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Hong Kong shrimp toast combines the richness of shrimp with a crispy exterior, making it a delightful appetizer. Instead of deep-frying, you can also pan fry or air fry the shrimp toast
What is Hong Kong sesame shrimp toast?
Shrimp toast is a popular appetizer that originated in Cantonese cuisine and is commonly found in Chinese dim sum. It typically consists of a mixture of finely chopped or minced shrimp, seasonings, and other ingredients spread on slices of bread. The bread is then coated with sesame seeds and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy.
Shrimp toast offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures. The crispy exterior gives way to a savory and succulent shrimp filling, making each bite a satisfying experience. Its popularity has spread beyond Cantonese cuisine, and it can now be found in various Asian cuisines and international fusion dishes.
Ingredients and substitutions
1. Bread
Traditionally, shrimp toast is made with white sandwich bread. But you can use any bread you like. I use my homemade whole wheat bread. Stale bread actually works better than using a fresh loaf of bread. It holds up better.
2. Shrimp
Since we will be grinding the shrimp up into a paste, you can use small or medium-sized shrimp
3. Egg white
The egg white acts as a binder in the shrimp paste
4. Ginger
I like to add a bit of ginger when it comes to seafood. It adds a nice aroma and a strong smell of seafood that some people may not like
5. Cornstarch
The cornstarch gives a nice smooth texture to the shrimp paste
6. Seasonings
The sugar, salt, pepper, and sesame oil are added to season the shrimp paste
7. Sesame seeds
White sesame seeds are typically used to coat the shrimp toast before frying. They also add a nice crunch
Easy Hong Kong Sesame Shrimp Toast
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread
- Oil for pan frying
Shrimp paste mixture:
- 250 g small or medium-size shrimp shelled and deveined
- ¼ tsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 egg white
- ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ⅛ tsp ground white pepper
To coat:
- 1 cup Sesame seeds or more as needed
To garnish:
- coriander leaves
Instructions
Preparing the shrimp paste:
- Peel and deveined the shrimp if they aren't already. Put it in a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients. Process into a paste-like consistency
Prepare the bread:
- Traditionally, white sandwich bread is used to make shrimp toast, but you can use any bread of your choice. Stale bread works great in this case. It holds up better.
- You can trim off the crust of the bread if you want to. I didn't do that because we are a family who love crust (LOL) and I just don't want to waste 🙂
Assembling:
- Spread the shrimp paste on one side of the bread slice. Repeat with the rest. Cover the shrimp paste with sesame paste and gently press on it to make sure the sesame seeds stick to the shrimp paste
- Traditionally, it is cut into a triangle. If you want a triangle, simply cut the bread in half diagonally. I cut them into bite-size squares
Deep-frying:
- Preheat about 1 1/2- 2 cups of oil in pan over medium heat. When you dip a skewer into the oil, you'll see bubbles around it. The oil is ready. Lower the heat a little bit
- Put the shrimp toast, sesame side down into the oil and fry for about 1-2 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown. Fry in 2-3 batches so you won't lower the oil temperature too much. Since I use whole wheat bread, the color is a bit darker. Be sure to control the heat too
- Remove them from the oil onto an absorbent paper towel to absorb excess oil
For pan-frying:
- Preheat about 3-4 tablespoons of oil. When it's hot, carefully place the coated side of the shrimp toast in the hot oil, sesame seed side down. Cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the bottoms turn golden brown and crispy. Be mindful not to overcrowd the pan to ensure proper cooking. You may need to fry the toasts in batches depending on the size of your pan.
- Remove them from the oil onto an absorbent paper towel to absorb excess oil
For air-frying:
- You can brush the surface of the sesame crust and the bottom of toast with some oil or you can use a cooking spray too. Air fry the shrimp toasts at 400°F (200°C) for about 7-9 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crispy. As every air fryer can be different, check the toasts after 5 minutes and periodically after that to avoid overcooking.
Serve:
- Serve them warm with some sweet chili sauce on the side
*Nutrition facts are just estimates and calculated using online tools*
How to make Hong Kong sesame shrimp toast by deep-frying
1. Prepare the shrimp paste. Peel and deveined the shrimp if they aren’t already. Put it in a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients. Process into a paste-like consistency
2. Traditionally, white sandwich bread is used to make shrimp toast, but you can use any bread of your choice. Stale bread works great in this case. It holds up better. You can trim off the crust of the bread if you want to. I didn’t do that because we are a family who love crust (LOL) and I just don’t want to waste 
3. Spread the shrimp paste on one side of the bread slice. Repeat with the rest. 
4. Cover the shrimp paste with sesame paste and gently press on it to make sure the sesame seeds stick to the shrimp paste
5. Traditionally, it is cut into a triangle. If you want a triangle, simply cut the bread in half diagonally. I cut them into bite-size squares
6. Preheat about 1 1/2- 2 cups of oil in pan over medium heat. When you dip a skewer into the oil, you’ll see bubbles around it. The oil is ready. Lower the heat a little bit
7. Put the shrimp toast, sesame side down into the oil and fry for about 1-2 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown. Fry in 2-3 batches so you won’t lower the oil temperature too much. Since I use whole wheat bread, the color is a bit darker. Be sure to control the heat too. Remove them from the oil onto an absorbent paper towel to absorb excess oil
8. Serve them warm with some sweet chili sauce on the side
Alternative to deep-frying
Traditionally, the shrimp toast is deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. This cooking method gives the dish its signature texture, making it simultaneously crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside. However, some modern variations may opt for baking or pan-frying to reduce the oil content while still achieving a satisfying crunch.
How to serve Hong Kong shrimp toast
Hong Kong shrimp toast is commonly served as an appetizer or as part of a dim sum spread. It is typically garnished with a sprinkle of chopped scallions or cilantro, which adds freshness and a burst of color. The toasts can be served with a dipping sauce on the side, such as sweet chili sauce or a tangy soy-based mixture. Since we like spicy food, I serve the toast with spicy chili sauce such as Sriracha chili sauce.
Did you make this easy Hong Kong sesame shrimp toast recipe?
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