Air-Fried Shrimp Toast: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Shrimp toast is a popular dish that is simple to make and can be cooked in an air fryer for a healthier, less greasy alternative to deep-fried shrimp toast. The dish originated in Hong Kong and Malaysia and is a fusion of Chinese and Western cuisine. It is typically served as an afternoon tea treat or as an appetiser in Chinese restaurants. The toast is made by spreading a layer of shrimp paste, made from raw, headless, peeled, and deveined shrimp mixed with seasonings, onto a piece of toast, which is then cooked until golden brown. The shrimp paste can be seasoned with ingredients such as scallions, ginger, light soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and white pepper, and the toast can be coated in sesame seeds before cooking.

Choosing the shrimp

When it comes to choosing the shrimp for your air-fried shrimp toast, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to use raw shrimp that has been peeled and deveined. You can opt for fresh or frozen shrimp, but if you go for the latter, make sure to properly thaw it before use.

The size of the shrimp is also a factor to consider. Since the shrimp will be minced or blended into a paste, you can choose the cheapest or smallest size available. Larger shrimp can be saved for dishes where they will be cooked whole.

When preparing the shrimp, remove the heads and shells, and ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned and free of any veins. For the best texture and flavour, it is important to use shrimp that is as fresh as possible. If using frozen shrimp, look for a brand that freezes their shrimp immediately after catching to ensure maximum freshness.

When blending the shrimp into a paste, you can add other ingredients such as egg white, soy sauce, ginger, green onions, garlic, and seasonings. This will enhance the flavour and help bind the ingredients together.

Lastly, the amount of shrimp you need will depend on the number of servings you want to make. As a reference, for 4 servings, you will need about 225 grams of shrimp, which is approximately half a pound.

Making the shrimp paste

To make the shrimp paste, you will need raw shrimp, an egg white, and seasonings. The seasonings can include scallion, ginger, light soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and white pepper. You can either manually mince the shrimp and then mix it with the other ingredients, or you can use a blender or food processor to blend all the ingredients together until a smooth, sticky paste forms. If using a blender or food processor, periodically stop the motor and use a spatula to scrape any food down from the sides to ensure an even texture.

For the shrimp, it is recommended to use headless, peeled, and deveined raw shrimp. You can use either fresh or frozen shrimp, but if using frozen, be sure to thaw it before using. The size of the shrimp is not particularly important, as it will be minced or blended anyway. However, since the shrimp will be minced or blended, it is recommended to use the cheapest or smallest size you can find.

Once you have your shrimp paste, you can spread it onto your chosen bread. It is recommended to use thick slices of bread, and either white or wholemeal bread will work. You can also use other types of bread, such as halved baguettes or sliced sourdough. If you want to be traditional, you can remove the crusts from the bread before spreading the shrimp paste, but this is not necessary.

After spreading the shrimp paste on the bread, you can sprinkle or dip the shrimp paste side of the bread in sesame seeds. White, black, or a mixture of sesame seeds can be used.

Preparing the bread

Firstly, select your preferred type of bread. While traditional recipes call for regular white sandwich bread, you can also use wholemeal bread, halved baguettes, or sliced sourdough bread. If you want to be more authentic, you can trim off the crusts to create crustless toast, although some prefer to keep the crust to reduce food waste.

Next, prepare the shrimp paste. This is done by blending or processing raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp with various seasonings and ingredients such as egg white, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, green onions, and cilantro. The resulting paste should be sticky and spreadable.

Now it's time to assemble the shrimp toast. Use a knife or spatula to spread a generous layer of the shrimp paste onto each slice of bread, ensuring it reaches all edges. You can decide how thick you want the paste to be, but as a reference, one source suggests using approximately 225 grams of shrimp to make enough paste for six slices of toast.

After spreading the paste, it's time to add the sesame seeds. Place a flat plate of sesame seeds (either white, black, or a mixture) next to your work area. Take each slice of toast and gently press the shrimp paste side down onto the sesame seeds, ensuring they stick well to the paste.

Finally, cut the shrimp toast into your desired shape. The traditional shape is triangular, so you can cut each slice of bread diagonally into four triangles. However, you can also cut them into rectangles or sticks if you prefer.

With the bread prepared, you are now ready to move on to the next steps of cooking your shrimp toast in the air fryer!

Cooking in the air fryer

Air-frying shrimp toast is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, and it's faster and less messy too. Here's a step-by-step guide to making shrimp toast in your air fryer:

Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp Paste

Blend or process the raw shrimp with seasonings and other ingredients like egg white, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and green onions to create a smooth, sticky paste. You can also add in other ingredients like sesame seeds, cornstarch, or butter for extra flavour and texture.

Step 2: Assemble the Toast

Spread a layer of the shrimp paste onto your chosen bread. You can use white sandwich bread, brioche, sourdough, or even a baguette. Some recipes recommend removing the crusts, but this is optional.

Step 3: Coat with Sesame Seeds

Place sesame seeds on a flat plate and gently press the shrimp paste-covered bread into the seeds, ensuring they stick to the paste. This step adds a nutty aroma and crunchy texture to the dish.

Step 4: Cut the Toast

Cut the toast into triangles or rectangles. This is the traditional shape for shrimp toast, but you can also leave the slices whole if you prefer.

Step 5: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer at a temperature between 350°F and 460°F for about 3 minutes. Some recipes suggest a lower temperature of 330°F.

Step 6: Prepare the Toast for Frying

Brush or spray a thin layer of oil on both sides of the toast. This step ensures the bread becomes crispy without absorbing too much oil.

Step 7: Fry the Toast

Place the toast in the air fryer basket, shrimp paste side up. Cook for around 3 to 10 minutes, depending on your air fryer and the desired level of browning. Check the toast halfway through to ensure even cooking and adjust the timing as needed.

Step 8: Serve

Remove the shrimp toast from the air fryer and serve immediately. Shrimp toast is best enjoyed fresh and crispy straight out of the fryer. You can pair it with a dipping sauce like Japanese mayo or sriracha for added flavour.

Cutting and serving

The iconic shape for shrimp toast is a triangle, but you can also cut the toast into rectangles or sticks. To cut your shrimp toast into triangles, slice each piece of bread diagonally into two triangles. If you want to make sticks, cut the bread into rectangles before spreading on the shrimp paste.

If you're making a sandwich-style shrimp toast, spread the shrimp paste on one slice of bread, and then place another slice on top, like a sandwich. Then, cut the sandwich diagonally into triangles.

Once you've cut your shrimp toast into the desired shape, it's ready to be air-fried. Place the shrimp toast in the air fryer basket, shrimp paste-side up, and cook for around 3-10 minutes, until golden and crispy.

Shrimp toast is best served hot and fresh out of the air fryer. It can be served as an appetizer, a snack, or as part of a main course. Enjoy the delicious combination of crunchy, creamy, and crispy textures and flavours!

Frequently asked questions