Chinese Shrimp Cakes Recipes

CHINESE SHRIMP CAKES

Steps:

• Pat the shrimp dry with a paper towel. Lightly "smash" them with the side of a knife, and coarsely chop them. Be careful not mince the shrimp into pieces that are too small.
• Split a small carrot (about 50 g) in half crosswise and then lengthwise, and blanch the pieces in boiling water for about 2 minutes until lightly softened. Drain and finely dice the blanched carrot.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the coarsely chopped shrimp, finely diced carrot, minced water chestnuts, ¼ cup cilantro, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine, ½ teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper, 2 teaspoons oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, ¼ teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and 1 egg white. Whip everything together for about 5 to 10 minutes in one direction, until the mixture is sticky and all ingredients are well combined. You should be able to gather it into one big smooth ball with a rubber spatula, i.e. it should be sticky and cohesive.
• Now, heat a flat bottomed frying pan over medium high heat (nonstick or cast iron works best), until it starts to smoke lightly. Add 2 tablespoons oil and turn the heat down to medium. Take a large spoonful of the shrimp mixture, and use another spoon to form a ball. You can also do this with oiled hands.
• Drop it into the pan and quickly press it into a disc. (To avoid sticking, you can brush the spoons with oil beforehand.)
• Pan-fry each side for about 3 minutes, until golden brown. Add the last tablespoon of oil if needed during pan-frying.

CHIVE CAKES

Steps:

• For the filling: In a large bowl, combine fresh shrimp, salt, fish sauce, tapioca starch. Set aside. Stir-fry the chives in half of the oil and half of the lard with garlic and water chestnuts until the chives are soft. Place chives on the center of a large piece of cheesecloth, wrap up the cloth, and squeeze the mixture until there is no liquid. Set aside.
• In a small bowl soak the dried shrimp in warm water to cover for about 20 minutes. Drain, discard the liquid, and coarsely chop the shrimp. In a skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm the canola oil and remaining lard until shimmering. Add the dried shrimp and stir until the shrimp turns brown. Remove and set aside. In the same skillet add the fresh shrimp, pepper and green onions and saute until cooked through, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and combine shrimp-both fresh and dried-and chives.
• For the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the starches, bread flour, sugar, salt, and oil. Mix on high speed, slowly adding the hot water until a sticky dough forms, about 5 minutes. Turn the dough out onto your work surface and divide into 10 pieces. Using a small rolling pin, roll out the ball into circles about 1/8 inch thick and 4-5 inches in diameter. Holding the dough in your palm, add about 2-3 tablespoons of the filling in the middle of each circle and pinch the ends together. Lightly pat down to flatten the cake. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
• Set up a steamer and steam the chive cakes until the dough is translucent, about 7-10 minutes.
• Remove the dumplings from the steamer and set aside to cool. Just before serving, coat the bottom of the skillet with oil and pan fry the chive cakes until browned on both sides.
• Serve with both hot Sriracha and soy sauce for dipping.

VIETNAMESE-STYLE CRISPY SHRIMP CAKES

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor, combine shrimp, cornstarch, lemon grass, garlic, chiles, white and light green scallion bottoms, 2 teaspoons sugar and salt. Pulse until mixture forms a coarse paste.
• In a small bowl, whisk together fish sauce, lime zest and juice, 1 tablespoon sugar and the dark green scallion tops.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Wet hands to keep shrimp paste from sticking. Form 2 tablespoons of shrimp mixture into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Dust patty with cornstarch. Repeat with remaining batter. Fry patties in batches until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve over rice noodles, if desired, drizzled with fish sauce mixture and strewn with cilantro.

THAI-INSPIRED SHRIMP CAKES

Steps:

• Smash and mince the shrimp (don't mince too finely, you'll want some slightly larger pieces for texture).
• Dice the carrot lengthwise. Bring a small pot of water to a boil and par-boil the carrot until just barely tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Allow to cool enough to handle, and then mince the carrot.
• Add minced shrimp, carrot, minced water chestnuts, cilantro, egg white, rice wine vinegar, cornstarch, hoisin, sesame oil, ginger, fish sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper to the bowl of an electric stand mixer. With the flat paddle attached, set speed to medium and blend until the mixture really comes together and forms a sticky paste, about 5 minutes.
• Heat cooking oil in a large nonstick skillet. Form small flat patties with lightly oiled spoons or hands and fry in small batches (don't overcrowd the pan). Cook until golden brown and cooked all the way through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Repeat until all of the shrimp mixture has been used. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ASIAN-STYLE CRAB AND SHRIMP CAKES

Steps:

• Blend first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Mix in crabmeat, shrimp and 1/2 cup breadcrumbs. Season with pepper. Place remaining 1 cup breadcrumbs on plate. Drop 1/4 of crab mixture into breadcrumbs; turn to coat. Shape into 2 1/2-inch-diameter cake. Repeat coating and shaping with remaining crab mixture and crumbs, forming total of 4 cakes.
• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add cakes and sauté until crisp, about 5 minutes per side.

ASIAN SHRIMP AND CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Blend first 4 ingredients in medium bowl.
• Mix in crabmeat, shrimp and 1/2 cup breadcrumbs.
• Season with pepper.
• Place remaining 1 cup breadcrumbs on plate.
• Drop 1/4 of crab mixture into breadcrumbs; turn to coat.
• Shape into 2 1/2-inch-diameter cake.
• Repeat coating and shaping with remaining crab mixture and crumbs, forming total of 4 cakes.
• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat.
• Add cakes and sauté until crisp, about 5 minutes per side.

CHINESE SHRIMP PANCAKE

Steps:

• Whip the egg white until stiff.
• Cut the imitation crab meat into little strips lengthwise than.
• Use the back of your knife to"flatten" the shrimp then mince.
• Mix all the ingredients for the panckae until they bind well (you can adjust the consistency with some cornstarch or more egg whites).
• Heat your wok.
• Spray with cooking spray and some peanut oil in the wok (make sure you use enough oil or the pancake won't be crispy! I use about 2 tbsp).
• In the med-high temp wok, put all the pancake mixture into the wok and use the back of a big spoon, flatten the mixture on the wok.
• When you can start to smell the yummy pancake cake, flip and cook the other side until done (I never learn how to just "toss" the pancake, so I slide it on another plate and then flip it).
• Cut the pancake into finger-food size.
• Garnish with more cilantro.
• Mix the sauce and serve!