10 Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp

4.78 from 18 votes

This delicious honey garlic shrimp takes less than 10 minutes to make!

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Total Time10

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: honey garlic shrimp

Servings:

In a medium bowl combine the soy sauce and cornstarch, then add the shrimp and toss to combine. Set aside till needed. (This method is called "velveting" in Chinese cooking and is used to protect delicate meat like shrimp and chicken from drying out during cooking.)
Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and cook minced garlic with ginger for no longer than 30 seconds over medium heat, then add the shrimp and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side depending on the size of the shrimp.
Pour in honey and chilli flakes if using, toss to coat the shrimp and take off the heat. Sprinkle with sliced green onions for garnish. Serve over rice or as a starter.

As with a lot of Chinese stir fry recipes, the actual cooking happens very quickly. Which means all ingredients have to be prepared, peeled, cut and minced beforehand.
The first thing you want to do is to pat your shrimp dry with a paper towel. Then coat your shrimp in a mixture of soy sauce and cornstarch. This does two things: it acts as a marinade to infuse flavour and forms a protective coating around the shrimp during cooking. This method is called "velveting" in Chinese cooking, and is used when frying delicate meat like chicken and shrimp. That is why chicken in that stir fry at your local Chinese restaurant is so tender!
The shrimp you see in photos are pink but they are raw shrimp. I am using Argentine red shrimp/prawns, which are quite large and very delicious.
Use fresh garlic and ginger for the best flavour.
Make sure not to overcook the shrimp, which will result in rubbery texture.