A classic starter that is easy to get right. Fry prawn-side down first so it cooks through.
Sesame prawn toast
Ingredients
Method
- Blend the prawns with the egg white, soy, sesame oil, cornflour and spring onion to a paste.
- Spread the paste thickly over the bread.
- Press the paste side into the sesame seeds to coat.
- Fry paste-side down in hot oil until the prawn is pink, then flip to crisp the bread.
- Drain and cut each slice into triangles.
Notes
Why you fry the prawn side first
Frying prawn-side down first is the key move most recipes skip. The prawns cook through from the heat of the oil before you flip, so the bread side only needs a minute to crisp without the prawn overcooking.
Where sesame prawn toast comes from
Sesame prawn toast is a snack of white bread spread with a seasoned prawn paste, pressed into sesame seeds and fried until golden. It is thought to come from Cantonese cooking in Hong Kong, and it became a favourite starter in British Chinese restaurants from the 1970s.
Good prawn toast is crisp and not greasy, with a light, springy prawn layer on top.
Choosing bread and spreading the prawn paste
- Use slightly stale or one-day-old bread. Fresh bread absorbs too much oil.
- Spread the prawn paste all the way to the edges so every bite has filling.
- Press the sesame seeds firmly into the paste so they stick and do not fall off in the oil.
- Drain on kitchen paper as soon as they come out of the pan.
Baked and air fryer versions
- Baked version: brush with a little oil and bake at 200C for 10 to 12 minutes, sesame side up.
- Air fryer version: spray with oil and air fry at 200C for 8 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Crab version: use cooked white crab meat in place of prawns.
Making the paste ahead and keeping leftovers
You can make the prawn paste up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate. Spread and fry just before serving. Leftover toast keeps for a day in the fridge but loses its crunch. Reheat in a hot oven for five minutes.
Sweet chilli dip and a dim sum spread
A dip of sweet chilli sauce alongside. As a starter before a Chinese main, or as part of a bigger dim sum spread with siu mai.
Frozen prawns, oil and other questions
Can I use frozen prawns?
Yes. Defrost thoroughly and pat very dry before blending. Excess moisture in the paste makes it slide off the bread.
What oil is best for frying prawn toast?
A neutral, high-smoke-point oil: sunflower, vegetable or groundnut. Not olive oil, as it smokes too early and adds the wrong flavour.
Can I freeze prawn toast?
Freeze before frying. Lay the uncooked, sesame-coated toast on a tray, freeze solid, then bag up. Fry from frozen, adding an extra minute each side.
