Name: Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp Copycat Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1lb large shrimps; ½ cup walnuts (cut in halves); 4 egg whites; ½ cup water; 2/3 cups white sugar; 2/3 cup cornstarch; ¼ cup mayonnaise; 2tbsps honey; 1tbsp sweetened condensed milk; 1cup vegetable oil; Scallions for garnish

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Anyone will love the crunchy, sweet, and savory balance of the Panda Express honey walnut shrimp. It is one of those tempura-based dishes that will easily take you off the hook because of its rich, balanced taste.

To get to know how to make this dish, this post will answer the FAQs surrounding the honey walnut shrimp. A copycat recipe is also featured at the end of this post.

Table of Contents

panda express honey walnut shrimp copycat

What is Panda Express honey walnut shrimp?

Honey walnut shrimp from Panda Express is made with fried tempura, walnuts, and a generous serving of sweet sauce. The sauce is made of honey, water, and condensed milk. It is a comfort food that you cannot easily get enough of.

Ingredients & substitute

The following are the ingredients that you should prepare in making your own honey walnut shrimp.

For the shrimp:

Shrimp (cleaned and tailless)
Cornstarch
Eggs
High heat oil

For the sauce:

Honey
Mirin
Mayonnaise
Condensed milk

For the garnish:

Candied walnuts (cut in halves)
Scallions/green onion

You can check for substitute ingredients in the list of variations to the dish.

Panda Express honey walnut shrimp calories & nutrition

As per Panda Express website, honey walnut shrimp contains 360 calories (200 calories from fat). It also has 23g of fat, saturated fat of 3.5g, cholesterol at 100mg, and carbohydrates at 35g. It also contains 440mg of sodium, protein at 13g, and sugar at 9g.

Tools used in the recipe

In making your own version of this recipe, you must prepare the following tools:

Saucepan
Frying pan
Mixing bowls
Mixing spoons
Flippers/slotted spatula

How to make Panda Express honey walnut shrimp

Toma make honey walnut shrimp, you must first coat the shrimps in the batter and fry it for 5mins each side. Next, prepare the honey sauce and candy the walnuts while mixing the sauce. For the last part, coat the shrimps with the sweet sauce and garnish with the candied walnuts and green onions.

Prepare a saucepan and bring sugar, walnuts, and water to a boil (for 2mins).
In a mixing bowl, whisk in the egg whites until foamy. Gradually add cornstarch in the whisked egg whites.
Dip the shrimps in the batter. Heat the frying pan and cook the shrimps for 5mins each side until brown and crispy.
Now work on the sauce. Get a medium mixing bowl and combine honey, sweetened condensed milk, and mayonnaise. Stir well to get a thick consistency.
While preparing the sauce, you can candy the walnuts in a pan.
Toss in the fried shrimps in the sauce and evenly coat them.
Plate and top with halved walnuts and scallions.
Serve warm.

More Panda Express copycat recipes

Variations on Panda Express honey walnut shrimp

Here are the variations that you can incorporate in the honey walnut shrimp to notch it up a bit.

Nuts: hazelnuts, pecan, and pine nuts
Cooking method: you can skip the frying and just go for baked, shallow fried or grilled shrimps
Mirin substitutes: you can try dry white wine, dry sherry or sweet marsala wine

How to store Panda Express honey walnut shrimp

It is recommended that this dish be consumed immediately. But for leftovers, store it in an airtight container. Put it in the fridge. It can last there for two days.

FAQs

Can you freeze Panda Express honey walnut shrimp?

It will become soggy once you thaw it but yes, you can freeze it. Seal it in an airtight container. It can stay in the freezer for a month.

What does Panda Express honey walnut shrimp taste like?

It is mostly sweet, a bit tangy, and has that creamy aftertaste thanks to the mayonnaise. The crunch from the walnuts also add texture to it so overall, this is a well-balanced dish.

What to serve with Panda Express press honey walnut shrimp?

panda express honey walnut shrimp bottom

The perfect sides to pair with Panda Express honey walnut shrimp would be the following:

White or brown rice
Cauliflower rice
Chow mein noodles
Super greens
Fried rice
Steamed bok choy, broccoli

Is Panda Express honey walnut shrimp healthy?

Considering its nutritional profile, honey walnut shrimp does not pass for the healthiest food choice. It has high calorie and carb content, plus the sugar is quite high. For this, you can turn to stevia, or maple syrup.

Is Panda Express honey walnut shrimp keto friendly?

On its own, shrimp is a good keto food as well as walnut but in a dish like honey walnut shrimp, it is not. It has high sugar content with is a big no for keto diet and its carb content is way higher compared to the standard carb requirement for those on keto diet.

Is Panda Express honey walnut shrimp gluten-free?

The only glutenous ingredient in this dish would be the cornstarch. True mayonnaise is gluten-free, mirin is also often the gluten-free substitute ingredient for soy sauce. So if you switch cornstarch with arrowroot, it will become a gluten-free dish.

Is Panda Express honey walnut shrimp dairy-free?

Yes. It is one of the five Panda Express dishes with dairy content. The other four would be chicken egg rolls, steamed ginger fish, orange chicken, and Beijing beef.

Is honey walnut shrimp Chinese?

This dish is mostly mistaken for a Chinese-American fusion because of the mayonnaise. But really, the ingredients and the process of cooking it follows the traditional Hong Kong-Cantonese style, so technically, this dish is Chinese.

Is honey walnut shrimp safe during pregnancy?

Yes, honey walnut shrimp is safe to eat during pregnancy but always in moderation. Always stick to the 2-3pcs of shrimp if you are pregnant and you want to indulge yourself with some honey walnut shrimp.

How do you reheat Panda Express honey walnut shrimp?

Reheating it in a microwave will get it super soggy. You must reheat it using an oven that is preheat at 350F. Just leave it there for 15mins.

Conclusion

panda express honey walnut shrimp copycat recipe

Honey walnut shrimp is a go-to dish for people who loves the combo of sweet and savory. Albeit the sweetness, it is still a well-balanced dish in terms of flavor.

While it is not the healthiest choice, there are a lot of healthier choices you can incorporate to the dish to make it pass for your dietary requirements or your fitness preference. Nevertheless, it is another Panda Express favorite and now we know why.