Prawn toast is normally shallow fried in a lot of oil, which is exactly why nobody makes it at home. Air frying it works well as long as you brush the bread with a little oil, because the sesame seeds need fat to toast rather than just dry out.
Everything you need
- 250 g raw prawns, peeled
- 4 slices white bread, slightly stale
- ⅓ cup (48 g) sesame seeds
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 spring onions
- 1 egg white
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil, for brushing
Single layer, always. Crowding the basket steams food instead of crisping it. Tap any ingredient to open its converter.
Method
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Blitz the prawns, garlic, spring onions, egg white, cornstarch, soy and sesame oil into a coarse paste. Leave some texture, since a completely smooth paste turns rubbery.
For this step
- 250 g raw prawns
- ⅓ cup (48 g) sesame seeds
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 spring onions
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp sesame oil
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Spread the paste thickly over the bread, right to the edges, in an even layer about 5 mm deep.
For this step
- 4 slices white bread
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Press each slice paste-side down into the sesame seeds so they stick in a solid crust, then cut into four triangles.
For this step
- ⅓ cup (48 g) sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil
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Brush the bread side generously with oil and lay the triangles paste side up in the basket, not overlapping.
For this step
- 4 slices white bread
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Air fry at 190°C / 375°F for 6 minutes, then flip and cook 3 to 4 minutes more until the sesame crust is deep golden.
For this step
- ⅓ cup (48 g) sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil
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Drain briefly on a rack and serve hot with sweet chilli sauce.
For this step
- 2 tsp soy sauce
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Air fryer notes
- Cook at 190°C / 375°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
Cook's tips
- Slightly stale bread is better than fresh. Fresh bread is soft and soaks up the prawn moisture, going soggy underneath.
- Spread the paste to the very edges. Bare corners burn while the middle is still cooking.
Make it your own
- Add a teaspoon of grated ginger and a pinch of white pepper to the paste, which is the classic seasoning.
- Use minced chicken thigh instead of prawns, adding 2 extra minutes of cooking.
Storing & reheating
Best within the hour. Keeps for a day in the fridge and re-crisps at 190°C for 3 minutes. Freeze uncooked triangles for 2 months.
Frequently asked
How many grams is a cup of sesame seeds?
About 144 g per US cup, so the ⅓ cup here is roughly 48 g. You need more than you think, since the seeds must fully cover the surface.
Do I need to flip prawn toast?
Yes. The bread side needs direct heat to crisp, and without flipping it stays pale and slightly doughy underneath.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
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A note on cooking safely. Recipes are provided for informational purposes only and are not medical or nutritional advice. Cooking times, temperatures and quantities are suggestions: use your own judgement, and check that meat, poultry, fish and eggs are properly cooked before serving.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements.