Shrimp toast is a traditional Chinese dim sum offering, but has also become a popular appetizer in the Western world. The addition of crab is more prominent in Korean cuisine, however. Regardless, this easy air fryer shrimp and crab toast recipe brings the best of all worlds!
Typically, shrimp toast is prepared via a deep frying method (though sometimes it is baked). Thanks to the air fryer, you’ll get the same crispy bread and cooked seafood topping with far less oil.
This recipe is easily adaptable to preferences or what you have on hand. Leave off the crab meat for regular shrimp toast, swap in different herbs and alliums, and choose your favorite bread!
You can also prepare the crab and shrimp spread ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Then, spread it on the bread and cook it up. It takes only about 5 minutes to cook, so it’s a fast appetizer!
I love this recipe because it’s actually so simple to make. It’s a great replacement for frozen shrimp toast, which I can no longer get locally since Trader Joe’s discontinued theirs years ago.
Ingredients List
8 ounces raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
8 ounces imitation crab meat
8-10 slices sandwich bread
2 Tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise
1 egg white
2 green onions (white and green parts)
1 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp ginger (minced or paste)
½ tsp sesame oil
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp sambal oelek (optional)
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
Shrimp are interchangeable with prawns here. Make sure to thaw and pat dry if you’re using frozen shrimp
You can use real crab meat instead of imitation if preferred. However, imitation is less expensive and just as commonly used. Alternatively, omit the crab and double the shrimp for just shrimp toast
Any kind of sliced bread is fine. I’m using white sandwich bread but wheat, sourdough, and even sliced baguettes to make Vietnamese-style Banh Mi Nuong Tom Cua work great. The amount of bread you need is largely determined by the slice size and whether you remove the crust
The Kewpie mayo can be swapped for regular mayo
If you don’t like any heat, omit the sambal oelek, which is a garlic chile paste. You can always add spicy mayo as an optional topping later. Feel free to add more if you want a spicier mix!
Garnish with black or white sesame seeds if desired
Cheese variation: Add ½ cup of shredded mozzarella or cheddar or cream cheese to the mix for a cheesy twist!
How to Make Shrimp and Crab Toast in an Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 370°F
Add everything except the bread to a food processor or blender, and pulse until it forms a chunky paste. Special Note: If you don’t have either of those, then you can mince the shrimp, crab meat, and green onions with a knife before combining with the wet ingredients
Remove the crusts from your bread if desired (optional)
Spray one side of the bread with a mist of cooking or oil spray, then place the oil side down
On the non-oiled side, spread the shrimp and crab mixture into an even layer all the way to the edges, approximately ¼” thick (but it doesn’t need to be exact)
Spritz the top of the spread with a little additional oil mist
Place the toast with the shrimp mix face up into your preheated air fryer basket in a single layer
Cook on the air fry setting for 4-5 minutes at 370°F, or until the toast is browned and the shrimp have turned pink
Cut toast diagonally to create triangles
Sprinkle with sesame seeds, paprika, spicy mayo, or additional green onion slices for serving!
Yes, you can cook shrimp or prawn toast in an air fryer. It will toast the bread and cook the raw shrimp paste.
This method requires far less oil than deep frying and produces a crispier result when compared to baking in the oven.
What is Chinese Shrimp Toast Made Of?
Chinese shrimp toast is made of a shrimp paste on white bread that’s coated in a layer of sesame seeds and deep fried.
There are many variations in specific ingredients, especially among Western cultures.
What Do Americans Call Prawn Toast?
Americans call prawn toast shrimp toast.
At the core, they are the same food, but the nomenclature of shrimp is more commonly used in American culture.
How Do You Reheat Shrimp Toast in an Air Fryer?
To reheat shrimp toast in an air fryer, place the cold toast in the air fryer basket. Cook at 350°F for 2-4 minutes, or until the shrimp is warmed through.
The exact time will vary based on the thickness of your shrimp toast and your specific air fryer. For food safety, the USDA recommends that reheated food should be brought to an internal temperature of 165°F.
How Long To Cook Prawn Toast in a Ninja Air Fryer?
Cook prawn toast for 4-5 minutes at 375°F on average in a Ninja air fryer. Note that time can vary slightly between models, and based on the thickness of your toast.
If you have frozen shrimp toast, add 2 extra minutes to account for the colder starting temperature.
Does Trader Joe’s Sell Shrimp Toast?
Trader Joe’s used to sell frozen shrimp toast. However, it was discontinued in 2018, with the company citing low sales as the reason.
It is possible they could bring it back someday, but currently it is not an offering.
How Long to Cook Frozen Prawn Toast in the Air Fryer?
If you have frozen prawn toast, cook it in the air fryer for 5-7 minutes at 370°F – 375°F. You do not need to thaw it ahead of time.
The couple extra minutes is enough to account for the colder starting temperature.
What Country is Shrimp Toast From?
Shrimp toast is usually attributed to Hong Kong. However, there are lots of other variations from Taiwan, Korea, which usually includes crab, and Vietnamese (Banh Mi Nuong Tom Cua) which is served on a baguette.
Americanized shrimp toast is usually served at Dim Sum establishments and is often deep fried.
What Does Shrimp Toast Taste Like?
Shrimp toast has prominent notes of toasted bread shrimp, alliums (like garlic), and umami flavors.
Much depends on the mix of seasonings and specific ingredients added, but you can expect an Asian-inspired seafood salad on toast.
Recipe Pro Tips
You can pulse the shrimp paste as smooth as you like. I prefer it mostly smooth, but you can adjust to your preference
For a more typical Chinese preparation, press the shrimp paste side of the bread into a bowl of sesame seeds before cooking. This will give it a toasted sesame “crust”
I prepared this shrimp toast recipe in my Ninja air fryer, so my times are based on that. Other air fryer brands and models can vary slightly, so adjust by a couple minutes as needed
Storage and Reheating Tips
You can store any leftover shrimp toast wrapped or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
To reheat prawn toast, air fry at 350°F for 2-4 minutes, until warmed through. Times can vary slightly between air fryers and toast thickness
This easy Asian inspired air fryer shrimp and crab toast makes the perfect appetizer! It cooks in only about 5 minutes, and you can get the prep done ahead of time for even more convenient entertaining.
Adjust it any way you like, as this recipe draws inspiration from a number of different cooking styles for this classic dim sum offering. However, the crab and shrimp mixture in this recipe as-is makes it most resemble Korean shrimp toast.
I like to pair my air fryer shrimp toast with a variety of other Asian style appetizers to make my own sampler platter for a fun dinner! However, they’re equally as good when enjoyed on their own (and I highly recommend the sweet chili sauce if you want to dip them)!
This air fryer shrimp and crab toast is an easy and tasty appetizer. Crunchy toast and the creamy, warm shrimp and crab topping are bursting with Asian inspired flavors.
Add everything except the bread to a food processor or blender, and pulse until it forms a chunky paste. Special Note: if you don’t have either of those, then you can mince the shrimp, crab meat, and green onions with a knife before combining with the wet ingredients
8 Ounces raw shrimp (any size), 8 Ounces imitation crab meat, 2 Tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise, 1 Egg white, 2 Green onions, 1 Tsp soy sauce, 1 Tsp ginger, ½ Tsp sesame oil, ½ Tsp garlic powder, ½ Tsp sambal oelek, ½ Tsp salt, ¼ Tsp black pepper
Remove the crusts from your bread if desired (optional)
8-10 Slices sandwich bread
Spray one side of the bread with a mist of cooking or oil spray, then place the oil side down
On the non-oiled side, spread the shrimp and crab mixture into an even layer all the way to the edges, approximately ¼” thick (but it doesn’t need to be exact)
Spritz the top of the spread with a little additional oil mist
Place the toast with the shrimp mix face up into your preheated air fryer basket in a single layer
Cook on the air fry setting for 4-5 minutes at 370°F, or until the toast is browned and the shrimp have turned pink
Cut toast diagonally to create triangles
Sprinkle with sesame seeds, paprika, spicy mayo, or additional green onion slices for serving!
Notes
Shrimp are interchangeable with prawns here. Make sure to thaw and pat dry if you’re using frozen shrimp
You can use real crab meat instead of imitation if preferred. However, imitation is less expensive and just as commonly used. Alternatively, omit the crab and double the shrimp for just shrimp toast
Any kind of sliced bread is fine. I’m using white sandwich bread but wheat, sourdough, and even sliced baguettes work great. The amount of bread you need is largely determined by the slice size and whether you remove the crust
The Kewpie mayo can be swapped for regular mayo if needed
If you don’t like any heat, omit the sambal oelek, which is a garlic chili paste. You can always add spicy mayo as an optional topping later. Or, add more sambal if you want a spicier mix!
Omit the salt if you don’t use low sodium soy sauce
Garnish with black or white sesame seeds if desired
Cheese variation: Add ½ cup of shredded mozzarella or cheddar or cream cheese to the mix for a cheesy twist!
You can pulse the shrimp paste as smooth as you like. I prefer it mostly smooth, but you can adjust to your preference
For a more typical Chinese preparation, press the shrimp paste side of the bread into a bowl of sesame seeds before cooking. This will give it a toasted sesame “crust”
Serving suggestion: pictured with black sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish plus sweet chili sauce for dipping
I prepared this shrimp toast recipe in my Ninja air fryer, so my times are based on that. Other air fryer brands and models can vary slightly, so adjust by a couple minutes as needed
You can store any leftover shrimp toast wrapped or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
To reheat prawn toast, air fry at 350°F for 2-4 minutes, until warmed through. Times can vary slightly between air fryers and toast thickness
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
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I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
