Monday, December 29, 2025
HomeAsian FoodWalnut Shrimp Recipe (with Creamy Honey Sauce)

Walnut Shrimp Recipe (with Creamy Honey Sauce)


Walnut Shrimp plated

Walnut shrimp is a basic Western Chinese language delicacies dish that turned common via Chinese language American eating places, that includes crispy shrimp paired with glazed walnuts in a frivolously candy and savory creamy sauce, and it is usually generally generally known as honey walnut shrimp. It isn’t a standard residence model Chinese language dish, however an iconic takeout favourite recognized for its wealthy texture distinction and eye-catching taste.

I created this walnut shrimp recipe as a result of my household loves acquainted takeout flavors, and as a Chinese language delicacies skilled I wished a model that’s lighter whereas nonetheless satisfying, which is why I take advantage of much less sugar and oil and pan fry the shrimp as an alternative of deep frying, and that’s what makes my recipe distinctive.

That is the most effective model in my view as a result of it tastes simply as satisfying than the takeout model, however quite a bit more healthy. What I like most is that as a busy mother, I’ve this dish prepared in simply 20 minutes utilizing a number of primary pantry components. I share each step clearly so you possibly can take pleasure in it at residence any evening of the week, and I hope you give it a strive.

Elements

The components I take advantage of for making this walnut shrimp recipe are simple to search out at any grocery retailer. If you find yourself able to prepare dinner, I like to recommend having all the components prepped and able to go.

Ingredients for making walnut shrimpIngredients for making walnut shrimp

Glazed walnut

  • Walnuts: I take advantage of roasted walnuts for his or her deep nutty taste and crisp texture.
  • Sugar: That is for coating the walnuts and provides them a light-weight sweetness.
  • Vegetable oil: I take advantage of a small quantity of oil to assist the sugar soften and coat the walnuts.

Sauce

  • Creamy base: I mix mayonnaise and sweetened condensed milk to create a wealthy sauce just like the one from Chinese language eating places.
  • Sweetener: Honey is what I take advantage of however maple syrup works nice too.
  • Tangy seasonings: I add rice vinegar or lemon juice together with soy sauce to brighten the sauce.

For the shrimp

  • Shrimp and aromatics: I take advantage of peeled and deveined shrimp with Shaoxing wine, grated ginger, salt, and white pepper to season the shrimp.
  • Coating and cooking oil: I take advantage of cornstarch to offer the shrimp a crisp coating and vegetable oil for shallow frying.
  • Garnish: End the dish with inexperienced onion so as to add freshness.

Tips on how to make

Making my walnut shrimp recipe couldn’t be simpler, and I divide it into 4 levels to maintain all the things easy and straightforward to observe.

Marinate the shrimp

First, I combine the shrimp with Shaoxing wine, salt, ginger, and white pepper in a medium bowl. I let the shrimp marinate for 10 minutes whereas I put together the opposite components.

Put together the candied walnuts

Observe: There are a number of methods to make candied walnuts, and Chinese language eating places usually fry sugar in oil earlier than rapidly coating the walnuts to create a crisp glaze as soon as cooled. At residence, I take advantage of the identical concept with a lot much less oil and sugar, melting the sugar in a small quantity of oil and pan frying the walnuts for a lighter however nonetheless crunchy outcome.

1. Add the sugar: Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan, then warmth and stir within the sugar.

Melt the sugar with oilMelt the sugar with oil

2. Prepare dinner: Proceed cooking till many of the sugar has melted and turns a light-weight golden shade.

Cook until most of the sugar has melted Cook until most of the sugar has melted

3. Coat the walnuts: Add the walnuts to the pan and stir till they’re totally coated with the melted sugar.

walnuts and stir to coatwalnuts and stir to coat

4. Cool: Switch the walnuts to a tray and allow them to cool till the coating hardens.

walnuts on a tray to cool offwalnuts on a tray to cool off

Combine the sauce

Mix the mayonnaise, condensed milk, honey, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Stir till the sauce is easy and properly blended.

Cooking the shrimp and assembling

1. Prepare dinner the shrimp: Pan fry the shrimp till the coating turns crisp and frivolously golden on the skin.

Pan fry the shrimpPan fry the shrimp

2. Mix the shrimp and sauce: Add the sauce to the cooked shrimp after it cools off barely, and blend till the shrimp are totally coated. Add half of the walnuts and blend once more to mix.

Mix the sauce with the shrimp and walnutsMix the sauce with the shrimp and walnuts

3. End the dish: Add the remaining walnuts and garnish with inexperienced onion earlier than serving.

walnut shrimp plated with chopsticks and saltwalnut shrimp plated with chopsticks and salt

Knowledgeable Tip

My greatest recommendation for making my walnut shrimp recipe is to switch the shrimp to a big plate and allow them to cool barely earlier than including the sauce. This step issues as a result of shrimp which might be too sizzling could cause the mayonnaise primarily based sauce to separate, whereas barely cooled shrimp keep heat sufficient to soak up taste with out breaking the sauce.

Meal planning

If I plan to prepare dinner walnut shrimp for friends or put together it alongside different dishes, I prefer to make elements of it forward of time. This retains all the things organized and helps the dish keep at its greatest.

Put together the elements: I prepare dinner the shrimp, put together the glazed walnuts, and blend the sauce, then retailer every element individually.
• Retailer correctly: I maintain the shrimp and sauce within the fridge if I’m not serving the dish the identical day. I retailer the candied walnuts in a container at room temperature in order that they keep crisp.
Reheat earlier than serving: Proper earlier than serving, I heat the shrimp in a frying pan or a low oven till heated via.
Assemble and serve: As soon as the shrimp are heat, I assemble all the things collectively and serve straight away.

walnut shrimp plated walnut shrimp plated

Serving strategies

After I serve walnut shrimp at residence, I often pair it with steamed rice so the fluffy grains take up the creamy sauce and maintain the meal easy and genuine. If I would like one thing recent on the aspect, I add my Chinese language cucumber salad, which brings a cool crunch that balances the richness of the shrimp.

When pals come over, I like turning this into an off-the-cuff unfold with egg fried rice and a plate of Bok choy and mushroom on the aspect since it’s certainly one of my favourite vegetable stir fry recipes.

Incessantly requested questions

How do I maintain the shrimp tender whereas cooking?

I watch the shrimp intently and prepare dinner them simply till they totally curl up, flip opaque and frivolously golden. Shrimp prepare dinner rapidly, so stopping on the proper second retains them tender and nice to eat.

Why do you pan fry the shrimp as an alternative of deep frying?

I pan fry the shrimp as a result of it’s sensible for residence cooking and nonetheless offers a crisp exterior. This methodology lets the shrimp keep juicy inside whereas preserving the dish lighter and simpler to prepare dinner on a busy evening.

How do I retailer leftovers?

I retailer leftover walnut shrimp by separating the elements for the most effective texture. I maintain the shrimp and sauce in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 days, and if wanted, I freeze the cooked shrimp with out the sauce for as much as 1 month, then thaw and reheat gently earlier than including the sauce and walnuts.

Chinese language Cooking Made Simple

Are you new to this web site? This free electronic mail collection is a superb place to start out. I’ll stroll you thru a number of of my hottest recipes and present you the way and why they work. You’ll rapidly begin to prepare dinner higher Chinese language meals in your personal kitchen.

My 20 minute walnut shrimp recipe options crispy shrimp and walnuts tossed in a candy honey cream sauce. With my simple step-by-step directions, you possibly can recreate this iconic Chinese language takeout dish at residence any evening of the week for a lighter method that also delivers wealthy taste with out deep frying.

Forestall your display from going darkish

Marinate the shrimp

  • Combine the shrimp, Shaoxing wine, salt, ginger and white pepper collectively in a medium bowl. Marinate for 10 minutes whereas making ready different components.

To make the glazed walnut

  • Line a baking sheet or massive plate with parchment paper.

  • Warmth the oil in a small or medium nonstick skillet over medium warmth till simply turning heat. Swirl the pan to let the oil coat as a lot floor as potential. Sprinkle the sugar into the pan in a skinny layer.

  • Flip to medium-low warmth. Prepare dinner, swirling the pan often, till many of the sugar has melted and begins turning an amber shade, 3 minutes or so.

  • Add the walnuts. Stir all the things collectively to let the sugar coat the nuts as evenly as potential. Preserve cooking and stirring till all of the sugar has melted and the sugar turns a golden brown shade, about 2 minutes. Then instantly switch all the things onto the lined baking sheet.

  • Unfold out the nuts once more and separate them as a lot as potential utilizing a spatula. Let cool till the coating has hardened, 5 minutes or so. Then you possibly can simply break aside the nuts.

Combine the sauce

  • Combine the mayonnaise, condensed milk, honey, rice vinegar, and soy sauce collectively in a small bowl. Stir to combine properly.

Prepare dinner the shrimp

  • Proper earlier than cooking, add the cornstarch to the marinated shrimp. Coat the shrimp evenly.

  • Warmth the oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium warmth till sizzling. Add the shrimp with out overlapping (you would possibly must prepare dinner in 2 batches). Let prepare dinner till the underside turns golden. Flip and prepare dinner the opposite aspect till golden. Switch the shrimp to a giant plate to chill barely.

Assemble

  • As soon as the shrimp cool off a bit (*Footnote 1), switch the shrimp into a giant bowl with out transferring the juice or oil pooled within the plate. Add the sauce and blend properly.

  • Add half of the glazed walnuts and provides it a fast combine. Switch all the things to a big plate. Add the remainder of the walnuts and garnish with sliced inexperienced onions. Serve instantly as a major dish.

Ingredient Substitution Information

  1. The secret’s to chill the shrimp for a couple of minutes so it’s not sizzling sufficient to soften the mayonnaise, however don’t wait till it turns chilly.

Serving: 1serving, Energy: 247kcal, Carbohydrates: 21.4g, Protein: 6.9g, Fats: 15.1g, Saturated Fats: 2.8g, Ldl cholesterol: 42mg, Sodium: 837mg, Potassium: 100mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 10.2g, Calcium: 52mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to listen to the way it turned out for you! Please take a second to depart a 5-star score ⭐️ and share your ideas within the feedback additional down the web page. It actually helps others uncover the recipe too.

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments