The Honey Walnut Shrimp My Dad's Made 100,000 Times

Method7 steps · about 45 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Assuming you're starting with peeled, deveined shrimp (20) (which is what my dad recommends), cut each shrimp in half lengthwise. This will help result in a more beautiful, crunchy fry. In a bowl, mix salt (1/4 tsp) with the shrimp.

   Uses 20 shrimp, peeled and deveined · 1/4 tsp salt

2. 2

   Step 2: Mix the 4 tbsp mayonnaise, 3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk and 2 tsp lemon juice in a clean bowl. Reserve this sauce for the cooked shrimp.

   Uses 4 tbsp mayonnaise · 3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk · 2 tsp lemon juice

3. 3

   Step 3: Beat one egg and measure half of it for the batter; reserve the unused half for another use. In another bowl mix 4 tbsp all-purpose flour, 2 tbsp cornstarch, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp corn oil, the batter's 7 tbsp water and the measured half egg until smooth. Add small amounts of optional extra water only if needed for thin-pancake-batter consistency.

   Uses 4 tbsp all-purpose flour · 2 tbsp cornstarch · 2 tsp baking powder · 1/2 beaten egg; reserve unused half · 7 tbsp water, for batter · 2 tsp corn oil, for batter · Extra water to adjust batter, only if needed

4. 4

   Step 4: Choose one walnut-coating route. Honey (2 tbsp) route: use the listed 2 tbsp honey and skip making syrup. Sugar-syrup route: instead mix 3 tbsp sugar with the separate 2 tbsp water in a roomy microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 60 seconds, stir, then 30 seconds, stir, then another 30 seconds and stir. Allow to cool to a thick syrup consistency; microwave times are guides for your appliance.

   Uses 2 tbsp honey, OR the sugar-syrup alternative · 3 tbsp sugar, only for sugar-syrup alternative · 2 tbsp water, only for sugar-syrup alternative

5. 5

   Step 5: We'll fill a pan or wok with enough oil to submerge the walnuts (3 oz), and heat it to around 300° F (148° C). Then, we'll fry our walnuts​ twice, once to cook them, a second time to make them crunchier. • #1 - Fry for 3-4 minutes. Scoop the walnuts out with a strainer ladle, and let the oil reheat to 300° F (148° C). • #2 - Mix the walnuts with the chosen 2 tbsp honey OR the prepared sugar syrup; do not add both. Fry for about 2 minutes. Scoop out the walnuts. If you can, you'll want to monitor the temperature of the oil. We don't want to let the walnuts cook in oil that's too hot, otherwise they'll burn.

   Uses 3 oz walnuts · Cooking oil for deep-frying walnuts and shrimp, enough to submerge · 2 tbsp honey, OR the sugar-syrup alternative · Prepared sugar syrup, only if selected instead of honey

6. 6

   Step 6: Use a separate clean wok or pan for the shrimp, or thoroughly clean the pan used for the walnuts. If transferring frying oil, leave any charred honey/sugar residue behind. Use a cooking thermometer to monitor the frying temperature. Heat enough frying oil to submerge the shrimp to 350°F/176°C. Stir the prepared batter well and coat the prepared salted shrimp with enough batter. Carefully lower the shrimp into the oil individually in uncrowded batches. Fry for about 2–3 minutes until the coating is golden and the shrimp are firm and opaque throughout, continuing as needed to reach that endpoint. Lift out each batch and drain. Raise the oil to 375–400°F/190–204°C. Fry the cooked shrimp again for about 60–90 seconds until crisp, then lift out and drain. Discard excess batter that has contacted raw shrimp.

   Uses Salted prepared shrimp · Prepared batter, enough to coat; discard raw-shrimp-contact excess · Cooking oil for deep-frying walnuts and shrimp, enough to submerge

7. 7

   Step 7: Mix and coat the shrimp with the sauce from earlier, and add the candied walnuts and sesame seeds. Call the family over! Time to eat :) Saving the crunch It's best to eat this immediately or ASAP. If you're preparing this as a part of a larger, multi-course meal, you'll want to mix in the sauce right before you're about to eat. Over time, the sauce will seep into the crunchy batter, which will reduce some of the amazing crunchiness.

   Uses Double-fried cooked shrimp · Prepared mayonnaise and condensed-milk sauce · Candied fried walnuts · Sesame seeds, to garnish