Honey Walnut Shrimp

Adapted from pupswithchopsticks.com

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• 1 pound large shrimp (size 21/25)
• 1 stalk green onion, finely chopped
• Candied Walnuts
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1¾ tablespoons sugar or honey
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ tablespoon butter
• Sauce
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise 
  •  2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk 
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon juice or rice vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon soy sauce or tamari sauce
• Shrimp Coating
  • 1 egg white 
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari sauce
  • ½ cup cornstarch or potato starch

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1. Peel and de-vein shrimp, then make a small cut down the back of the shrimp to butterfly them. Set aside.
2. For the walnuts: Place oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes.
3. Add sugar, salt, and butter; keep stirring until the sugar melts and starts to become syrupy. Cook for about 4-5 minutes or until walnuts become browned.
4. Lay out the walnuts, separated, in a single layer, onto a sheet pan or piece of parchment paper. Set aside.
5. For the sauce: Combine mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk, rice vinegar or lemon, and soy sauce in a bowl and stir until well mixed. Set aside.
6. For the coating: In a medium bowl, beat egg white, onion powder, and soy sauce until well combined.
7. Add the butterflied shrimp and mix to coat.
8. Place ½ cup cornstarch on a large plate. Coat each shrimp thoroughly and set on a plate. Repeat until all are coated.
9. In a small pot, heat oil on medium-high heat. To test if the oil is hot enough to start deep frying, stick a wooden chopstick or the back of a wooden spoon in the oil. If it starts to bubble, the oil is hot enough to use.
10. Fry each shrimp in the oil for about 2 minutes. Be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Fry in batches, if necessary, until they turn golden brown. If you are using potato starch, make sure to add the shrimp one at a time so that they don’t stick together.
11. Allow the shrimp to cool slightly and then add them to the sauce, along with the green onions. Mix until they are fully coated.
12. Finally, toss in the walnuts.