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This honey garlic shrimp stir fry transforms basic ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dinner in just 15 minutes. The sticky sweet sauce with a hint of heat coats every bite perfectly, making weeknight dinners feel special without the fuss.
I first created this recipe when I needed a quick dinner after a long workday. My family was so impressed they thought I had ordered from our favorite Chinese restaurant. Now it appears on our dinner table at least twice a month when I need something delicious in a hurry.
Ingredients
- Large shrimp: Tail off and deveined, look for plump shrimp with a fresh ocean scent
- Broccoli florets: Cut into even-sized pieces for consistent cooking
- Red bell pepper: Adds gorgeous color and sweet crunch
- Onion: Provides aromatic foundation and natural sweetness
- Minced garlic: Fresh is best but jarred works in a pinch
- Soy sauce: Use low-sodium if you prefer less salt
- Honey: Local honey offers the best flavor and supports local beekeepers
- Red pepper flakes: Adjust amount based on your heat preference
- Ground ginger: Provides warmth without overwhelming the dish
- Cornstarch: Essential for thickening the sauce to glossy perfection
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps sauce cling to ingredients
- Oil: Choose a neutral oil with high smoke point like vegetable or avocado
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the sauce:
- Combine soy sauce, honey, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and minced garlic in a bowl and stir until well mixed. Add cornstarch last and whisk thoroughly until completely dissolved with no lumps remaining. The cornstarch is crucial for achieving that thick, restaurant-quality sauce that coats every ingredient. Set this mixture aside while you cook the vegetables and shrimp.
- Stir fry the vegetables:
- Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers slightly. Add bell peppers and onions first as they take longer to soften. Allow them to cook for 3 to 4 minutes while stirring occasionally to prevent burning. You want them to develop slight charring on the edges for maximum flavor.
- Add the broccoli:
- Introduce broccoli florets to the hot pan and continue cooking for another 4 minutes. The broccoli should turn bright green but maintain some crispness. This is the perfect time to add the butter, which will melt into the vegetables and create a richer base for the sauce.
- Cook the shrimp:
- Once butter has melted, add the shrimp to the pan. Cook approximately 2 minutes on each side until they turn pink and start to curl. Be careful not to overcook them as shrimp can quickly become rubbery. They should be just opaque throughout.
- Finish with sauce:
- Pour the prepared sauce over the shrimp and vegetables. Stir constantly while the sauce bubbles and thickens, about 2 minutes. When it reaches a glossy consistency that coats the back of a spoon, your stir fry is ready to serve over freshly cooked rice.
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I particularly love using local wildflower honey in this recipe. Each batch tastes slightly different depending on what flowers the bees visited that season. My daughter now associates this dish with family movie nights. She calls it our special sticky shrimp and always asks to help stir the sauce.
Make Ahead Options
The sauce can be prepared up to three days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also chop all vegetables the night before to make dinner assembly even faster. Just keep them in separate containers in the refrigerator. If you prepare everything ahead of time, this meal comes together in less than 10 minutes, perfect for those extra busy weeknights.
Vegetable Substitutions
This recipe welcomes almost any vegetable you have on hand. Snow peas, snap peas, carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, or baby corn all work beautifully. The key is to add harder vegetables like carrots first, then medium-density vegetables like broccoli, followed by quick-cooking options like snow peas or bean sprouts. This ensures everything reaches the perfect texture at the same time. For a lower-carb option, serve over cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice.
Spice Adjustments
The beauty of making stir fry at home is controlling the heat level. For a kid-friendly version, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes entirely. For spice lovers, add a drizzle of sriracha or sambal oelek to the finished dish. You might also try adding a tablespoon of gochujang, Korean red pepper paste, for complex heat with a hint of fermented flavor. Remember you can always add more spice but you cannot take it away, so start conservatively.
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Serving Suggestions
This honey garlic shrimp stir fry shines when served over fluffy jasmine or basmati rice, which soaks up the delicious sauce. For a complete meal, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions just before serving. A side of simple cucumber salad dressed with rice vinegar provides a refreshing contrast to the sweet and savory main dish. For special occasions, pair with homemade vegetable spring rolls or potstickers to create a festive Asian-inspired feast the whole family will love.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I use frozen shrimp for this dish?
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp. Make sure they are fully thawed, deveined, and patted dry before cooking for the best texture.
- → What vegetables can I substitute in this stirfry?
Feel free to substitute or add vegetables such as snap peas, carrots, mushrooms, or zucchini to suit your taste.
- → How do I make the sauce thicker?
To thicken the sauce, ensure the cornstarch is fully dissolved in the sauce mixture before adding it to the wok. Cook on medium heat until the sauce thickens.
- → Can I make this dish gluten-free?
To make the recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari instead of regular soy sauce.
- → What is the best oil to use for stir-frying?
It is best to use oils with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or peanut oil.