Tomato Shrimp Rice Cracker

Tomato Shrimp Rice Cracker

　　Ingredients:

　　175g large shrimp, 100g rice crackers, 125g tomato sauce, 2g MSG, 50g wet starch, 10g sugar, 4g salt,

　　1 egg white, 10ml rice vinegar, 15ml cooking wine, 1250ml salad oil

　　Preparation:

　　1. Rinse the shrimp in cold water until snow-white, drain, place in a bowl, mix evenly with 2g salt, add egg white, stir with chopsticks until sticky, then add 25g wet starch and mix well to coat. Set aside.

　　2. Use non-burnt rice crackers, scrape off any rice grains, cut into diamond-shaped pieces with 4cm diameter, and bake until crisp.

　　3. When the pan is hot, after oiling, pour in salad oil and heat to about 100°C, then add the shrimp. Stir with chopsticks until they turn ivory white, then remove with a strainer and drain the oil.

　　4. Place the pan over medium heat, add 300ml water, 2g salt, cooking wine, tomato sauce, sugar, and MSG. Once the soup comes to a boil, mix rice vinegar with 25g wet starch to make a thin slurry, pour in to thicken the sauce, then add the shrimp, stir, and transfer to a plate.

　　5. Wash the pan, add salad oil, heat over high heat to about 230°C, pour in the rice crackers, stir with a strainer, fry until golden brown, remove and place in a bowl. Serve immediately with the tomato shrimp sauce on the table, pouring the sauce onto the crackers, which will then make a "sizzling" crackling sound.

　　Features:

　　The shrimp are ivory white and tender, the crackers golden and crispy, the tomato sauce rich red and sweet-sour, making for a vibrant dish. It is one of the 36 renowned Hangzhou dishes recognized by Zhejiang Province in 1956.

　　Tomato Shrimp Rice Cracker is a rising star among Hangzhou dishes. With careful preparation, the specially made glutinous or non-glutinous rice crackers are golden and crispy. The red tomato and white shrimp sauces complement each other, offering a deliciously sweet-sour flavor and rich nutrition that stimulates the appetite. It can be served as both a drinking accompaniment and a light snack.

　　During cooking, use non-glutinous or glutinous rice to make the crackers, fry them until crispy, and serve them in a lotus leaf bowl. The fresh shrimp are thickened with a sauce and cooked, while the tomato sauce is prepared separately and half-filled in another bowl. When serving, pour the tomato shrimp sauce over the crackers. The crackers immediately sizzle and crack upon contact with the sauce, releasing a fragrant aroma—hence the dish is also called “A Thunderclap on Flat Ground.” The finished dish features golden, crispy crackers, snow-white, tender shrimp, and a red, tangy tomato sauce. It can be served as both a drinking accompaniment and a light snack. (Hangzhou)