Honey Walnut Shrimp - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 10 votes

Jan 23, 2023, Updated Feb 11, 2023

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Honey Walnut Shrimp is my family’s FAVORITE! I love this recipe because it has a lighter batter that really lets the shrimp shine. Paired with the sweet sauce and homemade candied walnuts, this one is going to be a winner!

Watch the Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe Video Below!

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Ingredients for Honey Walnut Shrimp

These Honey Walnut Shrimp are a Chinese banquet classic and so easy to make at home!! Here is what you’ll need for the recipe:

Shrimp

  • 1lbshrimppeeled and deveined
  • 1/4tspbaking soda
  • 1/2tspsalt
  • 1/4tspwhite pepper
  • 1/2tbspcornstarch
  • 1tbspneutral oil

Shrimp Coating

  • 1/2cupcornstarch
  • 1/4tspsalt
  • 1/4tspwhite pepper

Candied Walnuts

  • 1cupwhole walnuts
  • 1/3cupbrown sugar
  • 2tbspbutter
  • 1/2cupwater

Sauce

  • 1/2cupmayo – I prefer Japanese mayo like Kewpie that you can find here
  • 2tbsphoney
  • 1tbspcondensed milk
  • 1tbsplemon juicesub rice vinegar
  • saltto taste

Neutral oil for frying

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INGREDIENTS TIPS

SHRIMP
Shrimp will need to be raw, peeled, and deveined. It’s OK to use frozen, as long as it is completely defrosted before cooking!

CORNSTARCH BATTER
The cornstarch batter is the KEY ingredient to my version of this dish – when testing the recipe, I found that cornstarch made the shrimp lighter and crispier than some versions I’ve had at restaurants. This helped balance out the richness of the mayo-based sauce.

WHITE PEPPER
I get asked all the time if you can sub black pepper for white pepper – and my answer is, it depends BUT you need to watch the ratio. White pepper has a milder flavor profile than black pepper, so it’s a 1-1 substitute. I would start with less black pepper and add as you go. (But really, you should have white pepper in your pantry! It’s a staple in mine!)

CANDIED WALNUTS
I like to make my own walnuts, so I included the instructions to do so. If you have the time or energy, I highly recommend making them at home because you can control for how sweet they are (I find that some store bought versions are too sweet for my taste) and I think they just taste better fresh! But if you prefer to purchase them, that’s totally fine – just skip step #3 in the recipe.

MAYO
I used Japanese mayo (Kewpie brand) in this recipe because that is my favorite mayo and the only mayo I keep at home. However, you can use any mayo you have on hand!

LEMON JUICE
If you don’t have lemon juice on hand, you can sub with rice vinegar!

NEUTRAL OIL
My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Chinese food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish.

Honey Walnut Shrimp: Recipe Instructions

Butterfly and prepare the shrimp

The first step in this recipe is to de-vein and butterfly the shrimp. I’m using the biggest shrimp I can find (U-12 or U-10) for this recipe! After de-veining the shrimp, take a knife and make a small cut along the back of the shrimp in order to flatten it out and create more surface area for the dredge. Once fried, the shrimp will curl up and create a wider, more appealing shape that has more surface area to stick to the sauce.

Once the shrimp are butterflied, marinate the shrimp in a bowl with salt, white pepper, baking soda, cornstarch and neutral oil for about 15 mintues.

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In a separate bowl, add 1/2 cup of cornstarch and season with salt and white pepper. Lightly coat the marinated shrimp in the dredge, and shake off any excess cornstarch.

Make the candied walnuts

To make the candied walnuts, melt butter over medium heat then add brown sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add water and bring the mixture to a simmer, then stir in your raw walnuts and cook for 5-6 minutes until the mixture has thickened. Immediately transfer the walnuts on a plate to cool.

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Fry the shrimp

In a large pan or wok, heat neutral oil to 325F and fry your shrimp for 2-3 minutes or until bright red and cooked through. Immediately remove and place on a wire rack to drain.

The key tip here is to fry your shrimp in batches so the oil does not drop too drastically in temperature. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the oil to ensure it does not drop below 300F.

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RECIPE TIPS

OIL TEMPERATURE
Do not let your frying oil drop below 300-325F when frying! I highly recommend you use a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. If you see it dropping below 300-325F, fry your shrimp in batches. Frying at a low temperature will result in too much moisture (AKA SOGGY!)

Create the sauce and mix together

Once the shrimp and walnuts are done, it’s time to make the sauce! In a bowl large enough to hold the shrimp and walnuts, mix together Kewpie mayo, honey, condensed milk, lemon juice and salt to taste. Once combined, fold in your shrimp and candied walnuts and the dish is done!

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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!

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If you liked this Honey Walnut Shrimp recipe, check out some of the most popular Chinese Take-Out recipes on the blog! Please consider giving a rating and commenting down below what you thought of the recipe! It really helps out the blog!

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Honey Walnut Shrimp - CJ Eats Recipes (9)

Honey Walnut Shrimp

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 4

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

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Honey Walnut Shrimp - CJ Eats Recipes (10)

Honey Walnut Shrimp is a Chinese banquet meal classic that's so easy to make at home! Flash fried shrimp are tossed in a delicious sweet sauce with candied walnuts!

Ingredients

Shrimp

  • 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp oil

Shrimp Coating

Candied Walnuts

  • 1 cup whole walnuts
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup water

Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp condensed milk
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice, sub rice vinegar
  • salt, to taste

Neutral oil for frying

    US CustomaryMetric

    Instructions

    • Peel and de-vein shrimp, then make a small cut down the back of the shrimp to butterfly them. This is going to increase their surface area when frying.

    • In a small bowl, marinate shrimp with salt, white pepper, baking soda, cornstarch and neutral oil (I prefer avocado oil).

    • In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter then add brown sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add water and bring to a simmer, then stir in your walnuts and cook for 5-6 minutes until the mixture has thickened. Immediately transfer the candied walnuts to a plate to cool.

    • In a large mixing bowl, season 1/2 cup of cornstarch with salt and white pepper, then lightly coat your marinated shrimp.

    • Heat oil to 325F and fry your shrimp in batches for 2-3 minutes.

    • In a large bowl, combine mayo, honey, condensed milk, lemon juice, and salt to taste. Immediately stir in your fried shrimp and walnuts and enjoy!

    Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

    Honey Walnut Shrimp - CJ Eats Recipes (11)

    About CJ

    I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

    Read more about me

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    Honey Walnut Shrimp - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    What is honey walnut shrimp sauce made of? ›

    Once the shrimp and walnuts are done, it's time to make the sauce! In a bowl large enough to hold the shrimp and walnuts, mix together Kewpie mayo, honey, condensed milk, lemon juice and salt to taste. Once combined, fold in your shrimp and candied walnuts and your Honey Walnut Shrimp is done!

    Is honey walnut shrimp from Panda Express healthy? ›

    The honey walnut shrimp certainly has some pros (such as heart-healthy fats from walnuts and shrimp), but it is the heaviest seafood entrée overall at Panda Express. This one comes with 360 calories, 23g total fat, 3.5g saturated fat, 35g carbohydrate, 9g sugar, 13g protein, and 440mg sodium.

    What is firecracker shrimp sauce made of? ›

    Firecracker Shrimp Ingredients

    For the sauce: sweet chili sauce, lime zest, lime juice, sriracha, and low-sodium soy sauce. Shrimp: You'll need a pound of peeled and deveined shrimp. Learn how to peel and devein shrimp here. Salt: Season the shrimp with salt before you coat it with cornstarch.

    What is walnut sauce made of? ›

    Combine the bread with the walnuts, parsley, garlic, salt& pepper in a food processor. Process, adding the olive oil in a very slow stream until you have a thick paste. Toss with your favourite hot pasta or spoon a dollop on new potatoes, steamed broccoli, or green beans.

    What is the unhealthiest thing at Panda Express? ›

    The #1 worst Panda Express order is…the Chow Mein and Orange Chicken. The combination of Orange Chicken, a dish inspired by a Chinese dish called chen pi niu rou, and classic chow mein stir-fried noodles is nothing short of delicious. Unfortunately, if it's a nutritious meal you're on the hunt for, this one isn't it.

    Is honey walnut shrimp real Chinese food? ›

    The Origins of Honey Walnut Shrimp

    I couldn't find anything definitive on the exact origins, but most likely, the dish was first invented in Hong Kong, and made its way to the US in the 80s and 90s. Interestingly, none of my younger friends in Hong Kong have even heard of this dish.

    Why is hibachi shrimp so good? ›

    These perfectly seared shrimp are sauteed in butter and garlic then tossed in a soy-teriyaki base as your choice of protein to compliment your rice, noodles and veggies. They have that gorgeous sear and the signature taste you'll find in most Japanese steakhouses. Dip it in some creamy yum yum sauce and you're set.

    What is boom sauce made of? ›

    At its most basic, boom-boom sauce is a whip-it-up-in-minute combination of mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, (occasionally) ketchup and yellow mustard, and then whatever else you think should go in the bowl: scallions and toasted sesame oil, garlic, and onion powder, salt and pepper -- you get the idea.

    What is lava lava sauce? ›

    It's a hot sauce....has jalapenos, water, sugar, vinegar, garlic, ginger, paprika, salt and pepper usually. You can control the heat with the amount and type of peppers......good stuff😋 Aloha🌺

    Can you air fry Trader Joe's honey walnut shrimp? ›

    Air Fryer Trader Joe's Honey Walnut Shrimp If you love Trader Joe's Honey Walnut Shrimp, you'll love this air fryer version! Our version is just as crispy and delicious as the original but without all the oil. Plus, it's a lot healthier for you! So give this recipe a try and see how good air fryer seafood can be.

    Is honey walnut shrimp good? ›

    While honey walnut shrimp can be a delicious and satisfying dish, it is not generally considered a healthy option due to its high calorie, fat, and sugar content.

    What is Chinese honey sauce made of? ›

    Make the Honey Sauce – In another bowl, combine Chicken Bouillon, Water, Chinese Cooking Wine, Rice Vinegar, Light Soy Sauce, Honey, and Brown Sugar.

    What is walnut shrimp made of? ›

    Honey walnut shrimp is a delicious Hong Kong-style dish of crispy battered shrimp topped with a creamy sauce and sugar-coated walnuts.

    What is honey sauce made of? ›

    But, presumably to cut even more costs in a competitive fast-food market, KFC doesn't actually serve real honey. Instead, it's "Honey Sauce," made from the ingredients many parents try to avoid: high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and sugar.

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