Hatoshi (shrimp toast)

Hatoshi is a delicious dish, simple to prepare, requires few ingredients, and some are even interchangeable. In this case, we will use shrimp, but it can practically be prepared with other shellfish or fish, resulting in an exquisite dish.

Ingredients

4 slices of white or box bread
250 g of shrimp / prawns
1/2 onion
1 egg white
2 teaspoons of potato starch
1 teaspoon of sake (Japanese liquor)
2 pinches of salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
black pepper to taste
Parsley
oil for frying

Preparation

1. Prepare the shrimp: Peel, devein and wash the shrimp, then cut into small pieces. Divide the pieces into two halves.
   
2. Slice the onion.
   
3. In a food processor, combine half of the sliced shrimp, sliced onion, egg white, potato starch, sake, salt, brown sugar, and ground black pepper, then process to a paste smooth.
   
4. Add the other half of the cut shrimp and process briefly.
   
5. Spread half the batter evenly over one slice of bread, then top with another slice of bread to make a sandwich. Gently press the sandwich together. Repeat with the other half of the pasta and the other two slices of bread.
   
6. Preheat the oil to 160°C. Fry each sandwich for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally, then remove.
   
7. Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally and heat the oil to 180°C. Re-fry the cut sandwiches, then remove and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with parsley and enjoy!
   

Tips

Splitting the cut shrimp in half and then adding them to the food processor in two stages makes for a finished dish with a delicious combination of textures. Frying the sandwiches twice, at two different temperatures, helps ensure the results are crisp and fragrant without being too oily.