Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (2024)

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Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (1)

by: Sarah

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Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (2)

Shrimp toast is the latest addition to our compendium of retro Chinese takeout recipes. A flavorful mixture of ground shrimp seasoned with scallions, cilantro, and ginger is spread onto slices of white sandwich bread, and then pan-fried.

I’d be hard-pressed to think of a more obvious fusion between Chinese and American influences than this crispy, tasty appetizer.

A Process of Discovery & Lessons from Grandpa

I’ll admit that before I began developing this recipe, I’d never actually ever tried shrimp toast (gasp!). It was a process of discovery for me, and my dad gave me a lot of guidance.

Apparently, when his father—my grandpa—used to run a Chinese takeout restaurant, his shrimp toast recipe was legendary.

The secret?

Pork fat. Of course.

My grandpa would add fatty pork to the shrimp mixture––a 70/30 fat to meat ratio. He would add just enough of it to flavor the shrimp toast, but not so much as to change the texture of the shrimp mixture.

For this recipe, I used about an ounce of pork fat. If you’d rather not use it, you can just leave it out––just go with your gut!

Why I Don’t Cut Off My Crusts

Another note––many cooks making shrimp toast choose to cut the crusts off the bread, but I am pretty against this. It’s a waste of bread! I also find that the crust provides a good edge to hold the filling onto the bread itself.

If you really want to cut the crusts off though, just do it before you spread on the shrimp mixture, and whizz them up in a food processor to make breadcrumbs. You can then store them in the freezer and pull them out anytime you need to make meatballs, meatloaf, or any other dish in need of some breadcrumb lovin’.

These shrimp toasts make for an excellent party appetizer with beer or co*cktails. Definitely New Year’s Eve party appetizer material. This recipe makes 16 little triangle toasts, but you can double or triple the recipe for a larger party!

Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (3)

Shrimp Toast Recipe Instructions

Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (4)

If you’re going the traditional route and using pork fat, add the pork fat to a food processor and process until smooth.

Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (5)

Then add the shrimp, cilantro, scallions, ginger, toasted sesame oil, sugar, salt, cornstarch and egg white.

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Process until smooth.

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Divide the mixture among 4 slices of sandwich bread, spreading it evenly out to the ends.

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Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, and lightly press the sesame seeds into the shrimp mixture.

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Cut each slice into quarters on a diagonal to create little triangles.

In a large nonstick or cast iron skillet, heat ⅛ inch of oil until shimmering. Fry the triangles in the skillet, shrimp-side down first, until golden––about 2-3 minutes.

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Use a spatula to carefully turn them over, and fry the other side for about 1 minute.

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Transfer to paper towels to drain. Serve immediately!

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5 from 24 votes

Shrimp Toast

Shrimp toast is a retro Chinese takeout classic. A flavorful mixture of ground shrimp spread onto bread and pan-fried until crispy––the perfect appetizer! This shrimp toast recipe makes 16 toasts–-simply double or triple the recipe for larger groups!

by: Sarah

Course:Appetizers

Cuisine:Chinese

Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (16)

serves: 16

Prep: 25 minutes minutes

Cook: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 30 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 1 ounce pork fat (30g, optional)
  • ½ pound shrimp (225g, peeled and deveined)
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 scallions (finely chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 egg white
  • 4 slices white sandwich bread
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  • If you’re going the traditional route and using pork fat, add the pork fat to a food processor and process until smooth. Then add the shrimp, cilantro, scallions, ginger, sesame oil, sugar, salt, cornstarch and egg white. Process until smooth.

  • Divide the mixture among 4 slices of sandwich bread, spreading it evenly out to the ends. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, and lightly press the sesame seeds into the shrimp mixture. Cut each slice into quarters on a diagonal to create little triangles.

  • In a large nonstick or cast iron skillet, heat ⅛ inch of oil until shimmering. Fry the triangles in the skillet, shrimp-side down first, until golden––about 2-3 minutes.

  • Use a spatula to carefully turn them over, and fry the other side for about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Serve immediately!

nutrition facts

Calories: 115kcal (6%) Carbohydrates: 4g (1%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 10g (15%) Saturated Fat: 6g (30%) Cholesterol: 37mg (12%) Sodium: 217mg (9%) Potassium: 30mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 30IU (1%) Vitamin C: 0.9mg (1%) Calcium: 48mg (5%) Iron: 0.7mg (4%)

nutritional info disclaimer

TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.

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Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (21)

About Sarah

Sarah is the older daughter/sister in The Woks of Life family. Creator of quick and easy recipes for harried home cooks and official Woks of Life photographer, she grew up on episodes of Ready Set Cook and Good Eats. She loves the outdoors (and of course, *cooking* outside), and her obsession with food continues to this day.

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Shrimp Toast: A Classic Chinese Takeout Recipe - The Woks of Life (2024)

FAQs

What is Chinese shrimp toast made of? ›

Traditionally, shrimp toast starts with a shrimp paste that's infused with aromatic garlic, scallions and cilantro, which is then slathered on white bread that is fried until crisp on the outside and light inside. A food processor makes quick work of chopping the shrimp mixture, but the task can also be done by hand.

What is the history of Chinese shrimp toast? ›

The dish originates from Hong Kong, as an early form of fusion cuisine, combining prawn paste, which is very common in Hong Kong cuisine, and toast, originating from the West. The dish is called haa dō si 蝦多士 in Cantonese, haa, meaning prawn, and dō si, a loan word from English meaning toast.

Is shrimp toast good? ›

It's an absolutely delicious way to use shrimp. I think I've gotten pretty good at making this dish, but it still doesn't compare to my father's! Don't be fooled by the ingredients — most are optional. Serve as an appetizer or main dish.

How many calories are in shrimp toast? ›

There are 148 calories in a 1/2 slice of Fried Shrimp Toast.

What is Chinese shrimp sauce made of? ›

Shrimp paste or prawn sauce is a fermented condiment commonly used in Southeast Asian and Coastal Chinese cuisines. It is primarily made from finely crushed shrimp or krill mixed with salt, and then fermented for several weeks.

What does shrimp toast taste like? ›

And that's what shrimp toast is all about: crispy, golden brown, slices of fried bread with a vaguely shrimpy but very allium-heavy coating. Each bite of toast is the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

How to make a toast in Chinese? ›

What to Say. 乾杯 (Gānbēi), literally translating into "dry your cup", essentially means "cheers." This phrase can either be a very casual toast or sometimes this toast is an indication for each person to empty the glass in one gulp.

How do you make a toast in China? ›

How to Say Cheers in Chinese. The default toast in China is ganbei (sounds like: “gon bay”) which literally means "dry cup." And unlike in the West, you'll be expected to empty your cup after each toast given, or at least give it your best effort.

Who invented shrimp toast? ›

Though shrimp toast supposedly originated in Guangzhou, China, it has since proliferated across the globe, becoming a staple in Hong Kong and Americanized Chinese restaurants all over the country, and can even be found on an occasional dim sum cart.

How many calories are in Chinese shrimp toast? ›

Shrimp Toast, Fried (1 1/2 slice) contains 10.8g total carbs, 9.7g net carbs, 9.1g fat, 5.6g protein, and 146 calories.

What color is shrimp toast? ›

Shrimp Toast is a midtone, pure, tangerine orange with a sherbet undertone. It is a perfect paint color for a dining space.

How many Shrimp is 100 calories? ›

Shrimp have a lot going for them. They are low in calories — about 100 calories in 15 large shrimp — quick and easy to cook, and a “good source of protein,” says Alice H. Lichtenstein, a Gershoff professor of nutrition science at Tufts University.

How much sodium is in shrimp toast? ›

Shrimp toast, fried nutrition facts and analysis per 1 cubic inch (11.8 g)
Minerals
NutrientAmountDV
Potassium15.81 mg0 %
Selenium2.12 mcg4 %
Sodium70.33 mg3 %
6 more rows

How much Shrimp is 200 calories? ›

This 200 Calories of Trader Joes® Large Cooked Shrimp is about 25 shrimp.

Does prawn toast have meat in it? ›

Ingredients. Prawns (CRUSTACEANS) (40%), Bread (24%) (WHEAT Flour, Corn Starch, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Yeast, Sugar, Bread Improver [WHEAT Flour, Maltodextrin, Amylase, Acidity Regulator E331]), Surimi (Threadfin Bream Nemipterus spp.

Does prawn toast contain pork? ›

Roughly chop the prawns and then mince to a paste. Put in a large bowl and combine with the pork and remaining paste ingredients. To prepare the toast, remove the crusts from the bread and cut each slice into 3 rectangles. spread with a thick layer of the prawn mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

What is shrimp dumplings made of? ›

In a large bowl, combine shrimp, pork, cabbage, green onions, ginger, sesame oil, mirin, salt and pepper, to taste. To assemble the dumplings, place wrappers on a work surface. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the shrimp mixture into the center of each wrapper. Using your finger, rub the edges of the wrappers with water.

What is kung pao shrimp made of? ›

What is Kung Pao Shrimp? Kung Pao shrimp is a sweet and spicy combination of fresh, crisp, sautéed veggies with shrimp. The sauce for this recipe combines a bit of broth with bold flavors from soy sauce, hoisin and sesame oil. A sprinkle of chili flakes add some heat (add a little or a lot).

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