Honey Walnut Shrimp
Honey Walnut Shrimp is a delightful dish featuring crispy fried shrimp tossed in a creamy, sweet honey mayonnaise sauce with crunchy toasted walnuts. This recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and nutty flavors with a satisfying contrast of textures, making it an impressive and crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s quick and easy to prepare.
- Author: Mary
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: Asian-American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Shrimp and Coating
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 cup cornstarch or flour (for gluten-free option use cornstarch or gluten-free flour)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
Sauce
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise (use dairy-free mayo or Greek yogurt for dairy-free version)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
Walnut Glaze
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Prepare the Walnuts: Toast the walnuts gently in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and lightly browned. Toss them in a simple honey and sugar glaze, then set aside to cool, ensuring a perfect crunchy, sweet accent.
- Coat the Shrimp: In a bowl, mix egg white, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt to create a light batter. Dip the peeled and deveined shrimp into this mixture, coating each shrimp evenly for ultimate crispness.
- Fry the Shrimp: Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350°F (175°C). Fry the shrimp in batches until golden and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- Make the Sauce: Whisk together mayonnaise, honey, sugar, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy. This sauce is the luscious base that carries all the delightful flavors.
- Combine and Serve: Toss the fried shrimp in the honey mayo sauce until well-coated. Gently fold in the candied walnuts. Serve immediately to enjoy the contrast of crispy shrimp, creamy sauce, and crunchy nuts.
Notes
- Use fresh or properly thawed shrimp for the best texture and flavor.
- Maintain oil temperature around 350°F to ensure even, crispy frying without greasiness.
- Fry shrimp in small batches to keep the oil temperature stable and shrimp crispy.
- Ensure shrimp are evenly coated in the batter for a consistent crunchy exterior.
- When tossing shrimp with the sauce and walnuts, be gentle to avoid crushing the crunchy walnuts.
- Serve immediately after coating to keep shrimp crispy.
- Reheat gently in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes; avoid microwaving to preserve crispiness.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 4-5 shrimp with sauce and walnuts)
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
Keywords: Honey Walnut Shrimp, Crispy Shrimp, Seafood Appetizer, Sweet and Savory Shrimp, Nutty Shrimp Recipe, Gluten-Free Shrimp Recipe