash, and again into the cornstarch mixture for a double coating to ensure extra crispiness when fried.
- Heat Oil: Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet or wok to about 1 inch deep and heat over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking, suitable for frying.
- Fry Shrimp: In batches, carefully add coated shrimp to the hot oil. Fry each side for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the shrimp turn golden brown and crispy. Avoid overcrowding the pan. Once fried, transfer the shrimp to a wire rack to drain and keep crisp while cooking the remaining shrimp.
- Assemble and Serve: After all shrimp are cooked, drizzle them with the prepared sweet sauce, generously sprinkle the candied walnuts on top, and serve immediately to enjoy the perfect balance of textures and flavors.
Notes
- To Store: Refrigerate leftover shrimp in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat: Reheat leftovers in a preheated oven at 350°F for best results, or microwave until warm; note that shrimp may lose some crispiness upon reheating.
Keywords: Honey Walnut Shrimp, crispy shrimp, candied walnuts, sweet shrimp sauce, fried shrimp appetizer