Prawn crackers are mainly made of ground shrimp or prawns combined with tapioca starch (or tapioca flour). The ground shrimp provides the seafood flavor and umami, while the tapioca starch gives the crackers their light and crispy texture when fried. Additional ingredients commonly include salt, sugar, garlic, egg, water, and sometimes flavor enhancers such as white pepper and MSG. The dough made from these ingredients is dried and then deep-fried to puff up into crunchy prawn crackers.