Honey Walnut Shrimp (Paleo, Gluten-Free)

6 standard portions

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Ingredients

• 1⅓ cups raw walnuts
• 1½ tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon melted ghee, refined coconut oil, or avocado oil
• ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons Paleo Mayonnaise if you don’t feel like making it, buy Primal Kitchen Mayo
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 pound approximately 20 to 25 uncooked large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
• ¾ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
• 1 egg white
• 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
• 1 cup ghee avocado oil, or fat of choice for frying
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted

Method

1. First, make the Maple-Spiced Walnuts. Preheat the oven to 350°F with the rack in the middle position. Add the walnuts, maple syrup, melted ghee, salt, and cayenne to a medium bowl, and stir to combine, making sure the nuts are well coated. Spread the walnuts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. Bake for 15 minutes or until fragrant, stirring often to ensure even cooking. Keep a close eye on the walnuts—particularly in the last few minutes—to prevent scorching. Take the walnuts out of the oven, and give them one final toss. They’ll still be sticky, but the coating will harden once the nuts cool down.
3. Next, make the sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, honey, and lemon juice, and whisk to combine into a sweet, creamy dressing.
4. In another medium bowl, toss the shrimp with the salt.
5. In a large bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy, and add the tapioca starch. Mix to form a smooth batter.
6. Add the shrimp to the batter and mix well, making sure they’re completely coated.
7. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the ghee. Then, once it’s shimmering, fry the shrimp in three separate batches. Cook the shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until they’re golden on the outside and no longer translucent on the inside. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a wire rack.
8. When all the batches are done, plop the shrimp into the bowl with the honey-mayo sauce, and gently toss to coat the prawns before plating. Sprinkle the candied walnuts and toasted sesame seeds on the shrimp, and serve immediately!