Walnut Shrimp Recipe

 

 

Walnut Shrimp is a beloved Cantonese dish featuring tender, lightly fried shrimp tossed in a creamy, slightly sweet sauce and paired with crunchy caramelized walnuts. Known for its perfect balance of textures—the crisp shrimp, crunchy walnuts, and silky sauce—this dish is a staple in Cantonese cuisine and a show-stopping favorite for any meal. With just 30 minutes and a few simple ingredients, you can bring this classic restaurant dish into your own kitchen!

Walnut Shrimp Recipe

Serves: 2-4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

For the walnut shrimp:
2 cups cooking oil (high-smoking-point oil like avocado, grapeseed, or peanut)
3 ounces of walnuts
1/2 cup water
6 tablespoons sugar
1 pound tiger shrimp, peeled and deveined
Pinch of salt
Pinch of white pepper
1 large egg
1 cup cornstarch
1 head broccoli

For the sauce:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
A pinch of salt

Walnut Shrimp Instructions

1. Prepare the walnuts

• In a pan over high heat, heat 2 cups of cooking oil to 325°F (177°C).
• Fry the walnuts until golden brown for about 2 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• In a small pan, combine the water and sugar. Heat over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Add the fried walnuts and stir for about 5 minutes until they are coated with syrup.
• Transfer walnuts to parchment paper and let cool.

2. Make the sauce

• In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk, honey, rice vinegar, and salt until smooth. Set aside.

3. Blanch the broccoli

• Bring a pot of water to a boil.
• Blanch the broccoli for about 30 seconds, then drain and set aside.

4. Prepare and fry the shrimp

• Season the shrimp with a pinch of salt and white pepper.
• Crack the egg and mix with the shrimp.
• Coat the shrimp with cornstarch.
• Heat the cooking oil again over high heat to 325°F (177°C).
• Fry the shrimp until golden and crispy for about 2 minutes. Remove and drain.

5. Combine and serve

• Place the fried shrimp in a large bowl.
• Add the prepared sauce and toss gently to coat all the shrimp evenly.
• Arrange the shrimp and broccoli on a serving plate.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips & Notes

• Fry walnuts first: Frying walnuts before coating them in syrup gives them a nice crunch and deeper flavor.
• Test oil temperature: When bubbles form around the chopsticks, the oil is ready for frying.
• Blanch broccoli: Blanching broccoli keeps it bright green and slightly tender—perfect for balancing the rich shrimp.
• Adjust sauce sweetness: Adjust the sauce sweetness to your taste by varying the honey or condensed milk slightly.