Keto Honey Walnut Shrimp is a delicious low-carb version of a popular Chinese-American dish that is usually high in carbs.
However, with a few keto-friendly ingredient swaps, you can enjoy this sweet and savory dish without breaking your diet.
![A plate of honey walnut shrimp with a green onion garnish on a plate.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-5987-cp.jpg)
Honey walnut shrimp is a classic Chinese dish that has captivated taste buds worldwide.
The combination of crispy fried shrimp, creamy sweet mayo sauce, and candied walnuts is no doubt a treat for the senses.
![A plate of honey walnut shrimp with a green onion garnish on a plate.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-5988-cp.jpg)
However, for those who follow a ketogenic or low-carb diet, indulging in this dish can be a challenge due to its high carb content.
But fear not; Keto Honey Walnut Shrimp is here to save the day, allowing you to enjoy this delicious dish without compromising your diet.
![A fork picking up a honey walnut shrimp off of a plate.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-18-cp-sq.jpg)
This was inspired by my Keto Oven Fried Garlic Parmesan Shrimp recipe.
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Components of Keto Honey Walnut Shrimp
Batter
The batter is the key to creating the perfect Keto Honey Walnut Shrimp. Traditional batters often contain high-carb ingredients such as flour and cornstarch, making them unsuitable for a ketogenic diet.
To make a keto-friendly batter, we replace the high-carb ingredients with low-carb alternatives such as almond flour. Adding sparkling water and eggs helps create a light, airy batter that clings to the shrimp without falling off during frying.
Sweet Mayo Sauce
The sweet mayo sauce is an essential component of Honey Walnut Shrimp, providing the dish with its signature creamy sweetness.
In the keto version, actual honey is replaced with a keto-friendly sweetener or keto honey replacement. Combined with mayo, heavy cream, and butter, the sauce maintains its delicious flavor while remaining low in carbs.
Candied Walnuts
Candied walnuts add a delightful crunch and sweetness to the dish. Making sugar-free candied walnuts is surprisingly simple.
All you need to do is boil a keto-friendly sweetener with water, then toss in the walnuts to coat them evenly. Once coated, remove the walnuts and let them harden, resulting in a delicious, low-carb topping for your Keto Honey Walnut Shrimp.
Ingredients
![Ingredient for making keto honey walnut shrimp.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Walnut-shrimp-ingredients.jpg-3cp.jpg)
For the Candied Walnuts
- ⅓ cup Chopped Walnuts
- ⅓ cup Water
- 3 tablespoons Low-Carb Granular Sweetener
Cream Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- ¼ cup Heavy Whipping Cream, or Coconut Milk for Paleo
- 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
- 1 ½ teaspoon Keto Honey Substitute, or Keto Brown Sweetener, or Coconut Sugar for Paleo
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
The Shrimp
- 1 lb. Uncooked Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ⅔ cups Almond Flour
- ⅓ cup Sparkling Water, unflavored
- 2 Eggs
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- 3 tablespoons Avocado Oil for frying
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Green Onion *optional garnish
See the printable recipe card for nutritional data and more details.
Instructions
![Making the syrup for the candied walnuts.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-2-cp.jpg)
First make the candied walnuts: Begin by heating a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the sweetener and water. Mix everything until fully combined, and let the mixture heat up. Stir occasionally.
![Making the candied walnuts.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-3-cp.jpg)
Once the sweetener has fully melted, add in the walnuts. Stir the nuts until evenly coated. Keep stirring occasionally until the sweetener begins to crystallize on the walnuts. Turn off the heat.
![The candied walnuts in a dish.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-5-cp.jpg)
Take the pan off the stove and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Then, use a wooden spoon to break apart the walnuts before they stick together due to crystallization. Reserve and set aside for later.
![making the sauce.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-6-cp.jpg)
To make the sauce, add the sauce ingredients into a saucepan and set it over medium-high heat.
![Heat the sauce.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-7-cp.jpg)
Let it simmer until it thickens. Once done, remove the saucepan from the heat. Set it aside.
![Mixing the batter.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-8-cp.jpg)
Next, heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat & while the skillet heats up mix and whisk almond flour, sparkling water, eggs, garlic powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
![Adding shrimp to the batter.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-11-cp.jpg)
Add the shrimp to the batter and mix until the shrimp is evenly coated.
![Frying the shrimp.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-12-cp.jpg)
Once the oil in the skillet is hot (to around 375°F), fry the shrimp evenly for a couple of minutes on both sides until they turn golden brown.
![Setting fried shrimp on paper towel to blot excess oil.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-prep-13-cp.jpg)
After frying, place the shrimp on a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
![Tossing shrimp and walnuts in sauce to coat.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-5959-prep7-cp.jpg)
Finally, toss the fried shrimp and candied walnuts in the cream sauce to coat. Garnish with chopped green onion and serve.
![A plate of honey walnut shrimp with a green onion garnish on a plate.](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-5985-cp.jpg)
Hints:
- Ensure the shrimp is completely dried off with a paper towel. This will help the batter stick to the shrimp.
- If the batter seems runny and isn't coating the shrimp properly, adjust by adding 1 teaspoon of almond flour at a time. Different brands of almond flour may produce varying consistencies.
- Make sure the oil reaches a temperature of at least 375°F before frying. If the oil isn't hot enough, the coating won't fry properly, resulting in a soggy mess.
Variations
- Instead of walnuts, you can use pecans or almonds to create a similar crunchy topping.
- Add a dash of sriracha or hot sauce to the sweet mayo sauce for a spicier version.
FAQ
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp for Keto Honey Walnut Shrimp. Just make sure to thaw them completely and dry them thoroughly before coating them with batter.
Baking the shrimp is an alternative to frying; however, the texture may differ slightly, and the shrimp may not be as crispy. If you choose to bake the shrimp, preheat your oven to 425°F and bake them for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
While you can prepare some components, such as the candied walnuts and the sauce, in advance, it is best to cook the shrimp and combine the dish just before serving. This ensures the shrimp remains crispy and the dish retains its optimal flavor and texture.
📖 Printable Recipe Card
![](https://beautyandthefoodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Keto-Honey-Walnut-Shrimp-5985-cp-sq-360x360.jpg)
Keto Honey Walnut Shrimp
Ingredients
For the Candied Walnuts
- ⅓ cup Chopped Walnuts
- ⅓ cup Water
- 3 tablespoons Low-Carb Granular Sweetener
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- ¼ cup Heavy Whipping Cream or Coconut Milk for Paleo
- 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise
- 1 ½ teaspoon Keto Honey or Keto Brown Sweetener, or Coconut Sugar for Paleo
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
For the Shrimp
- 1 lb. Uncooked Shrimp peeled and deveined
- ⅔ cups Almond Flour
- ⅓ cup Sparkling Water
- 2 Eggs
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- 3 tablespoons Avocado Oil for frying
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Green Onion *optional garnish
Instructions
- First make the candied walnuts:
- Begin by heating a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the sweetene3 tablespoons Low-Carb Granular Sweetenerr and water. Mix everything together until fully combined, and let the mixture heat up. Stir occasionally.3 tablespoons Low-Carb Granular Sweetener, ⅓ cup Water
- Once the sweetener has fully melted, add in the walnuts. Stir the nuts until evenly coated. Keep stirring occasionally until the sweetener begins to crystallize on the walnuts. Turn off the heat.⅓ cup Chopped Walnuts
- Take the pan off the stove and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Then, use a wooden spoon to break apart the walnuts before they stick together due to crystallization. Reserve and set aside for later.
- To make the sauce, add the sauce ingredients into a saucepan and set it over medium-high heat. Let it simmer until it thickens. Once done, remove the saucepan from the heat. Set it aside.1 tablespoon Butter, ¼ cup Heavy Whipping Cream, 2 tablespoons Mayonnaise, 1 ½ teaspoon Keto Honey, ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- Next, heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. While the skillet heats up.3 tablespoons Avocado Oil for frying
- Take a mixing bowl and whisk together almond flour, sparkling water, eggs, garlic powder, and salt.⅔ cups Almond Flour, ⅓ cup Sparkling Water, 2 Eggs, ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- Add the shrimp to the batter and mix until the shrimp is evenly coated. Once the oil in the skillet is hot (to around 375°F), fry the shrimp evenly on both sides until they turn golden brown. After frying, place the shrimp on a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.1 lb. Uncooked Shrimp
- Finally, toss the fried shrimp and candied walnuts in the cream sauce to coat. Garnish with chopped green onion and serve.2 tablespoons Chopped Green Onion *optional garnish
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Notes
Nutrition
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the oven. However, the shrimp will not be as crisp, and this dish is best consumed as soon as it is prepared to keep the crisp texture.
Serving Suggestions
For a beautiful presentation, serve the honey walnut shrimp on a bed of cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles. Garnish with sliced green onions.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Food safety
- Cook shrimp to a minimum temperature of 120°F (50°C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Teresa says
So as a substitute for the honey were you referring to low carb brown sugar?
Stacey says
Teresa, yes.
Dannii says
What a great way to serve shrimp. The honey in this was amazing.
Shashi says
My mom loved these keto shrimp, she is diebetic and always looking for low sugar/no sugar options!
Dina Miller says
This was a fave at a restaurant. Now you gave us a reason to make at home! Keto friendly! Thank you 🙏🏼
Charla says
I love seafood so I'm looking forward to making this recipe very soon. Thanks for sharing!
Kushigalu says
Love the combination of ingredients here. So delicious. Thanks for sharing.