If you're a fan of Chinese cuisine, you've probably heard of prawn toast. This classic appetizer is a crowd-pleaser with its crispy bread and flavourful prawn filling.
While there are many variations of prawn toast, one popular recipe involves using cooked prawns to create a smooth paste that is spread onto slices of bread and then fried until golden brown.
Preparing the prawn mixture for your prawn toast is easy and straightforward.
Simply blend cooked prawns with egg whites, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil until you have a smooth paste.
Spread the paste onto slices of bread, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and fry until golden brown.
Serve with a sweet chilli dipping sauce for an extra burst of flavour.
Key Takeaways:
- Prawn toast is a classic Chinese appetizer that features a crispy bread and prawn filling.
- To make prawn toast with cooked prawns, blend the prawns with egg whites, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil to create a smooth paste that is spread onto slices of bread and fried until golden brown.
- Serve prawn toast with a sweet chilli dipping sauce for an extra burst of flavour.
Preparing the Prawn Mixture
Before you can make the prawn toast, you need to prepare the prawn mixture. This is the filling that goes on top of the bread before frying. Here's how to do it:
Selecting Ingredients
To make the prawn mixture, you will need the following ingredients:
- Cooked prawns
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Spring onions
- Fresh coriander
- White pepper
- Salt
- Sugar
- Sesame oil
- Egg white
Make sure you have all of these ingredients on hand before you start.
It's important to use cooked prawns for this recipe, as they will be easier to process in the food processor.
Processing Prawns
The first step in making the prawn mixture is to process the prawns in a food processor.
Simply add the cooked prawns to the food processor and pulse until they are finely chopped. Be careful not to over-process the prawns, as you want them to have a slightly chunky texture.
Seasoning and Flavouring
Once the prawns are processed, it's time to add the seasonings and flavourings.
Add the garlic, ginger, spring onions, fresh coriander, white pepper, salt, sugar, sesame oil, and egg white to the food processor.
Pulse again until everything is well combined and the mixture is smooth.
That's it! Your prawn mixture is now ready to be used to make the prawn toast. Spread the mixture onto slices of bread and fry until crispy. Enjoy!
Cooking and Serving Prawn Toast
Preparing Bread Base
To make prawn toast, you will need white bread. You can use either fresh bread or sliced bread.
If you are using fresh bread, cut it into triangles. If you are using sliced bread, remove the crust and cut the bread into triangles.
Next, spread the prawn mixture on the bread. Make sure to spread it evenly and all the way to the edges. You can use a spoon to do this.
Once the prawn mixture is on the bread, sprinkle sesame seeds on top. This will give the prawn toast a nice crunch.
Frying Techniques
There are two main ways to cook prawn toast: deep frying and shallow frying.
Deep frying will give you a crispier texture, but it requires more oil and can be messier. Shallow frying is quicker and uses less oil, but the texture may not be as crispy.
To deep fry, heat vegetable oil in a wok or pan until it reaches 180°C.
Carefully place the prawn toast in the oil and fry until golden brown. Remove from the oil and place on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
To shallow fry, heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat.
Place the prawn toast in the pan and cook until golden brown, flipping halfway through. Remove from the pan and place on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
Serving
Prawn toast is best served hot and fresh.
You can serve it with sweet chilli sauce or another dipping sauce of your choice.
It makes a great starter for a Chinese dinner or as part of a dim sum dish. You can also serve it as finger food at parties.
If you have leftovers, you can reheat prawn toast in the oven or air fryer.
To freeze, place the uncooked prawn toast in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months. To cook, defrost in the fridge overnight and cook as directed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the secret to a crispy prawn toast?
The secret to crispy prawn toast is to make sure that the bread is well coated with the prawn mixture and that the oil is hot enough before frying.
You can also add a little cornflour or potato starch to the prawn mixture to help it crisp up.
How can I make a healthier version of prawn toast?
To make a healthier version of prawn toast, you can use wholemeal bread instead of white bread, and bake the prawn toast instead of frying it.
You can also use less oil when frying by using a non-stick pan or an air fryer.
What are the best dips to serve with prawn toast?
The best dips to serve with prawn toast are sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, or a combination of both.
You can also try making your own dip by mixing together some mayonnaise, lime juice, and chopped coriander.
Can I make prawn toast with pre-cooked prawns and still get good results?
It is not recommended to use pre-cooked prawns for prawn toast as they do not have the same sticky texture as raw prawns, which are necessary to create a smooth prawn spread.
It's best to use raw prawns for the best results.
What's the best way to reheat leftover prawn toast without losing its crunch?
The best way to reheat leftover prawn toast is to place it in a preheated oven at 180°C for 5-10 minutes or until heated through and crispy.
Avoid microwaving leftover prawn toast as it will make it soggy.
Are there any tricks to adding extra flavour to prawn toast using cooked prawns?
One trick to adding extra flavour to prawn toast using cooked prawns is to marinate them in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger before blending them into a paste.
You can also add some chopped spring onions or coriander to the mixture for extra flavour.