This Honey Walnut Shrimp is easy to make, and so much better than takeout! Shrimp are coated in a puffy egg white cornstarch batter and fried until turn into golden, then tossed in a creamy sweet sauce and caramelized honey walnuts.
I much prefer this easier, lighter version that I can make at home to feed my whole family for about the same price as one serving at a restaurant!
The crunchy, candied walnuts are also impossible for me to resist. I always make sure to make an extra batch to make sure there’s enough for everyone to have some extra.
Why We Love This Recipe?
- Make this recipe your own by making homemade mayonnaise, or adding a bit of spice!
- We’re using fresh ingredients that always taste better and are always better for you!
- Whip this dish up for the entire family in just 30 minutes!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Shrimp – You’ll need thawed raw shrimp. I like purchasing peeled and deveined shrimp with tails off to save myself the trouble of doing it myself.
- Cornstarch – This is all you need for a light coating on the outside of the shrimp.
- Oil – I use corn oil but you can use vegetable oil if you prefer, or another oil that has a very high smoke point like peanut oil.
- Mayonnaise – For the base of the sauce, use plain mayonnaise, full fat for the creamiest flavor, but any kind is ok. Use plain Greek yogurt to make it even healthier.
- Honey – Use liquid honey so it mixes in easily with the mayonnaise for the sauce.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – Adds to the creaminess and sweetness of the sauce. Use cream in a squeeze but your sauce may not be as sweet.
- Walnuts – Use whole walnuts for a good bite of nutty flavor.
- Sugar – White Granulated Sugar will work well to make candied walnuts, but you can use sweetener alternatives, or coconut sugar if you prefer.
- Salt – To enhance all the flavors in this popular dish.
- Green Onions – Chopped green onions make a great garnish for this dish with a dash of sharp flavor for a perfect balance to the sweet sauce.
Ingredients of Honey walnut shrimp:
- 1 cup water
- â…” cup white sugar
- ½ cup walnuts
- 4 large egg whites
- â…” cup mochiko (glutinous rice flour)
- 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon canned sweetened condensed milk
Directions
- Stir together water and sugar in a small sauce in the pot pan over high heat. Bring to a heat and add walnuts. Boil for 2 minutes, then drain and walnuts put on a cookie sheet to dry.
- Egg whites in a medium bowl until foamy. Stir in mocha flour until it has a pasty consistency.
- Heat oil in a highly deep skillet over medium-high heat.
- Dip shrimp in mochiko batter, then fry in pots in hot oil until red-brown, about 5 minutes. Remove it and drain on paper towels.
- Stir together mayonnaise, honey, and sweetened condensed milk in a medium serving bowl. Add fried shrimp and toss to coat with sauce. Sprinkle candied walnuts on top and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
- Oil. Coconut oil also works well for frying these shrimp.
- Air Fryer. You can Air Fry the shrimp if you have one. They don’t turn out quite as crisp, but it’s almost just as good.
- Protein. Use a different meat, or meat substitute in this recipe, like chicken or tofu.
Recipe FAQ’s
What is honey walnut shrimp sauce made of?
The creamy sweet sauce in this delicious dish is only made with three ingredients! Mayonnaise, honey, and sweetened condensed milk are all you need, just mix them, and voila oil!
Is honey walnut shrimp USA?
This dish as we know it is a Western interpretation of a dish commonly served in USA banquets. While most of us know that the Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp with thick batter and thick syrupy sauce.
The original has a thinner batter making the shrimp crisper and more delicate. My recipe is lightly coated with starch and then shallow fried to provide that light crispy coating.
How do I store Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe?
Honey Walnut Shrimp is best served freshly made. Try to portion it right so you don’t have leftovers.
Enjoy the Honey Walnut Shrimp!
I love this dish so much because it reminds me of big family gatherings at our local Chinese restaurant, complete with the lazy Susan and circular tables with tons of dishes that would be shared amongst everyone!
Honey Walnut Shrimp was always one of the most popular dishes at the table so I hope you enjoy making this dish at home!
Recipe!
Honey Walnut Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 cup Water
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 4 large eggs
- 2/3 cup mochiko
- 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp canned sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Stir water and sugar together in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and add walnuts. Boil for 2 minutes, then drain and place walnuts on a cookie sheet to dry.
- Whip egg whites in a medium bowl until foamy. Stir in mochiko until it has a pasty consistency.
- Dip shrimp in mochiko batter, then fry in batches in hot oil until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- Stir together mayonnaise, honey, and sweetened condensed milk in a medium serving bowl. Add fried shrimp and toss to coat with sauce. Sprinkle candied walnuts on top and serve.