For a fast and tasty Chinese meal, consider this lighter take on honey walnut coconut shrimp. Pan-fried to ideal crispness, every morsel is enhanced by a rich honey coconut sauce and topped with crunchy sesame walnuts.
What distinguishes this dish from others
I can still recall my initial dinner date with my husband. He brought me to a little Chinese eatery and requested numerous tasty meals, including honey walnut shrimp. I had never tasted honey walnut shrimp until that evening, and wow, did I enjoy it. It's an easy meal, simply shrimp stir-fried with walnuts. However, the crunchy fried seafood enveloped in a delightful sauce was incredibly enjoyable. It was unforgettable enough that I now constantly desire the dish.
To pay tribute to the classic recipe, I added my own "healthier" spin, resulting in honey walnut coconut shrimp. It varies from the initial recipe yet remains just as tasty!
Component
Walnuts: Walnuts contribute a pleasing crunch and rich nutty taste to the meal. Toasted and covered in honey and sesame seeds, they create a sweet and savory complement to the shrimp.
Sesame seeds: These tiny seeds enhance the crunchiness of the caramelized walnuts.
Coconut cream: Opt for coconut cream instead of coconut milk for optimal texture, enhancing the creaminess of the shrimp sauce.
Mayonnaise: This dense condiment serves as the foundation for the sauce, contributing creaminess and uniting the components.
Honey: Adds sweetness to the sauce, taking the place of the condensed milk's sweetness found in the original recipe.
Shrimp: The shellfish is the highlight of the meal. For optimal results, utilize large shrimp that are peeled and deveined.
Cornstarch: Employed to coat the shrimp prior to frying, resulting in a crunchy outer layer upon cooking.
Replacements and alternatives
Nuts: If you are not fond of walnuts, you may opt for cashews, peanuts, or pecans as alternatives. If you don't like sesame seeds, feel free to leave them out.
Protein: You can also play around with the recipe and test it using chicken or another seafood variety, like scallops or white fish.
Instructions in sequential order
Step 1: Prepare sugar-coated walnuts
The traditional honey walnut shrimp involves frying shrimp and coating them in a sauce made of mayonnaise and condensed milk, accompanied by candied walnuts. Upon initially realizing that the dish contained condensed milk, I gasped. It was hardly surprising that the shrimp tasted so delicious!
However, this awareness also caused me to reconsider frequently ordering the shrimp. Thus, we find ourselves enhancing the seafood to improve its health benefits.
To prepare this honey walnut coconut shrimp, begin by making the walnuts. I included sesame in the blend to make it a bit more stylish. Cook the toasted walnuts in a medium saucepan with sugar and water, stirring until the liquid has completely evaporated.
Incorporate the sesame seeds, stirring to cover. Next, quickly move the nuts to parchment paper, separate them, and allow them to cool. The nuts can be prepared a day in advance and kept in an air-tight container at room temperature.
Step 2: Get shrimp ready
Now, prepare the coconut sauce. To enhance the healthiness of this recipe, I replaced the condensed milk with coconut cream and reduced the mayonnaise quantity. Mix the two with a bit of honey and place them aside.
Even though mayonnaise isn't the healthiest option, I discovered that it remained the ideal selection for the dish, offering the rich, thick foundation for the sauce.
It's time for the shrimp. In a large ziploc bag, mix cornstarch and salt by tossing them together. Dry the shrimp and incorporate them into the cornstarch mixture, stirring to coat. You can also coat the shrimp in a bowl, but I found the Ziploc method to be the simplest.
Step 3: Prepare shrimp
Rather than deep-frying, we will pan-fry the shrimp. Based on the size of your sauté pan, you might have to prepare the shrimp in two batches.
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat and sauté the shrimp until they turn pink on each side. Take out the shrimp and do the same with the other seafood.
Next, coat the shrimp in the honey coconut sauce. Garnish with sesame walnuts, add chopped scallions, and accompany with a bowl of rice.
So, what is the conclusion regarding this honey walnut coconut shrimp? To be honest, it's not quite the same as the original honey walnut shrimp. It lacks that creamy mayo-condensed milk sauce that envelops your palate, BUT the honey and coconut sauce complements the lightly battered shrimp perfectly.
Additionally, the walnuts with sesame bring a touch of sweetness that pairs perfectly with the shrimp. I would happily choose this any day instead of the original recipe!
Preparation in advance and storage
Prepare in advance: The coconut sauce and candied walnuts can be made the previous day.
Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for a maximum of 3 days.
Commonly asked questions
What causes my sesame walnuts to be soft?
Ensure that you heat the walnuts in the simple syrup until the liquid has completely evaporated. This is an essential step to guarantee that the walnuts remain crunchy after cooling.
Is it possible to use various nuts instead of the sesame walnuts?
Certainly, you can replace walnuts with alternative nuts such as peanuts or cashews if that is your choice. Modify the cooking duration as needed.
Is it possible to use frozen shrimp in this recipe?
Indeed, frozen shrimp can be utilized, but ensure that they are fully thawed and dried before applying cornstarch. Modify the cooking duration as necessary.
Coconut Shrimp Recipe Ingredients
* 1 cup water shopping list
* 2/3 cup white sugar shopping list
* 1/2 cup pecans shopping list
* 4 egg whites shopping list
* 2/3 cup mochiko rice flour or ordinary flour shopping list
* 1/4 cup mayonnaise shopping list
* 1 pound huge shrimp16/20's, stripped and deveined tails on shopping list
* 2 tablespoons honey shopping list
* 2 tablespoon canned Coco Lopez ( cream of coconut ) shopping list
* 1 red ringer pepper 1in. dice shopping list
* 1 green chime pepper 1in. dice shopping list
* 1/2 cup diced pineapple (I utilize canned pineapple) shopping list
* 3 tablespoons slashed cilantro shopping list
* 1 and 1/4 cup vegetable oil for singing
Coconut Shrimp Recipe Instructions :
* Most importantly mix together the water and sugar in a little pan
* And afterward heat to the point of boiling and add the pecans. Bubble for 4 minutes
* Next is to deplete and put pecans on a treat sheet to dry.Avocado-goat-cheese-truffles.
* Whip egg whites in a medium bowl until frothy
* Mix in the flour until it has a glue like consistency
* Heat 1/4 cup oil in a medium size saute skillet over medium-high hotness
* saute chime peppers till delicate fresh (put away)
* Heat 1 cup oil in a weighty profound dish over medium-high hotness
* Dunk shrimp into the flour player, fry till brilliant brown
* Eliminate shirmp from oil and channel on paper towels.Miso-deviled-eggs.
* In an enormous serving bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, honey and Coco Lopez
* Add shrimp,bell peppers, pineapple throw to cover with the sauce
* Sprinkle the sugar coated pecans on top alongside the cilantro and serve over steamed rice...nice ! Partake in the coconut shrimp..!
Honey Walnut Coconut Shrimp VIDEO