Vietnamese Sugar Cane Shrimp (Chao Tom)
User Reviews
4.5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
5 mins
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Chilling Time
30 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Calories
202 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Vietnamese
Vietnamese Sugar Cane Shrimp (Chao Tom)
Description
This recipe requires fresh shrimp that are rinsed, deveined, and thoroughly dried. They are blended with garlic, white pepper, and a bit of lard or oil to form a smooth paste. Adding frothy beaten egg white helps bind the mixture and contributes to a tender, airy texture after cooking. Seasonings like salt, sugar, and fish sauce balance the flavors with umami and sweetness.
The shrimp paste is chilled to firm up, then portioned and molded carefully onto peeled, quartered sugar cane sticks. Deep frying the Chao Tom until golden and cooked through produces a crisp exterior and juicy shrimp inside. The sugar cane also acts as a natural skewer and imparts subtle fruity notes.
These shrimp skewers are served immediately while hot, making for a flavorful appetizer or main dish with a distinctive texture from the sugar cane.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds Shrimp smaller shrimp, raw
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 3 fish sauce dashes
- 1 egg beaten until frothy, white
- 2 white pepper powder dashes
- 2 teaspoons lard or cooking oil
- sugar cane skin peeled and quartered into 5-inch length
Instructions
- Rinse and devein the shrimp, then pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels. Place the shrimp, garlic, white pepper, and lard or cooking oil into a food processor and blend until a smooth paste forms. Transfer the shrimp paste to a bowl.
- Beat the egg white with an electric hand mixer until frothy. Combine the shrimp paste with the beaten egg white and mix well. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, then divide the shrimp paste into four equal portions.
- Oil both hands and wrap the shrimp paste around the sugar cane, shaping it nicely while leaving 1.5 inches of the sugar cane exposed. Heat oil in a wok and deep fry the chao tom until golden brown. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 202 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 4people | |
| Calories | 202kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 35g | 70% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Cholesterol | 428mg | 143% |
| Sodium | 1466mg | 61% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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