A prawn cocktail is the perfect appetizer any time of the year. Refreshing, crisp, and so savory. A must-try!
It is the perfect start to dinner, brunch, or just because. Once you try it, you will find ways to make it repeatedly. Enjoy it with a glass of refreshing Champagne Cocktail for the perfect evening starter.
I have been making this recipe since the early 2000s, and even though it has seen some modifications throughout the years, the base is the same, and it is always a perfect hit with friends and family each time I prepare it.
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Our ever-present appetizer during the holiday season, New Year’s Eve, is a must but also perfect all year round due to the ingredients’ crispiness and freshness.
The prawns are center stage, but the kiwi in this salad lends a sweetness against the spice of the tabasco.
Serve them inside beautiful classic champagne coupes for nostalgia and fun.
In this Article
- Subscribe to Giangi's Kitchen!
- Why you will love this recipe
- Ingredients needed to make this recipe of Prawns Cocktail with Kiwi
- Equipment Needed
- How to julienne salad
- Step by step on how to make these delicious Prawn Cocktail recipe
- Pro Tips
- What dishes can you enjoy with this prawn cocktail recipe?
- Variations and Substitutions
- Storing
- Frequently Asked Questions
- If you enjoy this prawn cocktail recipe, you may want to try my other recipes.
- Prawn Cocktail
Why you will love this recipe
It can be made ahead of time – perfect for relieving last-minute stress.
Delicious – impress your guest with a fantastic dinner starter.
Simple ingredients – most of the ingredients are pantry staples, which makes for a perfect last-minute quick run to the store for the prawns if you do not have them on hand. I always have a few in my freezer, you never know when you need them.
Ingredients needed to make this recipe of Prawns Cocktail with Kiwi
This is a short introduction. The ingredient list is also brief. It includes essential items that you may already have in your pantry. Please read the recipe for complete instructions.
Prawns – already cooked and shelled. Large shrimp can be used instead. Slice them into bite-size chunks.
Vodka – This recipe will also work well with white rum and gin. Use whichever you have on hand.
Mayonnaise – gives all the flavors a great flavor and creates a creamy sauce.
Creme fraiche or sour creme – brings a velvety layer of texture to your prawn mixture.
Chives – give it that wonderful oniony flavor, but it is not overwhelming. I strongly recommend fresh as they will enhance the flavor versus the dry kind.
Tabasco sauce– adds a kick to your appetizer.
Butter Lettuce – creates the perfect bed for your prawn cocktail bed. Slice them in julienne, see below for instructions.
Kiwis – same size and perfectly ripe make for an outstanding balance with the vodka and the Tabasco. Peel it and slice it thinly.
Lemon – seafood’s best friend and uplifts all the flavors in this dish.
Ripe Avocado – Rich in flavor and blends so well with all the flavors. Cut it into small cubes.
Equipment Needed
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How to julienne salad
Wash and dry the lettuce leaves. Stack them one on top of the other and roll them together. On a cutting board, slice the lettuce roll in fine slices.
Step by step on how to make these delicious Prawn Cocktail recipe
With all my recipes, please assemble all the ingredients before starting cooking and baking.
Marinating your prawns
- Start by slicing your cooked prawns into bite-size chunks and marinade with the vodka for 20 minutes in the refrigerator.
Preparing the cream mixture
- Meanwhile, mix the mayonnaise, creme fraiche or sour cream, fresh, finely chopped chives, and tabasco.
- Gently add the marinated prawns and the avocado cubes to the cream mixture.
This step is optional: I do like to add the remaining vodka to my cream mixture. I suggest you try either way and see which one is your preference.
Assembling your prawn cocktail
- Wash the lettuce and julienne them.
- Peel and slice the kiwis.
- In four glasses with an open mouth, place a layer of lettuce, one layer of the prawn-cream mixture, and top it off with a thin layer of lettuce.
- Place the sliced kiwis around the prawns, touching the outer edge of your glass.
- Sprinkle a dash of lemon juice over them and keep them in the refrigerator until time to serve.
- Serve with additional lemon wedges.
Pro Tips
- I let the fish marinate in the vodka for the adults.
- For the little ones, I let it marinate in lemon juice instead.
- I do like to add the remaining vodka to my cream mixture. I suggest you try either way and see which one is your preference.
What dishes can you enjoy with this prawn cocktail recipe?
If you want to have this as a dinner starter, it can be the opener to Salmon with Basil Mushroom Sauce.
Variations and Substitutions
Try this version of the recipe first, and on your next try you can make some small changes.
- Vodka can be substituted with a white rum or with a good gin.
- Large shrimps can substitute the prawns.
- King prawns can be used as well and they will bring an extraordinary richness of flavor to it.
- Worcestershire sauce for the Tabasco sauce
- If you cannot find butter lettuce, a little gem lettuce would work. Just slice them thinly as you would the butter lettuce.
- A pinch of black pepper can be added to your mixture.
Serve it with lemon wedges as an option.
I would not suggest adding cucumber or gherkins as they are watery and will make this dish too watery and not as pleasant to eat.
Storing
Make ahead: The filling, minus the squeeze of lemon juice and the butter lettuce, can be prepared ahead of time, even a day ahead. When you have it, you can prepare the cocktail into the glasses and squeeze the lemon juice right before serving.
Store: Place any leftovers in the refrigerator; you may want to toss any seasoned butter lettuce as it will wilt and will not be at its best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we use dry chives instead of fresh ones?
No, even though they will sit with liquid, they will not fully release the delightful flavor of the fresh, and I have discovered that sometimes the dry chives do not fully rehydrate.
Why use a prawn cocktail called a cocktail?
Similar to alcoholic cocktails, because it is served in a glass, it gets its name. The term cocktail encompasses a variety of dishes and seafood preparations that are served in a glass, therefore being referred to as “cocktail.”
Can Jews eat prawn cocktails?
According to the Jewish law of kashrut, shrimp is not kosher and, therefore, cannot be eaten. However, followers of the non-Kashrut laws enjoy eating shrimp.
If you enjoy this prawn cocktail recipe, you may want to try my other recipes.
Prawn Cocktail
Ingredients
- ½ pound prawns, already cooked and sliced into bite size chunks
- 3 tablespoons vodka
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon creme fraiche or sour creme
- ½ teaspoon fresh chives, chopped
- ½ teaspoon tabasco sauce
- 6 butter lettuce, finely sliced in julienne
- 2 kiwis, peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 avocado, cut in to small cubes
Instructions
- Marinate the prawns in the vodka, (rum or gin) for 20 minutes.
- Mix together the mayonnaise with the crème fraiche, the fresh chives and Tabasco. Gently incorporate the marinated prawns and the avocado cubes.
- Wash and dry the lettuce leaves. Stack them one in top of the other and roll them together. On a cutting board sliced the lettuce roll in fine slices.
- In 4 glasses, put one layer of lettuce, one layer of prawns mayonnaise mixture, and one layer of lettuce. Place the thinly sliced kiwis around the lettuce mayonnaise mixture. Sprinkle with the lemon juice and keep in the refrigerator until it is time to serve.
Notes
Pro Tips
- I let the fish marinate in the vodka for the adults.
- For the little ones, I let it marinate in lemon juice instead.
- I do like to add the remaining vodka to my cream mixture. I suggest you try either way and see which one is your preference.
Nutrition
Giangi’s Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.
- Course: Appetizers, Fish, Dinners
- Cuisine: French
- Occasion: New Year
- Type: Under 45 minutes
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