Thai Moon Shrimp Pancakes are a popular seafood snack known for their crispy outside and juicy filling. This dish combines fresh shrimp, tender squid, and smooth fish paste together, then wraps the mixture with thin pastry sheets before cooking until golden.
When served with a sweet Thai-style dipping sauce, every bite offers a balanced mix of seafood flavor, crisp texture, and fresh aroma.
Making this dish at home is easier than we may think. With simple preparation and careful cooking, we can create a delicious seafood snack that is perfect for family meals, weekend gatherings, or a relaxing afternoon treat.
- Serving Size: 3 people
- Preparation Time: About 30 minutes
- Cooking Time: About 20 minutes
For the seafood filling:
- Fish paste: 500 grams
- Fresh shrimp: 20 pieces (about 250 grams)
- Fresh squid: 2 small pieces (about 250 grams)
- Garlic: 6 cloves
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Ground pepper: 1 teaspoon
- Cooking oil: 40 grams
For wrapping:
- Thin pastry sheets: 4 to 6 pieces
For serving:
- Thai-style sweet dipping sauce: about 100 grams
First, we prepare all seafood ingredients carefully.
1. Peel the shrimp and remove the dark line from the back.
2. Rinse the shrimp with clean water and dry them with kitchen paper.
3. Cut the shrimp into small pieces. Keeping some small chunks helps create a richer texture.
4. Clean the squid and cut it into small cubes.
5. Peel the garlic and finely chop all 6 cloves.
Preparing the seafood properly helps the filling taste fresher and gives the pancakes a better texture.
1. Prepare a large mixing bowl and add:
- 500 grams fish paste
- Chopped shrimp pieces
- Squid cubes
- 6 cloves chopped garlic
- 40 grams cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
2. Use a spoon or clean hands to mix everything together. Continue mixing until all ingredients are evenly combined and the filling becomes slightly sticky.
3. For a softer and springier texture, gently lift the mixture and press it back into the bowl several times. This step helps the seafood filling become more compact and easier to shape.
4. After mixing, cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Cooling the filling allows it to become firmer and easier to spread onto the pastry sheets.
Take one pastry sheet and place it flat on a clean surface.
1. Add about 150 to 170 grams of seafood filling onto the center of the sheet.
2. Use the back of a spoon to spread the filling evenly.
3. Keep the thickness around 0.5 centimeters for a crispy result.
4. Leave a small amount of filling near the edge to help seal the two pastry sheets together.
5. Cover with another pastry sheet and gently press around the edges.
Repeat the same steps until all filling is used.
With this amount of ingredients, we can make about three medium-sized shrimp pancakes.
Instead of using a large amount of oil, we can cook the pancakes with a simple pan method.
1. Heat a frying pan over low heat.
2. Add a small amount of cooking oil and spread it evenly.
3. Place the shrimp pancake into the pan carefully.
4. Cook for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
5. When both sides become golden, increase the heat slightly for about 30 seconds to make the outside extra crisp.
Cooking slowly helps the seafood filling cook evenly while keeping the pastry layer crunchy.
When the shrimp pancakes are ready:
1. Remove them from the pan.
2. Place them on kitchen paper for a short time to absorb extra oil.
3. Cut them into small pieces or triangle shapes.
4. Arrange them on a plate.
5. Serve with Thai-style sweet dipping sauce.
The crispy pastry, fresh seafood filling, and sweet sauce create a wonderful combination that brings a restaurant-style feeling to our home kitchen.
To make the shrimp pancakes even better, we can follow a few simple tips:
- Use fresh shrimp and squid because they provide a naturally sweet seafood taste.
- Cut some shrimp into small chunks instead of making everything smooth. This creates more texture when we take a bite.
- Chill the filling before wrapping because a cooler mixture is easier to shape.
- Spread the filling evenly so every part of the pancake cooks at the same speed.
- Keep the heat low at the beginning to prevent the outside from becoming too dark before the inside is ready.
Making Thai Moon Shrimp Pancakes at home allows us to enjoy a special seafood dish with simple ingredients. From preparing the fresh seafood filling to creating the golden crispy outer layer, every step brings the joy of cooking closer to us.
Lykkers, have you tried making seafood snacks at home before? We hope this recipe inspires you to prepare your own Thai-style shrimp pancakes and share this delicious moment with family and friends.
CRISPY & TASTY Thai Moon Prawn Cake!!
Video by Lauren's Kitchen