Crispy Shrimp Toast: A Simple and Delicious Recipe

For most of us, the very word “fusion” evokes images of some snappy food combinations that make one yawn due to cultural water-downs, gimmicks, or just too much repetition. But fusion is not always a bad thing those who have had shrimp toast golden and crispy may concur.

Introduction

Shrimp toast was probably invented in Guangzhou (or Shandong, depending on whom you ask) in China, but in any case, this dish predates the recipe book by about a hundred years. What makes shrimp toast really interesting is that it comes out of an aging cultural meeting between the East and West.

It mixed traditional Chinese shrimp paste with the greatest advances of the West-that is, white bread-and came together as one of the oldest examples of fusion cuisine. Today, it is a staple served in most places on dim sum menus and also as an appetizer in most regions of Southeast Asia, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. Once you try out the recipe given below, you will understand why this cocktail hour classic has survived time.

Shrimp toast is one of the popular appetizers used in Chinese cuisine, especially in restaurants that dish out dim sum and in establishments that provide food that is basically Chinese-American. The meal is composed of a shrimp paste put on thin pieces of bread and then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. It is that rich seafood flavor and the crunch of the shell which makes shrimp toast such an attractive option to those who are passionate about shrimp, as well as fried meals for one and the same reason.

Origin of the shrimp toast

Shrimp toast is believed to have its origin in Cantonese cuisine, which is marked out by a great emphasis on seafood simply because the region is close to the shores. They are known for their creative use of seafood, and shrimp toast is just one example of how they can make sumptuous appetizers from humble materials. Cantonese chefs are renowned for their creative application of mollusks. The dish became a staple in dim sum restaurants, which are renowned for serving tea coupled with bite-sized appetizers to be consumed by diners.

The dish became known as shrimp toast, which became a staple in the Chinese-American menu, especially in the mid-20th century, when US-based Chinese restaurants began changing their menus to suit American tastes. This soon became a row because of the crispness and bland taste of shrimp, and it became a staple on many menus in the restaurants of Chinese-Americans. And you can get it in many restaurants; however, similar alternatives can also be obtained from Southeast Asian cuisines where different local ingredients and spices will give it an extra twist. Although shrimp toast is purely Chinese, regional alternatives can also be found in Southeast Asian cuisines.

A Profile of the Flavor for Shrimp Toast

Toast with shrimp is appealing because it brings all kinds of flavors and textures onto one dish. What you are looking forward to getting then would be the following list:

Surface that is Crispy

Bread really comes out crunchy because of its deep-fried golden brown crust. Moreover, the frying process infused a buttery velvety flavor to the meal itself which works well with the shrimp.

Creamy and flavored shrimp paste

On top of the bread is put shrimp paste that is often seasoned with soy sauce or sesame oil besides garlic, ginger, and scallions. Thus, it results in a flavor that is savory, slightly sweet, and aromatic; it enhances a sweetness already apparent in shrimp. The paste of shrimp is really soft and creamy, providing fine opposition between the fairly crusty bread.

Sesame, Nutty Flavor

Some shrimp toast is coated with sesame seeds before frying, which will impart a nutty flavor in addition to the extra crunch of the sesame seeds. There is toasted-over sesame overtones with subtle sweet flavorings of the shrimp to balance it off.

Subtle and Approachable Flavor

Shrimp toast is appetizing to the taste of everyone because it is neither too spicy nor too aromatic. The offered umami flavor, which is harmonious and not overbearing, comes from this combination of shrimp, garlic, and ginger.

Versatile Dipping Sauces

Generally, dipping sauces that would be provided would be such as sweet chili sauce to soy sauce or even a vinegar-based sauce which is tangy. You can enjoy every bite of it with these dipping sauces since they add another dimension to the flavor and the option of whether it’s sweet, tangy, or spicy.

Ingredients

1/3 cup Dijon mustard
Drain 2 tsp. horseradish 1/2 lb. cleaned, deveined medium shrimp
2 finely chopped scallions
1 huge egg white
Grated or diced fresh ginger: 1 tsp Toasted sesame oil: 1/2 tsp
3/4 tsp kosher
1/2 tsp. optional granulated sugar
Optional 1/4 tsp fish sauce
Fry 6 pieces of crustless, gently toasted bread in vegetable oil.

Direction

Step 1

Whisk mustard and horseradish in a small basin to make sauce. Set aside.

Step 2

Clip off the shrimp tails and discard them. Blend shrimp in a food processor into a sticky paste. Don’t worry if you have some small shrimp: they’re okay!
Chop half of the scallions (green parts) and save them for garnish. In the food processor, combine the rest of the chopped scallions with the egg white, ginger, sesame oil, salt, and optional sugar. Purée until smooth.

Step 3

Spread the shrimp mixture evenly to the edges of each slice of bread. Cut each square diagonally into 2 triangles. You should now have 12 triangles.

Step 4

Heat ½ inch vegetable oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high. When bread or wooden spoon dipped in oil boil vigorously, it is ready. (Or use thermometer to heat oil to 375°.)

Step 5

Dredge 4 toasts shrimp-side-down in hot oil 1–2 minutes or until lightly brown. Flip and heat until bread is crisp and golden, 1–2 minutes more. Set shrimp side up on a paper towel-lined dish to drain off oil. Repeat with remaining toasts.

Step 6

Add remaining scallions to toasts and serve with mustard sauce.

Conclusion

Even though it’s called Easy Shrimp Toast, you can’t ignore how crispy the bread is and the creaminess of the shrimp topping. Bread is topped with shrimp, garlic, green onions, sesame oil, and seasonings before being fried or baked until it is golden and crispy. It’s easy to prepare, may be topped off with sesame seeds or chili flakes. It’s most appropriately used for parties or casual get-togethers.

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