Sesame prawn toast(shrimp toast)

Sesame prawn toast is also known as shrimp toast.

These bite-size appetizers are so good, you won’t be satisfied with one or two.

With this shrimp toast recipe, you can make a better version of your favorite Chinese appetizers right at home.

All you need to make these easy prawn toasts are 3 main ingredients and the rest you’ll have in your kitchen pantry.

Shrimp toasts are made with regular bread, cut into bite-size pieces, slathered with a generous amount of seasoned minced shrimp, and coated with a layer of sesame seeds.

The prawn(shrimp) toasts are then deep-fried until they turn golden in color and crispy.

Flavors in sesame prawn toast(shrimp toast).

Prawn/shrimp toasts have 3 main ingredients.

They are your regular store-bought white bread, shrimp that has been minced to a paste, and sesame seeds.

Everything else included in the shrimp paste is to elevate the flavors.

These can be salt and pepper seasoning or the addition of ginger, garlic and sometimes scallions.

For this shrimp toast recipe, I find the clean taste of just garlic, salt and pepper is more than enough.

When you deep fry the prawn(shrimp)toast to a golden color, they are light yet crispy and crunchy at the same time.

Tips to make the best prawn toast.

Have a plate ready with kitchen paper towels to soak in any excess oil from the fried shrimp toasts.

Before removing the fried shrimp toast from the oil, drain any excess oil from it before transferring it onto the paper towels.

Oil temperature should be low-medium throughout the frying process, avoid the oil smoking.

Do not stack the fried prawn toast on top of each other, lay them side by side instead.

To fry the shrimp toast, you need to add the side with the sesame seed and shrimp face down first.

Fry the shrimp toast in small batches(3-4) to avoid it being less greasy.

Frequently asked questions about prawn toast.

Can I use frozen shrimp?

Yes, make sure to defrost at least an hour early, pat dry any excess water as you don’t want the shrimp paste to be soggy.

What is the best type of bread to use for shrimp toast?

Any type of soft white bread would do.

Can I make the shrimp toasts ahead of time?

Shrimp toast is always best when consumed immediately. The crispiness will still be there.

If you want to make them ahead of time, the best way to do this is to have the ingredients needed to be prepared separately and refrigerated.
Which would be to,
1/have the bread slices cut and ready. Place them on a plate, cover with cling film and refrigerate.
2/make the shrimp paste, transfer to a bowl, cover with cling film and refrigerate.

30 minutes before serving time, prepare the shrimp toasts as guided on the recipe instructions and serve.

Serving ideas for shrimp(prawn)toast.

Serve with sweet chilli sauce.

RECIPE AT A GLANCE

How to make Prawn toast(shrimp toast)

250g of shelled and deveined prawns(substitute with frozen prawns)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
2 cloves of garlic slightly crushed to make the mincing process easier
5 slices of bread
1/2 a cup of sesame seeds
1-2 cups of oil(any type of oil would do)
To serve
Sweet chilli sauce to dip

Method

Slightly crush the garlic cloves(2) to ease the mincing with the prawns.

Clean, devein the prawns. Pat dry the raw peeled shrimp and add them to the food processor.
Add salt(1/4tsp), pepper(1/4 tsp), garlic(2 bruised cloves).

Run the processor until you have a shrimp paste.

Stack the white bread(5) on top of each other and cut off the crust.

Cut them across in half triangles or into 4 which will give you four squares a slice.

Add a tablespoon of the shrimp paste and then use a butter knife to spread the paste evenly over the bread cubes.

Add the sesame seeds(1/2 a cup) onto a flat plate.

Place the slices of bread with the shrimp paste facing down and gently press.

Make sure each slice of shrimp bread is coated evenly with sesame seeds. Set the raw sesame prawn toasts on a plate.

How to fry the prawn(shrimp toast).

Fill a deep pan with oil and bring to a low medium heat(let the oil heat for 1-2 minutes).

Gently drop the raw shrimp toast slice into the oil. the side with the shrimp paste and sesame seeds should face down.

Cook for 1-2 minutes until you see the shrimp toasts turn golden. Turn and cook the other side for 1 minute.

Once the shrimp toasts are done, drain all excess oil and transfer to the paper lined platter.

Serve while still warm.