Description
A quick, budget-friendly weeknight dinner featuring sweet and savory honey garlic shrimp served over rice. This recipe takes under 20 minutes to prepare and offers a healthier, cheaper alternative to takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Cooked rice (white, brown, or jasmine)
- Green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together minced garlic, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes until smooth.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Add shrimp to the pan in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary) and sear for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the pan and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and pour the sauce mixture into the same pan. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon (1-2 minutes).
- Return the shrimp to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for another 30-60 seconds until finished.
- Divide cooked rice among serving bowls. Top with the honey garlic shrimp and sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Notes
Patting the shrimp dry is crucial for a good sear; wet shrimp will steam. Do not overcook the shrimp or they will become rubbery. If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water. For a spicy version, add sriracha. For a gluten-free version, swap soy sauce for tamari.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl per serving
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
Keywords: honey garlic shrimp, shrimp bowls, quick dinner, budget meals, weeknight dinner, healthy takeout alternative, easy seafood recipe