Easy Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe (VIDEO)
Crispy Honey Walnut Shrimp tossed in a creamy sweet sauce with candied walnuts—an easy Chinese restaurant-style dish perfect for special dinners at home.
Crispy golden shrimp tossed in a creamy, sweet sauce and topped with crunchy candied walnuts — honey walnut shrimp is one of those dishes that feels fancy but is actually simple to make at home. It’s creamy, lightly sweet, and perfectly balanced with the crisp texture of fried shrimp.
If you don’t know what to cook for Lunar New Year, check out my Top 12 Favorite Dishes for Chinese New Year.
Why Shrimp Is Eaten During Lunar New Year
Shrimp is a popular dish during Lunar New Year because in Cantonese, the word for shrimp sounds like laughter — “ha ha” — symbolizing happiness and joy for the coming year. Serving shrimp is like wishing your family a year filled with laughter, lighthearted moments, and good fortune. It’s festive, special, and perfect for celebratory meals
Let’s Make Honey Walnut Shrimp!
- Candy the Walnuts: In a small pan, combine sugar and water over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and bubbles.
- Add Walnuts: Add walnuts and cook until coated and glossy. Spread on parchment to cool and harden
- Prep the Shrimp: Mix shrimp with baking soda, salt, white pepper, egg white, Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, and water.
- Fry the Shrimp: Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry shrimp in batches until golden and crispy, about 2–3 minutes.
Step 5: In a bowl or pan, mix mayo, honey, condensed milk, and lemon juice until smooth.
Step 6: Gently toss warm shrimp and candied walnuts in sauce until coated.
Serve
Garnish with green onions and serve immediately with broccoli.
Substitutions
- Lighter option: Air fry or bake shrimp (texture will be less crispy).
- No condensed milk: Use more honey plus a splash of cream.
- Add heat: Stir sriracha into the sauce.
- Nut-free: Skip walnuts or use other nuts of your preference.
Equipment
How to Store and Reheat
To Store: Leftover shrimp and sauce can be stored in an airtight container separately for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Air fry or bake to crisp, then add sauce.
Top Tips for Success
✨ Pat shrimp dry — moisture prevents crispiness.
✨ Don’t overcrowd oil.
✨ Toss in sauce just before serving.
✨ Let walnuts cool fully to harden.
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Easy Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
For Candied Walnuts
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 cup whole walnuts
For the Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 2 tsp Shaoxing Wine
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 egg white
- ¼ cup water
- Neutral oil, for frying
For the Sauce
- ⅓ cup mayo
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp condensed milk
- 2 tsp lemon juice
For Garnish (optional)
- Broccoli, boiled or steamed
- green onion, chopped
Instructions
Candied Walnuts
- In a small pan, combine sugar and water over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and bubbles. Add walnuts and cook until coated and glossy. Transfer to a baking pan lined with parchment paper and let it cool and harden.
Fry the Shrimp
- Pat shrimp dry. In a bowl, mix baking soda, salt, white pepper, Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, egg white, and water to form a light batter. Coat the shrimp lightly with the batter.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry shrimp in batches until golden and crispy, about 2–3 minutes. Drain on paper towel.
Make the Sauce
- In a bowl, whisk mayo, honey, condensed milk, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Gently toss warm shrimp in sauce until coated then top with candied walnuts.
Serve
- Serve immediately with steamed broccoli, garnish with green onions and enjoy!
