Description
Baked Shrimp Toast is a flavorful and crispy appetizer featuring toasted French baguette slices topped with a creamy, seasoned shrimp mixture and melted cheeses. This easy-to-make recipe combines fresh shrimp, cream cheese, Cajun spices, and a blend of Parmesan and Fontina cheeses, baked to golden perfection for a savory bite-sized treat perfect for gatherings or snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 small French baguette, cut into ½-inch thick slices
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Shrimp Mixture
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined, and minced
- ½ small onion, finely chopped
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Kosher salt, to taste
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into small cubes
Toppings
- ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup shaved Fontina cheese
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare it for toasting the bread and baking the shrimp toast later.
- Toast the baguette slices: Arrange the sliced baguette pieces on a baking sheet and brush both sides lightly with olive oil. Toast in the oven for 5–7 minutes until they are slightly golden and crisp. Remove the tray and set aside.
- Prepare the shrimp mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the minced shrimp, finely chopped onion, celery, garlic, Cajun seasoning, cracked black pepper, and salt to taste. Stir well to blend all the flavors evenly.
- Add cream cheese: Incorporate the cream cheese cubes into the shrimp mixture by gently folding them in. This creates a creamy consistency that will hold on the bread slices nicely.
- Assemble on baguette: Spread the creamy shrimp mixture evenly over the toasted baguette slices, ensuring each slice has a generous amount.
- Add cheese toppings: Sprinkle the shaved Parmesan and Fontina cheeses evenly on top of each shrimp-covered slice for a melted, cheesy finish.
- Bake the shrimp toast: Place the assembled toasts back in the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes or until the cheese melts, becomes bubbly, and the shrimp mixture is cooked through.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes for a touch of heat and sliced green onions for freshness. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- For extra crispiness, broil the shrimp toasts for the last 1-2 minutes but watch closely to avoid burning.
- You can substitute cream cheese with mascarpone or ricotta for a different creamy texture.
- If fresh shrimp is not available, defrosted frozen shrimp works well, but ensure they are well-drained before mincing.
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- These toasts are best served immediately after baking to maintain their crisp texture and warm filling.
