Prawn or prawn cocktail, the great Christmas classic

Huma Qurashi By Huma Qurashi

With this seafood recipe, I’ve taken a trip down memory lane, rediscovering a dish that brought me immense joy during my childhood at weddings and various banquets. It’s a nostalgic nod to one of the most iconic Christmas starters.

Enter the legendary seafood cocktail, a dish etched in the memories of those, like me, born in the ’70s and earlier. Despite being considered an “oldie,” I wholeheartedly champion such classics. Allow me to present to you a delightful seafood cocktail that is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

This dish involves pairing various seafood options—be it prawns, shrimp, crayfish, or even lobster for those looking to indulge like royalty—with foundational ingredients such as pineapple, avocado, tomato, and chives. When combined with an incredible cocktail sauce, this medley creates a palate-pleasing experience fit for any private celebration.

Ingredients:

  • 25 prawns or prawns (or replace with prawns, crayfish or lobster…)
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 3 slices of pineapple in syrup
  • 1 chive
  • 20 cherry tomatoes
  • Lettuce
  • 1 lime
  • 2 tbsp. mayonnaise sauce
  • 2 cditas. Worceterchire sauce
  • 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp. ketchup sauce

Prawn or prawn cocktail recipe

  • Boil and Prepare Prawns:

We put water to boil in a saucepan. When it comes to a boil, add the whole prawns and let them cook for 5 minutes. We drain and let it cool. When the prawns are warm, remove the shells and guts. We reserve.

  • Prepare the Base:

In a bowl we add the chopped ingredients. First we add the finely chopped pineapple and onion. Then we add the avocado in pieces and sprinkle with the lime juice.

  • Assemble the Cocktail:
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We stir well so that, especially the avocado, is impregnated with the juice, thus preventing it from oxidizing and blackening, in addition to providing its flavor to the rest of the ingredients. We add the Cherry tomatoes cut into four pieces each and stir well to integrate all the ingredients.

  • Create the Sauce:

Cut the prawns into small pieces, leaving some to decorate the glasses, and add them to the bowl. We mix well. We wash the lettuce leaves and cut them into fine julienne strips.

  • Serve in Style:

We place a bed of lettuce in each of the serving glasses and add the reserved cocktail on top. Prepare the sauce by mixing the mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and mayonnaise in a bowl.

We serve 3 or 4 tablespoons of sauce in each of the glasses on top of the cocktail and decorate each glass with some whole prawns.

Tips for a perfect seafood cocktail

  1. The quantities indicated to prepare the cocktail sauce are a bit of a guideline. The ideal is that we taste the mixture and add more or less of one of the sauces, according to our taste.
  2. In addition to the ingredients that I have used, you can give free rein to your imagination and try whatever you like and think might look good: sweet corn, diced beets or even mushrooms if you want to do something different.
  3. This cocktail looks great with a little chives, parsley or cilantro sprinkled on top of the sauce, it adds color as well as flavor.
  4. I encourage you to visit more recipes for tapas, appetizers and pinchos  perfect for an unforgettable evening with your loved ones.
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Conclusion:

This tropical seafood cocktail is not only a feast for the eyes but also a delightful explosion of flavors. The combination of fresh ingredients and a zesty sauce creates a perfect balance that will leave your guests craving more. Elevate your culinary skills with this easy-to-follow recipe and treat yourself to a taste of the tropics. Enjoy!

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Hi! I'm Huma Qurashi, an international educator and food writer, excited about bringing you traditional Pakistani recipes from across the country.
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