Easy prawn cocktail

Easy prawn cocktail

Juicy prawns with a classic dressing make this retro favourite the perfect starter. Try our easy prawn cocktail recipe if you’re looking for a starter that’ll impress but take you very little time.

Easy prawn cocktail

  • Serves icon Serves 4
  • Time icon Takes 30 minutes to make

Juicy prawns with a classic dressing make this retro favourite the perfect starter. Try our easy prawn cocktail recipe if you’re looking for a starter that’ll impress but take you very little time.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories
215kcals
Fat
13.8g (2g saturated)
Protein
16.4g
Carbohydrates
2.8g (2.2g sugars)
Fibre
0.6g
Salt
1.7g

Ingredients

  • 2 little gem hearts or 1 little gem lettuce, finely shredded
  • 4-5 tbsp mayonnaise (see recipe)
  • 1-2 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 3-4 shakes Tabasco sauce
  • Splash or two of cognac
  • 2 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced
  • ¼ small cucumber, peeled, deseeded and finely diced
  • 400g cooked, shell-on Atlantic prawns, heads removed, peeled (see Know-how)
  • 4 thin lemon wedges
  • 4 pinches of paprika

For the mayonnaise

  • 2 free-range egg yolks
  • 2 tsp smooth Dijon mustard
  • 300ml sunflower or other neutral oil
  • Juice of ½ large lemon
  • 150ml extra-virgin olive oil (it should be fragrant but not strongly flavoured)

PLEASE NOTE The mayonnaise contains raw eggs

Sticky screen? No thanks! Tap to prevent your screen from going off while cooking.

Method

  1. For the mayonnaise, put the egg yolks into a roomy bowl and mix in the mustard and a little seasoning. Using an electric hand mixer on a slow speed, beat together while very slowly trickling in the sunflower oil. Once the mixture is becoming thick, add a little lemon juice. Continue beating, adding the oil a little more quickly and increasing the beating speed. Once the oil has been used up, add some more lemon juice, then begin incorporating the olive oil until you are happy with the taste (delicious. testers used about 75ml). Beat in a little cold water if the mayonnaise looks too greasy and shiny. Taste and add a final squeeze of lemon juice or seasoning if needed. Spoon into a lidded plastic pot and keep in the fridge until ready to use (see Make Ahead).
  2. Put the shredded lettuce in a small bowl, then cover with cold water and a few cubes of ice (to help crisp the lettuce). Set aside while you make the cocktail sauce.
  3. In another bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, Tabasco and cognac. Mix in the spring onions and cucumber. Set aside.
  4. Drain the lettuce and either spin dry, or put on a tea towel, gently roll it up, then tip out into a bowl. Divide the lettuce among 4 large wineglasses, top with the prawns, then spoon over the cocktail sauce. Garnish the rim of each glass with the lemon wedges and sprinkle the cocktails with a pinch of paprika.

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving
Calories
215kcals
Fat
13.8g (2g saturated)
Protein
16.4g
Carbohydrates
2.8g (2.2g sugars)
Fibre
0.6g
Salt
1.7g

delicious. tips

  1. You can make the mayonnaise in advance (up to 4 days ahead) and keep it in the fridge until needed.

  2. Shell-on Atlantic prawns are fairly small and widely available in fishmongers (look for sustainably sourced ones). If you’d prefer to use king prawns, these are good too, but Atlantic prawns will give you the authentic retro look and their sweetness works perfectly with the Marie Rose sauce.

Buy ingredients online

Subscribe

Fancy getting a copy in print?

Subscribe to our magazine

Rate & review

Rate

Reviews

Share a tip

Or, how about...?

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Prawn recipes

The ultimate prawn cocktail

The British version of the prawn cocktail has been in...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Prawn cocktail recipes

Prawn cocktail rolls

The 1970’s classic is a big hit with kids  –...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Christmas starter recipes

Smoky garlic prawn cocktail

A classic gets a contemporary makeover with our easy smoky...

Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe

Prawn recipes

Langoustines with watercress and pastis hollandaise

The aniseed flavour of pastis added to this creamy, rich...

Subscribe to our magazine

Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.

Subscribe

Unleash your inner chef

Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter

We treat your data with care. See our privacy policy. By signing up, you are agreeing to delicious.’ terms and conditions. Unsubscribe at any time.