Traditional British Prawn Cocktail
A classic British appetizer featuring prawns in a creamy Marie Rose sauce, a delightful twist on the American shrimp cocktail.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Servings: 4 servings
Full Ingredient List
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp. ketchup
- 20 large cooked prawns, deveined, peeled but with tail on
- 8 small butter lettuce or romaine lettuce leaves
- 1 avocado, pitted, peeled and cubed
- 4 slices of buttered whole wheat bread, quartered
- lemon wedges for garnish
- 1 tsp. lemon juice (optional)
- 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1/4 tsp. hot sauce, like Tabasco (optional)
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- Pinch of salt
Prawn Cocktail
Tools and Equipment
- small bowl
- serving bowls or glasses
- spoon
Ingredients
| Quantity | Name | Preparation Notes | Substitutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 cup | mayonnaise | Greek yogurt | |
| 1 Tbsp. | ketchup | ||
| 20 | cooked prawns (large, peeled, de-veined, tails on) | Use already cooked prawns for convenience. | shrimp |
| 8 small leaves | butter lettuce or romaine lettuce leaves | iceberg lettuce | |
| 1 | avocado | Pitted, peeled, and cubed. | sliced cucumber |
| 4 slices, quartered | buttered whole wheat bread | ||
| for garnish | lemon wedges | ||
| 1 tsp. (optional) | lemon juice | lime juice | |
| 1/2 tsp. (optional) | Worcestershire sauce | ||
| 1/4 tsp. (optional) | hot sauce | Use a tabasco-style sauce. | |
| Pinch (optional) | cayenne pepper | ||
| Pinch | salt | ||
| Pinch (optional) | cayenne pepper |
Instructions
- Step 1: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, and a pinch of salt. Stir until well mixed. (Tips: Taste the sauce as you go to adjust seasoning.)
- Step 2: Add lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and cayenne pepper to the mixture if desired, and stir to combine. (Tips: Adjust the amount of spice to your preference.)
- Step 3: Place two lettuce leaves in each of four small serving bowls or cocktail glasses. (Tips: Lettuce acts as a bed for the prawns, adding crunch and freshness.)
- Step 4: Divide the cubed avocado equally among the four servings, placing it on top of the lettuce leaves. (Tips: Adding avocado is optional but recommended for extra creaminess.)
- Step 5: Drizzle a portion of the prepared sauce over the avocado in each serving bowl. (Tips: Use a spoon or small spatula to evenly distribute the sauce.)
- Step 6: Arrange five prawns around the edge of each bowl with the tails hanging over the edge. (Tips: This makes for a visually appealing presentation.)
- Step 7: Place each serving bowl onto a plate, adding four pieces of buttered bread to each plate. (Tips: Include a lemon wedge on each plate for squeezing over the prawns just before eating.)
Serving Suggestions
Ingredients
| Quantity | Name | Preparation Notes | Substitutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| for garnish | lemon wedges |
Instructions
- Step 1: Garnish each plate with a lemon wedge for optional squeezing over the prawns before eating. (Tips: The fresh lemon juice enhances the flavor of the prawns.)
Additional Information
Notes: This recipe is traditionally served with buttered whole wheat bread and can optionally include avocado for added texture and flavor.