Hey there! I’m super excited to share with you one of my absolute favorite appetizers – shrimp toast! As someone who’s been making this delicious treat for years, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make amazing shrimp toast at home. Trust me once you try this recipe it’ll become your go-to party snack!
What is Shrimp Toast?
Before we dive in, let me tell you what shrimp toast actually is. It’s this incredible fusion dish that originated in Hong Kong, combining Chinese flavors with Western-style bread. Think perfectly seasoned shrimp paste spread on bread, topped with sesame seeds, and fried until golden and crispy. Yum!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll want to grab from the store:
For the Shrimp Paste:
- 1/2 pound raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 egg white
- 2-3 scallions, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Salt and white pepper to taste
Other Stuff
- 6 slices white sandwich bread
- Sesame seeds (white or black)
- Cooking oil for frying
- Optional: 1 ounce pork fat (trust me, it’s a game-changer!)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Shrimp Mixture
1. Clean your shrimp well2. Put all shrimp paste ingredients in a food processor3. Blend until smooth but still slightly chunky4. Scrape down sides occasionally for even mixing2. Assemble Your Toast
- Spread the shrimp mixture evenly on bread slices
- Don’t skimp – go right to the edges!
- Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds
- Press seeds gently into the paste
- Cut each slice diagonally to make triangles
3. Cooking Methods
I’m gonna share three different ways to cook these bad boys:
Pan-Frying (My Favorite Method)
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat
- Place triangles shrimp-side down first
- Cook 2-3 minutes until golden
- Flip and cook another minute
- Drain on paper towels
Air-Fryer Method
- Preheat air fryer to 460°F
- Brush both sides with oil
- Cook 3-4 minutes until golden
- Perfect for healthier version!
Deep-Frying (Traditional Way)
- Heat oil to 375°F
- Fry until golden brown
- Drain well
Pro Tips From My Kitchen
After messing up countless batches (yeah we’ve all been there), here’s what I’ve learned
-
Don’t Skip the Cornstarch: Add about 2 teaspoons – it helps bind everything together
-
Bread Choice Matters: I use regular sandwich bread, but you do you! Just make sure it’s fresh
-
Keep the Crust: Unlike some recipes that say to remove it, I keep mine on – less waste and better structure!
-
Make-Ahead Tip: You can prepare the shrimp paste a day ahead, but don’t spread it on the bread until cooking time
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t spread the paste too thin
- Don’t overcrowd your pan
- Avoid using bread that’s too soft or too old
- Don’t skip the sesame seeds – they’re not just for show!
Serving Suggestions
These babies are best served hot! I like to serve them with:
- Sweet chili sauce
- Soy sauce with a touch of vinegar
- Your favorite hot sauce
- A sprinkle of chopped scallions
Storage Tips
Look, these are best fresh, but if you must store them:
- Keep in airtight container
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Reheat in oven or air fryer
- Never microwave (unless you like soggy toast!)
Why My Recipe Works
I’ve tweaked this recipe over years of making it, and here’s why it’s foolproof:
- Perfect ratio of shrimp to seasonings
- Multiple cooking methods to suit your preference
- Simple ingredients you can find anywhere
- Clear, straightforward steps
Variations to Try
Feel free to mix it up:
- Add minced water chestnuts for crunch
- Mix in some chopped cilantro
- Try different seasonings
- Experiment with bread types
Health Notes
While not exactly health food, you can make it healthier by:
- Using the air fryer method
- Choosing whole grain bread
- Reducing oil usage
- Adding more herbs and less salt
Remember, cooking should be fun, so don’t stress too much about making it perfect. Even my first batch wasn’t Instagram-worthy, but boy, was it tasty!
Happy cooking!
#cooking #shrimptoast #asianfood #appetizers #homemade
Crispy Shrimp Toast Sandwiches
- 8 ounces of peeled and deveined shrimp, minced fine
- 1 lightly beaten egg white
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic chives or scallions
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon finely minced ginger
- 2 teaspoon rice wine
- Wonder Bread
- Corn starch
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup peanut oil
For the shrimp paste: Smash and re-mince the shrimp with the side of a cleaver to make a coarse ‘paste’. Combined all the ingredients and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
Remove crusts from slices of Wonder Bread, leaving three-inch-square pieces. Spread some shrimp mixture on one piece of bread. Cover with another.
Dip “sandwiches” in some beaten egg, then dredge lightly in corn starch. Heat oil in small pan and fry several shrimp toasts on each side until browned.
Serve with the dipping sauce of your choice. I am digging this with soy sauce mixed with chili crisp, or chamoy sauce and hot Chinese mustard.
I’ve been making versions of this shrimp toast recipe for years.
To my surprise I have never ever made them “covered” with two pieces of bread surrounding the shrimp mixture! So I am making this for the fam one day, and my kid who loves the crunchy bread says I should make it crunchier and add more bread. I immediately in my head dismissed this suggestion as outrageous, but then I thought about it and said, “Why not”???
Well, the result was awesome. And the simple fact is that this little tasty treat is a 12-month-a-year delicious plateful of awesome.
In many parts of the country there are live local shrimp in markets, and this is a great change-of-pace dish. I have also tried this with lobster, and it works beautifully as well. Let the lobster come to room temperature. Dip the lobster in boiling water for 1 minute. Remove and plunge into an ice bath, crack the shells carefully and you can remove the raw meat for many uses including this one if you are so inclined.
Make Fried Shrimp Toast, A Crispy Hong Kong Classic 蝦多士 | Hunger Pangs
FAQ
What is shrimp toast made from?
It is made from small triangles of bread, coated with a paste made from minced shrimp and cooked by baking or deep frying.
How to make homemade prawn toast?
- On a large board, trim the spring onions, then finely chop with most of the prawns (save four for later). …
- Divide and spread the filling between two slices of bread, then sandwich the other slices on top.
- Now, you can use a toastie machine or a non-stick frying pan – either way, get it hot.
What sauce goes with shrimp toast?
Best Dipping Sauce
I love our shrimp toast recipe with sweet-chili sauce. I think the sauce perfectly compliments the sweetness of the shrimp, while providing a slight bit of heat that balances all the flavors out. You can easily also serve the shrimp toast with a ponzu sauce or even just some soy sauce on the side.
What’s the best way to bread shrimp?
Toss shrimp in flour mixture until coated, then dip in egg wash followed by breadcrumbs. Heat oil in a heavy skillet on medium-high heat. Place shrimp in skillet and cook until golden brown on both sides. Transfer cooked shrimp to paper towel covered plate to absorb excess oil, and repeat until all shrimp are cooked.
How do you make shrimp toast?
This shrimp toast recipe makes 16 toasts–-simply double or triple the recipe for larger groups! If you’re going the traditional route and using pork fat, add the pork fat to a food processor and process until smooth. Then add the shrimp, cilantro, scallions, ginger, sesame oil, sugar, salt, cornstarch and egg white.
What is shrimp toast?
Shrimp toast is a retro Chinese takeout classic. A flavorful mixture of ground shrimp spread onto bread and pan-fried until crispy––the perfect appetizer! This shrimp toast recipe makes 16 toasts–-simply double or triple the recipe for larger groups!
What kind of bread do you use for shrimp toast?
Bread – Shrimp toast can be made with any kind of bread, but sandwich bread makes for a light crispy appetizer, and I think it works best for this dish. If you do use a more dense bread like a baguette, be sure to slice it thinner. Shrimp – You don’t need to get fancy shrimp for this.
How long do you fry shrimp toast?
Fry the shrimp toast with the shrimp side down until the edges start to brown. This should take about two minutes. Next, flip the toasts and crisp the bread side before transferring them to the prepared rack with the bread side down to drain. Serve the shrimp toasts while they’re hot. What is Shrimp Toast? How to Make Shrimp Toast in an oven?
How do you cook shrimp on bread?
Spread each slice bread with a thick layer of shrimp paste, pressing gently so it sticks to bread. Working in batches, fry bread, paste-side down, in hot oil until golden and shrimp is pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip carefully and cook until bread is golden brown, about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels.
How do you make shrimp and bread mix?
To prepare the shrimp and bread mixture for shrimp toast, place shrimp, green onion, egg white, pimentos, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, garlic, salt, ginger, and cayenne in a food processor and pulse 5 to 6 times. Slices of white bread are then spread with this savory mixture and fried until crispy.