Creamy Walnut Shrimp

Creamy walnut shrimp is a popular dish at many Chinese restaurants in the USA. It typically features shrimp that have been coated in a light batter and fried until crispy, then tossed in a creamy sauce made with mayonnaise, condensed milk, and sometimes cream cheese. The sauce is often flavored with ingredients like honey, sugar, and/or wine, and studded with toasted walnuts for crunch.

To make creamy walnut shrimp at home, you'll need the following ingredients:

Here's how to make the dish:

1. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Dredge the shrimp in cornstarch, shaking off any excess, then dip them in the beaten eggs.

2. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or wok until it reaches 350°F. Fry the shrimp in batches until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, condensed milk, honey or sugar, cream or cream cheese (if using), and rice wine or sherry (if using).

4. Add the fried shrimp to the bowl and toss to coat evenly in the sauce.

5. Stir in the toasted walnuts.

6. Serve the creamy walnut shrimp over steamed rice or noodles, garnish with chopped scallions or cilantro, and enjoy!

Note: This recipe is quite rich and indulgent, as is typical of many Chinese-American restaurant dishes. If you prefer, you can lighten it up by using a smaller amount of mayonnaise, omitting the cream cheese, and adding more condensed milk or a little water to thin the sauce. You can also reduce the amount of oil used for frying.