Shrimp Toast Appetizer
Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite occasions to celebrate with food, drinks, and, of course, love! Every year, I whip up a heart-shaped pizza, but I also love serving indulgent appetizers. This year, I decided to switch things up and make Heart Shaped Shrimp Toast!
These golden, sesame-covered bites are rich, flavorful, and perfect for a festive Valentine’s Day snack.
What makes this recipe even better is how simple it is to prepare. The food processor does all the work for you—no fancy knife skills required!
From there, all you need is a heart-shaped cookie cutter to turn these savory treats into a festive masterpiece. So, pop that bottle of champagne and let’s create something special for Valentine’s Day.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Heart Shaped Shrimp Toasts are a Valentine’s Day game-changer for several reasons:
- Perfect for Celebrations: Their adorable heart shape makes them ideal for a romantic holiday or any special occasion.
- Simple Preparation: The food processor handles most of the work, making this recipe easier than it looks.
- Customizable Flavor: You can adjust the spice level with a touch of Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce.
- Make-Ahead Option: Assemble and freeze the toasts ahead of time, so you can relax and enjoy your day.
Ingredients That Pack a Punch
This recipe is bursting with bold flavors, from the shrimp and sesame oil to the fresh ginger and scallions. Here’s a quick rundown of the main components:
- Shrimp: Fresh or frozen shrimp work great here, providing a rich, savory base for the paste.
- Aromatic Additions: Grated ginger, scallions, garlic, and cilantro add layers of flavor.
- Sesame Seeds: These not only look beautiful but give the toast a nutty crunch.
- Potato Bread: The secret ingredient! It puffs up beautifully when fried, creating the perfect bite.
Don’t forget the sweet-and-sour dipping sauce! Spice it up with a touch of Sriracha for a flavor boost.
How to Make Heart Shaped Shrimp Toast
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients
Gather everything you need and chop your shrimp, ginger, scallions, garlic, cilantro, and water chestnuts.
Toss it all into your food processor along with the egg white, soy sauce, sesame oil, Chinese cooking wine, cornstarch, and Sriracha (if you like heat). Pulse until you have a smooth paste.
Step 2: Prepare the Bread
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out pieces from slices of potato bread. Save the crusts to use as breadcrumbs later!
Spread a generous layer of shrimp paste on each heart and press the paste side into a plate of sesame seeds until fully coated.
Step 3: Fry to Perfection
Heat oil in a wok or deep-sided pan over medium heat. Use the wooden toothpick trick: dip the end into the oil, and if tiny bubbles form, you’re good to go.
Fry each shrimp toast paste-side down for about 2 minutes, flip, and cook for 1 more minute. Drain on paper towels.
Pro Tips for Success
- Heart Shapes vs. Triangles: Don’t feel pressured to stick to hearts—triangles are a great alternative for everyday snacking!
- Oil Temperature Matters: Keep your oil at medium heat to ensure even cooking.
- Freeze for Later: Assemble the shrimp toasts and freeze them on a baking sheet. Cook straight from frozen for an easy appetizer on Valentine’s Day.
Conclusion
These Heart Shaped Shrimp Toasts are the perfect indulgence for Valentine’s Day or any occasion when you want to serve something unique and delicious.
Whether you enjoy them fresh or prepare them ahead, they’ll wow your loved ones with their flavor and charm. So, pour yourself a glass of bubbly, fry up these savory bites, and celebrate love with every delicious bite. You deserve it!
Heart Shaped Shrimp Toast
Equipment
- 1 Deep Pan or Wok
- 1 Wooden Chop Stick To Check Oil Readiness
- 1 Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1/2 LB Large Shrimp Chopped 9-10 of 16-20 count Shrimp
- 2 TB Chopped Ginger
- 4 Scallions Chopped
- 2 LG Cloves of Garlic Chopped
- 1/3 Cup Water Chestnuts Chopped
- 1/4 Cup Cilantro Chopped
- 1 Lg Egg White
- 2 Tsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tsp Chinese Cooking Wine
- 2 Tsp Corn Starch
- 1 TB Sriracha Sauce if you like a bit of spice Optional
- 8 Slices Potato Bread or Regular White Bread Potato Bread Fluffs up more when frying and would recommend using it
- 1/4 Cup Sesame Seeds – Add more if needed
- 1/2 Cup Avocado or Light Cooking Oil to Fry
- 1 Jar Sweet & Sour Sauce Add a TB of Sriracha or Chinese Hot Mustard to spice up if desired
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except seeds and bread to a Food Processor
- Pulse 6-8 times then scrape down the sides and Mix for 30 seconds
- Cut off the crust of 8 slices of Potato Bread
- Using heart shaped cookie cutter cut out 24-30 heart shapes saving the extra bread for bread crumbs in the future
- If not using the cookie cutter just top the bread with a couple TB per slice- generously topping each slice with the mixture then sprinkle with the seeds
- If making heart shapes cover each one generously in the mixture then dip in the sesame seeds covering the paste completely
- Heat Oil on medium heat for about 10 minutes- Insert wooden toothpick in the middle of the pan and if tiny bubbles form around your oil is ready!
- Place breads shrimp side down in hot oil and fry for 2 minutes then flip and fry for an additional 1 minutes – if they are getting too dark your oil is too hot
- Drain on paper towel and serve with Sweet and Sour Sauce
