Air Fryer Sesame Mogo Toasts Vegan

Make these in an air fryer or conventional oven. The results are perfect every time. The vegan sesame toasts crisp up beautifully. As a result, there’s no need to deep fry. They’re the ultimate vegetarian snack to make in an air fryer. I like to butter the base for a super toasty finish without it getting too dry (I use soft vegan butter from a tub or you can use regular butter if you’re not vegan).

So what replaces the shrimp?

I’ve spent ages thinking about what could replace the sticky shrimp that tops the bread before it gets dipped in a sea of creamy-coloured sesame seeds. Mogo (also known as cassava) was the winning answer! The rich texture of mashed mogo (pronounced Muhogo in Swahili to those from East Africa) is the perfect natural glue to capture hundreds of tiny sesame seeds. It has a neutral flavour, therefore, you can spice up the mixture however you like. Cassava is a staple source of carbohydrates, commonly eaten in Africa, India and China, as well as in parts of South America where it is called yuca. Countless Indian restaurants all over the UK serve it up in various delicious ways. Chilli Mogo is a very popular menu item, for example. Note that you can use either fresh or frozen mogo in this recipe.

Popular Mogo Dishes

Chilli MogoTandoori mogoGrilled mogo with chilli powder, lemon juice and salt (Mombasa Lighthouse style)Mogo BhajiyaMogo Crisps (salted or with chilli and lemon)Pili-Pili Mogo

How long does it take to cook mogo?

The mogo will take around 20 minutes to cook with a boil method.Mogo chips will cook in the pressure cooker in around 10 minutes.If you choose to steam the mogo, it will take approximately 20 minutes to cook through.

How to test if mogo is cooked

Does a sharp knife slide in to the thickest part of the chip without resistance? If it does, you’re good to go. If it doesn’t, cook the mogo chips a little longer. Of course, you could always just taste one to check!

How to make vegetarian sesame prawn toast

Use mashed cassava (mogo). For flavour, I go for a bit of an Indo-Chinese mix. Ginger, spring onions, chillies, coriander, lemon juice and soy sauce. You can also add a pinch of garam masala or Chinese 5-spice if you like. Indeed, if you’re not opposed to a pinch of MSG, this also adds bags of flavour.

What type of bread should I use for sesame toast?

Slather white bread (or brown bread if you prefer that) with the spiced mogo mash. Next, press the toast face-down in a sea of sesame seeds so it sticks like glue. Of course, you can use any bread you like, as long as it’s thin or medium thick slices from a loaf. Super chunky rolls might throw the bread:filling:sesame ratio off. The whole process reminds me so much of doing arts and crafts at school!

A healthier take on sesame toast

The beauty of these golden toast triangles is that there’s no need to deep fry like with conventional sesame toast from takeaways and restaurants. I pop them right into the basket of my air fryer for a crispy finish without all the grease. They’re light, buttery and so perfect as a party starter. You can also enjoy them as a snack, with chai, for instance.

What’s are some good Indo-Chinese dishes?

For a vegetarian Indo-Chinese dinner, make these Air Fryer Mogo Toasts alongside Vegetable Manchurian, Chilli Paneer, Vegetable Momos, Garlic Mogo, and Tofu Noodles.

How to make Air-Fryer Sesame Mogo Toasts

How to make Air-Fryer Sesame Mogo Toasts in the oven

Don’t have an air fryer? Cook the toasts in a conventional oven at 200ºC (fan). Just place the slices on an oven-safe wire rack with a baking tray underneath. This ensures the heat circulates around the toast evenly, preventing a soggy base. A vegetarian take on Chinese takeaway-style sesame prawn toast. These are so simple to make and pack bags of flavour!