This Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe will make you say goodbye to takeout! The delightful blend of succulent shrimp, crunchy walnuts, and a luscious honey glaze will have you making this dish every week.
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Authentic Chinese and American Chinese are one of my favorite cuisines! All the different dishes are so flavorful and delicious. Once I learned more and more recipes to make my own, it became my absolute favorite. With this recipe, you will begin a journey of creating your own amazing Chinese in the comfort of your home and for a fraction of the price.
My favorite “fast food” honey walnut shrimp is the panda express honey walnut shrimp. The only thing I would change is the consistency. It can be a bit too squishy for me. In this honey walnut shrimp recipe, we will be cooking the shrimp a bit crispier for the sauce to coat nicely, leaving a nice crunch.
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This post is all about the best honey walnut shrimp recipe.
The Main Ingredients
Shrimp: The star of the dish, shrimp provides a delicate and flavorful protein base. Here you will be using ALDI’s Specially Selected Black Tiger Shrimp. They are a great price and the perfect size for the main protein of a dish. It is seasonal, typically fall and winter, so look out for them in the freezer aisle during that time.
All-Purpose Flour and Cornstarch: The combination of these two ingredients create a light and crispy tempura batter for the shrimp.
Baking Powder: Adds a bit of leavening to the batter, resulting in a lighter texture.
Eggs: Adds structure and texture to the tempura mix.
Ice-Cold Water: Keeps the batter cold, ensuring a crispier coating on the shrimp.
Vegetable Oil: Used for frying the tempura shrimp, providing the desired crispy exterior.
Mayonnaise: Forms the base of the honey glaze, adding creaminess and tanginess.
Honey: Offers a sweet and sticky glaze that complements the shrimp beautifully.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: Provides richness and sweetness to the honey glaze.
Lemon Juice: Balances the sweetness with a touch of acidity in the honey glaze.
Walnuts: Adds crunch and a nutty flavor to the dish, complementing the sweetness of the honey glaze.
Butter: Enhances the flavor of the caramelized walnuts and helps bind the sugar to them.
Making honey walnut shrimp sauce
Whisk together mayonnaise, honey, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice for the honey glaze.
how to make honey walnut shrimp
- Pat dry shrimp
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, egg, and salt.
- Gradually add the ice-cold water to the dry ingredients, whisking gently until the batter is just combined. It’s okay if it’s slightly lumpy.
- Chill it while preparing the other ingredients.
- Dip shrimp in chilled batter, fry in batches until golden and crispy, then drain on paper towels.
- Caramelize walnuts by melting butter, adding walnuts and sugar, and stirring until coated.
- Toss fried shrimp in honey glaze until coated, then sprinkle caramelized walnuts on top.
- Optionally garnish with chopped green onions and serve immediately.
honey walnut shrimp without condensed milk
If you don’t have any sweetened condensed milk, you can just simply not add it. Obviously, the flavor will not be exactly the same, but it will still be delicious!
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup honey
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp unsalted butter
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool slightly.
In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, and lemon juice until well combined.
Add the melted butter to the mixture and whisk again until the glaze is smooth and creamy.
Taste the glaze and adjust the sweetness or tanginess by adding more honey or lemon juice, if desired.
What To Serve It With?
Honey walnut shrimp is amazing on its own! Adding sides or bases to this dish creates a delicious lunch or dinner meal. Here are some possible honey walnut shrimp sides:
- Steamed Rice
- Fried Rice
- Noodles, such as Lo Mein
- Steamed Vegetables
- Stir-Fried Vegetables
Storing Leftovers
This recipe shrimp with honey walnuts recipe would be best enjoyed immediately after preparation to keep the crispiness of the tempura batter.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Be cautious when storing and reheating cooked seafood to ensure food safety.
how to reheat honey walnut shrimp?
Reheating in the oven, air fryer, or toaster oven can help revive some of the crispiness.
Tips and Tricks
Shrimp Selection: Choose large shrimp for this recipe, as they provide a substantial bite and are easier to handle during the frying process. The ALDI’s Specially Selected Black Tiger Shrimp is the best!
Dry Shrimp: Ensure that the shrimp is thoroughly pat-dried with a paper towel before coating them in the tempura batter. This helps the batter adhere better and results in a crispier coating.
Chilled Batter: It’s crucial to keep the tempura batter cold to achieve a crispy texture. You can even place the batter bowl in the refrigerator while you prepare other ingredients to maintain its temperature.
Fry in Batches: Avoid overcrowding the frying pan or deep-fryer. Fry the shrimp in small batches, allowing enough space for them to cook evenly and maintain their crunchiness.
Caramelized Walnuts: Keep an eye on the walnuts while caramelizing to prevent them from burning. Stir them continuously until the sugar melts and coats the walnuts uniformly.
Serve Immediately: For the best texture and flavor, serve the honey walnut shrimp immediately after glazing and garnishing. Enjoy the dish while it’s still hot and crispy.
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Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe
Equipment
- Duct Oven
- Nonstick sauce pan
Ingredients
For the Tempura Shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup ice-cold water
For the Honey Glaze
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsps honey
- 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
For the Caramelized Walnuts
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 2 tbsps granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp butter
- green onions or cilantro chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Prepare the Shrimp
- Pat dry the shrimp with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Make a few shallow slits on the underside of each shrimp to prevent curling during cooking.
Make the Tempura Batter
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, water, and ice.
- Add flour blend to eggs and mix gently. Do not overmix.
- Place the batter in the refrigerator to chill while preparing the remaining ingredients.
Caramelize the Walnuts
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and melt the butter.
- Add the walnuts and granulated sugar to the skillet, stirring continuously until the sugar melts and coats the walnuts evenly.
- Transfer the caramelized walnuts to a plate and let them cool.
Prepare the Honey Glaze
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, honey, sweetened condensed milk, and fresh lemon juice. Whisk until well combined. Set aside.
Fry the Tempura Shrimp
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep saucepan or a deep-fryer to 350°F, medium high heat.
- Lightly dredge the shrimp in flour. Pick up the shrimp by their tails and dip shrimp into the chilled tempura batter, coating it evenly. Deep fry immediately until crisp and light golden brown, usually 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Once cooked, transfer the shrimp to a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess oil.
Assembling the Honey Walnut Shrimp
- In a large mixing bowl, add the fried tempura shrimp and pour the prepared honey glaze over them.
- Gently toss the shrimp until they are evenly coated with the glaze.
- Transfer the honey-glazed shrimp to a serving platter.
- Sprinkle the caramelized walnuts over the shrimp.
- Optionally, garnish with chopped green onions or cilantro for added freshness. Serve immediately and enjoy this delicious honey walnut shrimp!