Name: Chef John's Shrimp Toast
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Raw shrimp, peeled and deveined - ½ pound; Diced water chestnuts - ¼ cup; Chopped cilantro leaves - ¼ cup; Finely sliced green onions, plus more for garnish if desired - ½ cup; Garlic cloves, crushed - 3; Finely grated ginger root - 1 tablespoon; Anchovy filet - 1; Toasted sesame oil - 1 teaspoon; Asian fish sauce - 1 teaspoon; Soy sauce, or more to taste - 1 tablespoon; Egg white - 1; White sugar - ½ teaspoon; Paprika - ½ teaspoon; Cayenne pepper - 1 pinch; Salt - 1 pinch; White bread - 4 thick slices; Sesame seeds - 1 teaspoon; Vegetable oil for frying, or as needed - 1 cup

Ingredients for - Chef John's Shrimp Toast

1. Raw shrimp, peeled and deveined ½ pound

2. Diced water chestnuts ¼ cup

3. Chopped cilantro leaves ¼ cup

4. Finely sliced green onions, plus more for garnish if desired ½ cup

5. Garlic cloves, crushed 3

6. Finely grated ginger root 1 tablespoon

7. Anchovy filet 1

8. Toasted sesame oil 1 teaspoon

9. Asian fish sauce 1 teaspoon

10. Soy sauce, or more to taste 1 tablespoon

11. Egg white 1

12. White sugar ½ teaspoon

13. Paprika ½ teaspoon

14. Cayenne pepper 1 pinch

15. Salt 1 pinch

16. White bread 4 thick slices

17. Sesame seeds 1 teaspoon

18. Vegetable oil for frying, or as needed 1 cup

How to cook deliciously - Chef John's Shrimp Toast

1 . Stage

Place shrimp, water chestnuts, cilantro leaves, green onions, garlic, grated ginger, anchovy filet, sesame oil, fish sauce, soy sauce, egg white, sugar, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse several times; scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue to process until mixture is well blended and reaches a paste consistency, 1 or 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a bowl; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to blend the flavors, about 1 hour.

2 . Stage

Very lightly toast bread slices. Trim crusts from bread. Spread shrimp paste onto bread in an equal thickness as the bread. Cut slices in half and then diagonally into diamond shapes. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

3 . Stage

Place a heavy skillet over medium-high heat; pour in about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil. When oil is hot, add bread slices, paste-side down, and fry until crispy, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve hot or warm garnished with additional sliced green onions. Chef John