Introduction:
Honey Walnut Shrimp is one of those restaurant favorites that feels fancy, a little indulgent, and totally
irresistible. You get crispy, golden shrimp with a light crunchy coating, then it’s tossed (or drizzled) with a sweet, creamy
honey sauce and finished with glossy candied walnuts for that signature sweet crunch. The flavor is a perfect balance:
savory shrimp, rich creamy sauce, and honey sweetness with a gentle tang.
The best part? You can absolutely make it at home—often better than takeout—because you can control the crispness, sweetness,
and the quality of the shrimp. This recipe walks you through three key parts: candied walnuts, crispy shrimp, and the creamy
honey sauce. Once you’ve got those, everything comes together fast.
Serve it with steamed rice, fried rice, or crisp stir-fried veggies, and you’ve got a dinner that looks restaurant-level but
is completely doable on a weeknight.
Ingredients:
For the candied walnuts
- 1 cup walnut halves
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- Pinch of salt
For the shrimp
- 1 1/2 lb (680g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on or off)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
- 2 egg whites (or 1 whole egg + 1 egg white)
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (optional, extra light coating)
- Oil for frying (neutral oil like canola or sunflower)
For the creamy honey sauce
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2–3 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk (optional, very classic restaurant flavor)
- 1–2 tsp lemon juice (or rice vinegar for a mild tang)
- Pinch of salt
Optional garnish and serving
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
- Steamed jasmine rice
- Steamed broccoli or snap peas
