Shrimp Toasts Appetizer Recipe
Crunchy and delicious party food appetizers
Shrimp toasts make an easy appetizer! Your food processor does most of the work, but that can be your own little secret. Watch them disappear at your next party!
Shrimp toasts have long been a party food favorite. These little appetizers have a satisfying crunch, lovely shrimp flavor, and are simple to eat with one hand, while carrying your cocktail in the other. The recipe makes a big batch, so you'll definitely have enough to go around.
The toasts are made by processing fresh shrimp into a paste that is seasoned with garlic, spices, and scallions, and spreading the paste over plain white bread. The toasts are then sprinkled generously with sesame seeds, cut into wedges, and fried in oil.
If fresh shrimp is unavailable or very expensive, you can purchase a prepackaged shrimp ring instead; just be sure to remove the tails before making the shrimp paste.
While the toasts boast a lot of flavor, they look rather plain when finished. Garnish the serving plate with colorful vegetables and/or fresh herbs for a splashier presentation, or serve the shrimp toasts on a mixed platter alongside more colorful fare.
Shrimp Toasts
- 8 ounces cooked shrimp, peeled and tails removed
- 1 large egg white
- 2 scallions, coarsely chopped
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- dash hot pepper sauce (Asian hot pepper sauce works best, but Tabasco does the trick)
- 8 slices day-old white bread
- 5 tablespoons sesame seeds
- vegetable or canola oil for frying
In a food processor, combine shrimp, egg white, scallions, ginger, garlic, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and hot sauce; process until mixture forms a smooth paste.
Trim crusts from bread; spread an even layer of shrimp paste on each slice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, pressing them lightly to adhere. Cut each slice of bread diagonally to make four triangles, then cut each triangle in half. You should end up with 64 triangles all together.
Heat about two inches of oil in a deep skillet or frying pan. Oil should be very hot, but not smoking. Fry the shrimp toasts in the oil for about 60 seconds, turning once halfway through cooking time. Drain well on several layers of paper towels, and keep warm in the oven as you fry each consecutive batch.
Serve warm. Makes 64 appetizers.
