Up until recently, I reserved the pleasure of enjoying Sesame Prawn Toast (Shrimp Toast most known to make an appearance at Chinese yum cha) for restaurants only. Knowing how easy it is to make at home, I can see more prawn toast in my future. And you can too!
What is Prawn Toast?
Prawn toast is a traditional Chinese yum cha staple. White sliced bread is spread with a paste made from raw prawns (shrimp) and seasonings then dipped in sesame seeds and shallow fried. Delicious!
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How do you cook Prawn Toast?
As mentioned above, prawn toast is generally shallow or deep-fried. This results in a golden crunchy bread and ensures the prawn paste cooks through.
However, I find the prospect of shallow or deep frying (getting the oil to the right temperature in a home kitchen quite challenging). If it’s too hot it will smoke and the bread and sesame seeds will burn, if it’s too cold, the toast will soak up way too much oil. It can be messy, smelly and outright dangerous as the oil can splatter everywhere.
Make it in an Airfryer instead!
Can you make prawn toast in an airfryer? Yes you can! I did – side by side with a frying pan – and loved the result!
I use my Ninja AF160 for smaller batches and the Ninja OL650 Airfryer / Multicooker – LOVE IT as a pressure cooker and to prove dough – for bigger batches or when entertaining as it has a nifty wire rack in there that helps create levels.
It was quicker to make, perfectly crisp all over, and non-greasy. You could also taste the prawns rather than just fried bread. It’s much harder to get the frying pan temp right so you can end up with burnt toast and a lot of fumes in the house. Hardly any smell with the airfryer.
The recipe
The airfryer prawn toast recipe is very quick and simple – full details below.
It might not be your traditional Lunar New Year fare, but my goodness it’s so delicious and the perfect excuse to have yum cha at home more often. Heck, I’d happily just have this as a light lunch or supper whenever.
EASY SESAME PRAWN TOAST (SHRIMP TOAST) AIRFRYER
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS
- 280 g peeled raw prawns shrimp
- 2 crushed garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder
- 1/4 tsp white pepper powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 egg white
- 2 spring onions sliced finely
SESAME TOAST
- 4 slices brioche bread*
- 1/4 cup white sesame seeds
- olive oil spray
Instructions
METHOD
- Blend prawns (shrimp) into a rough paste. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Slice crusts off* brioche if you prefer. Spread each slice with paste. Dip in sesame seeds.
- AIR FRYER: preheat airfryer at 200C for a minute. Spray tops with oil spray. Place 1-3 toasts in the drawer. Cook for 5 mins.
- FRYING PAN: Heat pan over medium heat, add oil – you don’t want it to be smoking hot, but also not too cold (test with a piece of crust, if the oil bubbles gently it’s ready). Cook 1-3 toasts unspread side down for 1-2 mins. Flip and cook for 2-3 mins.
1 comment
This recipe seems excellent! Thank you for sharing. I will try it and add it to my plate of mixed ” little things”!!! like avocado slices !