Honey Garlic Shrimp

Honey Garlic Shrimp is a delicious and popular Chinese takeout dish known for its sweet and savory flavors. Here’s a simple recipe to make it at home:

Ingredients:

For the Shrimp:

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable or canola)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for coating (optional)

For the Honey Garlic Sauce:

• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• Chopped green onions (optional, for garnish)
• Sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Shrimp:
   • If you want a crispy coating on your shrimp, you can lightly coat them in flour. To do this, season the shrimp with salt and pepper and then toss them in the flour until they are lightly coated. Shake off any excess flour.
   • If you prefer no coating, you can skip the flour and simply season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
2. Cook the Shrimp:
   • Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
   • Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until they turn pink and opaque. If you coated them in flour, they will also become crispy. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set them aside.
3. Prepare the Honey Garlic Sauce:
   • In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, minced ginger (if using), and red pepper flakes.
4. Thicken the Sauce:
   • In a separate small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to create a slurry.
   • Pour the cornstarch slurry into the skillet used for cooking the shrimp.
   • Pour the honey garlic sauce over the slurry in the skillet and stir well.
   • Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the sauce thickens, which should only take a minute or two.
5. Combine Shrimp and Sauce:
   • Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet with the thickened sauce. Stir to coat the shrimp evenly with the honey garlic sauce.
   • Cook for an additional minute or until the shrimp are heated through.
6. Serve:
   • Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
   • Serve the Honey Garlic Shrimp over steamed rice or with noodles.

Enjoy your homemade Honey Garlic Shrimp, a delicious and flavorful Chinese takeout-style dish!