Kitchen Recipe Collection
Shrimp Toast (Xia Duo Shi)
A beloved retro dim sum and banquet appetizer. Triangles of white bread are thickly spread with a bouncy, savory shrimp paste, coated in sesame seeds, and deep-fried until perfectly crisp.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- 250g raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 egg white
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1 tsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 slices of plain white sandwich bread (stale is better)
- 1/2 cup white sesame seeds
- Oil for deep frying
- Sweet chili sauce (for dipping)
Equipment
- Food processor
- Wok or deep fryer
Instructions
- 1
Make Shrimp Paste
Place the raw shrimp, egg white, ginger, wine, sesame oil, cornstarch, and salt in a food processor.
- 2
Process
Pulse until the shrimp turns into a smooth, highly sticky paste.
- 3
Prepare Bread
Cut the crusts off the slices of white bread. Cut each slice diagonally into two triangles.
- 4
Spread Paste
Spread a thick layer (about 1/2 inch) of the sticky shrimp paste evenly over each triangle of bread, going all the way to the edges.
- 5
Coat in Sesame
Pour the sesame seeds onto a plate. Press the shrimp-side of the toast firmly into the sesame seeds so it is completely coated.
- 6
Heat Oil
Heat oil in a wok to 350°F (175°C). The temperature is critical: too hot and the bread burns; too cold and the bread absorbs massive amounts of oil.
- 7
Fry Paste Side Down
Carefully lower the toasts into the oil, SHRIMP SIDE DOWN. Fry for 2 minutes to cook the shrimp and toast the sesame seeds.
- 8
Flip and Crisp
Flip the toasts over to fry the bare bread side for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown and very crispy.
- 9
Drain
Remove and drain immediately on a wire rack or paper towels.
- 10
Serve
Serve hot and crunchy with sweet chili sauce for dipping.
Cooking Tips
- Using slightly stale bread is better because it contains less moisture, making it crispier and less likely to soak up excess oil.
- The egg white and cornstarch in the paste are essential for binding the shrimp so it doesn't fall off the bread in the fryer.
Variations
- Prawn Toast with Water Chestnuts: Finely minced water chestnuts are often folded into the shrimp paste for extra crunch.
Nutrition Estimate
280 calories · 14g protein · 18g carbs · 16g fat · 1g fiber per serving
