This shrimp toast recipe is the perfect appetizer to serve your guests! Packed with tons of flavor and a crunchy texture, your guests will want multiples of this popular Chinese appetizer!
I love shrimp and I love toast so this Chinese shrimp toast was a no brainer. If you want to surprise your guests with something unique, these are it! I love how it can be made in advance and how filling it is.
The delicious sauces take them over the top and allow your guests to choose which flavor direction they want to go in.
Make sure to check out these 73 Shrimp Appetizer Ideas!
What Is Shrimp Toast?
Shrimp toast also know as "prawn toast" is a Chinese dim sum dish although there are a few different Asian variations.
The traditional version is made with triangles of white bread, minced shrimp paste, dipped in egg and water chestnuts. It is a delicious finger food appetizer for any party!
Other versions of shrimp toast have sesame seeds on the outside. This is referred to as sesame prawn toast. Either way, the main concept is the same.
Vietnamese and Thai shrimp toast have added fish sauce
Steps:
Making shrimp toast is pretty easy considering how much flavor each triangle packs. What makes it super easy is the fact that you can toss all ingredients into a food processor and hit puree! Then spread your bread with the tasty shrimp mousse and fry or bake!
Step 1: First you need a fresh loaf of white bread. I personally just use sandwich bread. Could you use wheat or whole grain bread? Yes! Would brioche bread be amazing in this recipe? Heck yes!
Step 2: Add your shrimp ingredients in a food processor and puree.
Step 3: Spread your shrimp puree over each piece of bread and dip into sesame seeds.
Step 4: Bake or fry your shrimp toast until golden brown and crispy!
Frying Your Toast
Frying Your In A Skillet
You can fry your toasts in a skillet with some oil or butter until golden brown and crisp on both sides.
Shallow Frying
You can fry your toasts in a shallow pan by adding a little more oil then you would normally use when sautéing. You want to thoroughly coat the pan so its a thick puddle of oil. I like to aim for about 1.2" of oil. When shallow frying, you do not need to move the food around. You will want to drop your toasts in and let them form a nice brown crust. Then flip.
Read more about the do's and don'ts of shallow frying here.
Bake Your Toasts
I baked these shrimp toasts because it is easier to do in larger batches. It also allowed me to clean up while the toasts were in the oven. Plus, no smokey oil smell!
When baking, lay toast shrimp side down until the shrimp cooks through and the toast is golden brown and crispy.
Frying Tips*
- Don't crown or overload your pan. Ever. Adding too much food at once does not allow the food to crisp up evenly but more importantly, will drop the temperature of the oil. This will lead to soggy toast.
- Make sure your toasts sizzle when they hit the oil! To check, toss in a small piece of bread or sprinkle in some flour. If you do not immediately hear it sizzle, wait.
- The ideal frying temperature is between 350 and 375 degrees F.
- Use a spider whenever your frying food. Nothing else compares. It is used in restaurants all over for good reason.
- Buy an instant read digital thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. You do not want your oil too hot or it will start to smoke. Too cold and your food will absorb too much grease.
- Use paper towels to help absorb some of the oil.
Other Variations/Additions
Keep in mind, most traditional shrimp toasts are served with the crust cut off. You do not need to trim the crust is you don't want to waste it.
I think the presentation looks much nicer and neater with the crusts trimmed.
Other ingredients you can add to your shrimp puree:
- fish sauce
- garlic
- water chestnuts
- sugar
- soy sauce
Dipping Sauces
I love dipping. I mean, who doesn't? So I like to serve shrimp toast with at least one sauce for dipping if not TWO! The sauces here in the photos are a homemade spicy mayo (see easy recipe below) and a sweet chili sauce. The chili sauce is store-bought.
Here are some other fun Asian shrimp appetizers you may enjoy!
Baked Greek Shrimp Skillet with Feta
Shrimp Tempura Boats with Sweet Chili Sauce
97 Finger Food Ideas
Easy Chinese Shrimp Toast Baked with Sesame Seeds
Ingredients
Method
- If baking these, pre-heat your oven to 350°F.
- Add shrimp paste ingredients to a food processor and pulse until fully combined, about 30 seconds.
- For baking:Melt your butter in a small bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds. Using a brush, generously brush one side of each slide of bread with the melted butter.
- Flip over and spread shrimp paste, edge to edge, onto the un-buttered side of each slice of bread. Sprinkle sesame seeds over shrimp paste or place seeds on a plate and press each slice into the seeds.
- Pour the rest of the melted butter onto a baking sheet and place bread slices shrimp side down so the other side also absorbs some butter.
- Bake for 7-8 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked through and the toast is golden brown. (You don't need to flip your toasts.)
- For skillet frying:Spread shrimp paste, edge to edge, onto one side of each toast. Sprinkle sesame seeds over shrimp paste or place seeds on a plate and press each slice into the seeds.Add ¾ of the melted butter to your skillet set over medium high heat. Place shrimp toasts shrimp side down in the skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked through and has turned light pink. Then flip toasts over and add remaining melted butter. Remove when non-shrimp side is golden brown and crispy.
- Trim the crust on each shrimp toast (optional) and cut each on a diagonal so you have two triangles per slice.
- Garnish with more scallions and serve hot alone or with sauces on the side.
- Spicy Mayo: Mix ingredients together in a small bowl.
Tried the recipe? I'd love to hear your thoughts below!