Honey Walnut Shrimp – Crispy, Sweet, and Better Than Takeout

This popular Chinese-American favorite features lightly battered shrimp fried until crisp, tossed in a creamy honey sauce, and finished with crunchy candied walnuts. It’s indulgent, perfectly balanced, and surprisingly easy to make at home.

Ingredients (Servings: 4)

For the candied walnuts:

1 cup walnut halves
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup water

For the shrimp:

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
½ cup cornstarch
2 egg whites
Salt to taste
Oil for frying

For the honey sauce:

¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¼ cup Shaoxing wine

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Candy the walnuts:
Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add walnuts and cook for 2–3 minutes. Drain and spread on parchment paper to cool and harden.

2️⃣ Prepare the shrimp batter:
In a bowl, whisk egg whites with a pinch of salt until foamy. Toss shrimp in cornstarch, then dip into the egg whites to coat lightly.

3️⃣ Fry the shrimp:
Heat oil to 350°F. Fry shrimp in batches for 2–3 minutes until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.

4️⃣ Make the sauce:
In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, condensed milk, Shaoxing wine and lemon juice until smooth.

5️⃣ Toss and serve:
Gently toss fried shrimp with the sauce. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with candied walnuts. Serve immediately.

📦 Amazon Must-Haves for Honey Walnut Shrimp

🍤 Deep Fryer – Keeps oil at the perfect frying temperature.
🥄 Slotted Spoon – Safely removes shrimp from hot oil.
🌰 Walnut Halves – Best size and crunch for this dish.
🍯 Pure Honey – Gives the sauce its signature sweetness.
🥣 Mixing Bowls – Useful for battering and sauce prep.
🍽️ Serving Platter – Showcases the finished dish beautifully.

💡 Helpful Tip:
For extra crunch, let the fried shrimp rest for one minute before tossing with sauce — this helps the coating stay crisp instead of soggy.