Honey walnut shrimp is the best recipe. The shrimp are breaded in egg and starch, then quickly pan-fried until crispy. Then they’re coated in a sweet and creamy honey sauce and tossed with candied walnuts. This version is even better than the Panda Express version and is refined sugar-free and absolutely delicious!
5 reasons this is the best honey walnut shrimp recipe
- The shrimp are deliciously crispy.
- The creamy, sweet sauce is ever so slightly tangy.
- Made with all real ingredients. Read: you won’t find condensed milk and pounds of sugar in this recipe. But that can be our little secret. No one will guess that this is a lighter version.
- The honey candied walnuts are such a treat that you’ll want to make extra to snack on. ← Please promise you’ll make extra!
- It’s a versatile recipe. Serve it as a hot appetizer or turn it into dinner with some rice and broccoli. Either way, you’ll love it!
Can this recipe be made ahead of time?
Once the shrimp are fried, they’re best eaten right away. But both the sauce and the candied walnuts can be made several days in advance.
If you’d like to serve this as an appetizer for friends, serve the sauce on the side. That way, people can dip the shrimp, and you don’t have to worry about them becoming soggy if left out for a little while.
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Honey Walnut Shrimp (Even Better Than Panda Express!)
Ingredients
The Candied Walnuts
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ cup walnut halves
The Sweet Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise , can be light mayo
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt , thick yogurt works best
The Shrimp
- ½ cup tapioca starch or cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- 1 large egg + 1 tablespoon water , whisked
- 1 lb. uncooked peeled shrimp (about 30)
- Neutral-flavored oil , such as avocado or canola for pan-frying (see notes)
Instructions
- Heat the honey and water in a small pan over medium-high heat. Once it starts to boil, add the walnuts and stir. Keep stirring until the liquid is mostly gone. Immediately spoon the walnuts onto a piece of parchment paper in a single layer. 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons water, ½ cup walnut halves
- In a small-sized bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, honey, and yogurt. ½ cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the egg and water. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. 1 large egg + 1 tablespoon water, 1 lb. uncooked peeled shrimp (about 30)
- Whisk the starch with the salt and pepper in another bowl. Add the shrimp to the bowl - do not pour them from the egg bowl as you don’t want the extra egg. Toss to coat the shrimp in the starch. ½ cup tapioca starch or cornstarch, ½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
- Heat ½ inch of oil over medium-high heat. When it is hot, add half of the shrimp. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Place the cooked shrimp in a bowl then repeat with the remaining shrimp. Neutral-flavored oil
- Toss the shrimp with the candied walnuts and honey sauce and serve immediately.
