Prawn Toast in the Air Fryer
Takeaway prawn toast is fried in a lot of oil, which makes it greasy and awkward to make at home. Prawn toast air fryer style is crisp and golden in about 7 minutes with only a light spray of oil. Here is a homemade version with a sesame crust, plus timings for frozen and shop-bought prawn toast.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 22min
- Prep
- 15min
- Servings
- 4
- Core temp
- 63°C
- Per serving
- 170kcal
Why the air fryer works for prawn toast
Prawn toast air fryer recipes keep the best part of the takeaway version, which is the crisp bread and crunchy sesame, and drop the pan of hot oil. Deep-fried prawn toast soaks up fat. In the air fryer the dry heat toasts the bread and sets the prawn paste, so the finished triangles are crisp but lighter, and the kitchen does not smell of frying.
The air fryer does a good job because the pieces are thin and flat, so a small basket cooks them evenly in under 8 minutes. The one hurdle is that the light bread can blow around, so a liner or trivet helps. Cook in two batches, as a 4–6 litre basket holds about 8 triangles in a single layer. For whole prawns, see prawns in the air fryer.
How to make prawn toast in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Make the paste Pat the prawns dry and blitz them in a food processor with the egg white, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, cornflour and sesame oil until you have a coarse paste. Stir in the spring onions.
- Spread and coat Cut each slice of bread into four triangles. Spread a thin layer of prawn paste, about 5 mm thick, on one side of each triangle, right to the edges. Press the paste side into the sesame seeds.
- Preheat Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C for . Brush the basket with a little oil, or lay a perforated liner in it together with the triangles, never loose during preheating, because the bread sticks.
- Cook Place the triangles paste side up in a single layer, in two batches if needed. Spray lightly with oil. Cook for until the toast is crisp and the sesame seeds are golden.
- Check The prawns must be cooked until opaque and pink. A thermometer in the thickest part of the paste should read at least 63 °C, which is common kitchen practice for prawns. Serve hot with the sweet chilli sauce.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Prawn Toast | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade prawn toastPaste side up | 180 °C | 6–8 min |
| Frozen prawn toastFrom frozen | 180 °C | 6–8 min |
| Shop-bought chilled prawn toast | 180 °C | 4–5 min |
| Reheating prawn toast | 160 °C | 2–3 min |
| Mini prawn toast bites | 180 °C | 4–5 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size of the food and the power of your air fryer. Cooked when the centre reaches 63 °C. See also cooking times and temperatures for all dishes.
Tips
- Use day-old bread. It is drier and crisps better than a fresh soft slice.
- Keep the paste thin. A thick layer stays raw in the middle while the bread browns.
- Dry the prawns well. Water in the paste makes the toast soggy.
Serving
Serve the triangles hot with sweet chilli sauce as a starter or part of a takeaway-style spread with spring rolls and prawn crackers. Prawn toast in air fryer batches can be kept warm in a low oven while the second batch cooks. A small salad of cucumber and spring onion cuts through the richness.
Storing and reheating
Cooked prawn toast keeps for up to 1 day in the fridge. Reheat it in the air fryer at 160 °C for 2–3 minutes until it is crisp and steaming hot all the way through (75 °C). Uncooked, assembled triangles can be frozen on a tray, then stored in a bag for 1 month and cooked from frozen.
Variations
- Chicken or pork topping: Replace half the prawns with minced chicken for a milder, cheaper spread. Cook to 75 °C in the centre.
- Chilli prawn toast: Add 1 finely chopped red chilli to the paste.
- Mini bites: Cut each slice into nine small squares for party food, and cook for 4–5 minutes.
Troubleshooting
- The sesame seeds fall off
- Press them firmly into the paste, and spread the paste right to the edges. Do not shake the basket; lift the pieces out gently.
- The toast is soggy
- The bread was too fresh or the paste too thick. Use day-old bread, spread no more than 5 mm of paste and do not crowd the basket.
- The toast lifts and blows around
- The light bread moves in the fan. Use a perforated liner or a trivet to weigh the corners down.
Frequently asked questions
How long does prawn toast take in an air fryer?
Homemade prawn toast takes 6–8 minutes at 180 °C. Shop-bought frozen prawn toast takes 6–8 minutes at 180 °C too, but check the pack.
Can you cook frozen prawn toast in an air fryer?
Yes. Cook it straight from frozen, in a single layer, for 6–8 minutes at 180 °C. Make sure it is steaming hot all the way through (75 °C).
How do you reheat prawn toast in an air fryer?
Heat cooked prawn toast at 160 °C for 2–3 minutes, until steaming hot (75 °C) and crisp again. It does not need oil.
Do I need to turn prawn toast in the air fryer?
No. Cook it paste side up so the topping stays on, and the bread underneath crisps in the circulating air.
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