30-Min Crispy Shrimp Toast Recipe

Shrimp Toast is a crispy, savory snack that turns simple sandwich bread into something irresistible. This East-meets-West treat originated in Hong Kong, where chefs adapted Western-style bread with Cantonese shrimp paste, creating a café favorite. It’s commonly served at Hong Kong-style cafés and afternoon tea spots, making it perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying as a flavorful snack at home.

With a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you can make golden, crunchy shrimp toast in about 30 minutes. Serve it with a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce for a snack that’s fun, flavorful, and sure to impress.

Shrimp Toast Recipe

Serves: 12 pieces
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

For the sweet and sour dipping sauce:
1 cup water
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons ketchup
5 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons water

For the shrimp paste:
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 egg whites
½ teaspoon minced ginger
5 tablespoons cilantro stems

For the bread:
6 slices sandwich bread
2 egg yolks, whisked
1 ½ cups breadcrumbs
4 cups cooking oil, for frying (high-smoking-point oil like avocado, grapeseed, or peanut)

Shrimp Toast Instructions

1. Make the dipping sauce:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, rice vinegar, ketchup, sugar, and salt. Bring to a simmer.
• Stir in the cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water).
• Cook until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.

2. Prepare the shrimp paste:

• In a mixing bowl, add the minced shrimp, salt, white pepper, sesame oil, cornstarch, egg whites, ginger, and cilantro stems.
• Mix thoroughly until a smooth paste forms.

3. Assemble the shrimp toast:

• Trim the crusts off the sandwich bread slices. Cut each slice diagonally into two triangles.
• Spread a generous layer of shrimp paste onto one side of each bread triangle.
• Brush both sides of the toast with whisked egg yolk.
• Press both sides into breadcrumbs to coat evenly.

4. Fry the shrimp toast:

• Heat the cooking oil in a deep pan over high heat to 325°F (163°C).
• Carefully add the shrimp toast, shrimp-side down first, and fry for about 2 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
• Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

5. Serve:

• Serve hot with the sweet and sour dipping sauce on the side. Enjoy!

Tips & notes

• Time-saving shortcut: Pulse the shrimp in a food processor instead of mincing by hand.
• Prep ahead: You can prepare the shrimp paste in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 1 day, or assemble the shrimp toast completely and refrigerate it for a few hours before frying.
• Freeze for later: Freeze the shrimp toast in a single layer on a tray. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Fry straight from frozen, adding 1–2 extra minutes per side.
• Air-fryer option: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the shrimp toasts with oil and cook for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and crispy.