I love Chinese food. Not only are they the masters of blending sweet and savory but I can make a meal out of nothing but the appetizers! I love variety and a Chinese menu gives me the opportunity to try many things. And I’m not referring to the fast food “Panda” or food court walkup. I’m talking a real sit down restaurant with a legitimate chef. 🙂

That said – my new found favorite is Honey Walnut Shrimp. It probably one of the more expensive items on the menu but you can make a pound of shrimp at home for under $15.00. I purchased tail off, peeled and deveined raw shrimp but you can save even more if you do the work yourself. Just be sure to devein them – poop tracks are No Bueno.

Ingredients

1 cup vegetable oil (I use grape seed oil)
1/2 cup sugar (fine is better but use what you have)
1/2 cup walnut halves
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons sweetened condensed milk
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, no tails
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup cornstarch

Ready to Cook?

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Heat 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Add sugar and stir, constantly, until golden and thickened. Add walnuts and gently toss to combine. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined plate.
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey and condensed milk; set aside.
Season shrimp with salt and pepper, to taste.
Working one at a time, dip the shrimp into the egg, then dredge in the cornstarch, pressing to coat.
Working in batches, add the shrimp to the skillet, 8-10 at a time, and fry until evenly golden brown and crispy, about 1-2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
In a large bowl, combine shrimp and honey mixture.
Serve immediately, topped with walnuts

The Perfect Pairing

This is great just by itself as a snack or put it on a bed of sticky rice t o become a main course. It’s so sweet you could even serve it as dessert! I would pair this with a red wine like my favorite Bogle’s Peitite Sirah. The gentle smokiness will compliment the sweetness of the shrimp and walnuts. http://www.boglewinery.com/ourwines_petitesirah.php

The Perfect Health

Walnuts are an amazing little nut. The help with weight loss, sleep, hair, and helps prevent heart disease and diabetes. Read more about these amazing little guys here: http://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/go-walnuts-13-health-benefits-of-this-awesome-nut/