Sesame Toasts Recipes

SESAME PRAWN TOAST

Steps:

• Put the prawns, garlic, ginger, egg white, sugar and soy in a food processor and blitz to a paste. Stir in the spring onion. Scrape into a bowl, cover and chill for 30 mins.
• Brush one side of each piece of bread with sesame oil. Spread the prawn mixture on top, taking it right to the edges of the bread. Brush the beaten egg carefully over the top and sides and sprinkle liberally with sesame seeds so they stick all over.
• Heat 2-3cm oil in a sauté pan or deep frying pan until hot, and cook each piece of bread (it's easier to cook one at a time), unspread-side down for 1½ mins, then carefully turn over and cook for 1-2 mins on the prawn side or until the sesame seeds are golden and the prawn paste cooked through. Cut each piece into four triangles. Serve with soy sauce (or a sweet & sour sauce) for dipping, if you like.

NORI-SESAME SHRIMP TOASTS

Steps:

• Make the shrimp paste: Combine the shrimp, egg white, green onion, cornstarch, rice wine, ginger, salt, sesame oil and pepper in the workbowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture is smooth, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides.
• Trim the crusts from the bread. Brush 1 side of 1 of the bread slices with the beaten egg and lightly press the nori sheet over the egg. Place the bread on a cutting board, nori side down, and trim any of the nori that extends past the edge of the bread. Spread about 1/3 of the shrimp paste over the bare side of the bread, mounding it slightly in the center. Sprinkle 1/3 of the black sesame seeds over the shrimp paste. With a chef's knife, cut each slice into 4 triangles. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Pour enough oil into a wok or a high-sided frying pan to come to a depth of 2 inches and heat over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
• Slide 3 or 4 toasts, shrimp side down, into the oil. Cook for about 1 minute, turn over and continue cooking until edges are golden brown, about 1 minute longer. Scoop the toasts from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining shrimp toasts. Serve warm.

SESAME SHRIMP TOASTS

Steps:

• Make the shrimp paste: Process the egg white, ginger, garlic, 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil, the sherry, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon of the brown sugar and several grinds of pepper in a food processor until all the ginger and garlic are pureed. Add the shrimp, and pulse until a thick paste forms. Transfer to a medium bowl, and fold in 2/3 of the scallions, the celery, water chestnuts and sesame seeds. (The shrimp paste can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.)
• Trim the crusts from the bread, and evenly divide the shrimp paste among the slices (about 2 heaping tablespoons each). Spread out into an even layer that completely covers the bread.
• Make the dipping sauce: Whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil and 1 teaspoon brown sugar, the lemon juice and a large pinch of salt in a small bowl.
• Fry the toasts: Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Fill a large, wide skillet with straight sides, with about 1 inch of vegetable oil. Attach a deep-fry thermometer to the skillet, and bring the oil to 375 degrees F over medium heat. Being careful of the hot oil splashing, put 5 to 6 shrimp toasts in the oil shrimp-side down and fry until the shrimp and the edges of the bread are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the pieces, and continue to fry until the bottoms are golden brown, about 1 minute more. (Adjust the heat as needed to maintain the temperature.) Transfer the shrimp toasts to the prepared baking sheet, and dab the tops with a paper towel to absorb some of the excess oil. Sprinkle the toasts all over with the remaining scallions and some sesame seeds and salt. Cut each toast into 4 triangles, and serve hot with the dipping sauce on the side.

SESAME TOASTS WITH POACHED EGGS AND AVOCADO

Steps:

• Halve avocado, remove pit, and scoop flesh into a medium bowl. Add lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mash and stir with a fork until combined and mostly smooth, with some small chunks remaining. Divide avocado mixture among toast slices, spreading evenly. Top avocado with watercress, and drizzle with oil.
• Bring 1 1/2 inches of water to a simmer in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in vinegar. Crack 1 egg into a small bowl. Holding bowl just above surface of water, gently pour egg into skillet. Repeat with remaining 2 eggs. Poach eggs, undisturbed, just until whites are firm and yolks are still runny, about 4 minutes (for firmer yolks, poach 1 to 2 minutes more).
• Carefully remove eggs from water with a slotted spoon, allowing excess water to drain off. Place 1 egg on each watercress-topped toast slice. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.