Here’s a classic prawn cocktail 🦐🥂 — elegant, quick, and timeless.
🦐 Classic Prawn Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) cooked prawns/shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 1 cup shredded lettuce (iceberg or romaine)
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Marie Rose (Cocktail) Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp hot sauce (optional)
- Salt & white pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Make the sauce
Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, Worcestershire, hot sauce, salt, and pepper until smooth. Chill 15 minutes. - Prep prawns
Pat prawns dry and lightly season with a squeeze of lemon. - Assemble
Place lettuce in cocktail glasses or bowls.
Top with prawns and spoon sauce over the top. - Serve
Garnish with lemon wedges (and parsley if you like). Serve chilled.
Tips for Best Prawn Cocktail
- Use cold, well-drained prawns
- Chill the sauce for best flavor
- Iceberg lettuce gives the classic crunch
Variations
- British pub style: Add a splash of brandy to the sauce
- Avocado prawn cocktail: Add sliced avocado
- Spicy: Add more hot sauce or cayenne
- Modern version: Serve in lettuce cups or martini glasses
If you want, I can share a retro 1970s version, a lighter yogurt-based sauce, or a party platter presentation 🦐✨