Aussie Prawn Cocktail

Name: Aussie Prawn Cocktail
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Australian
Ingredients: 1kg cooked king prawns, peeled and deveined (tails on); 1/2 cup whole-egg mayonnaise; 2 tbsp tomato sauce (ketchup); 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce; Juice of 1 lemon; Dash of Tabasco; 1/2 iceberg lettuce, finely shredded; Lemon wedges; Paprika for dusting

Prawn Cocktail (PRAWN KOK-tayl)

Australian Prawn Cocktail

⏱ Prep Time 15 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 192 kcal

Plump Australian king prawns served chilled on a bed of crisp iceberg lettuce with tangy Marie Rose sauce — a retro classic that never left the Australian Christmas table.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 22.0g

Carbs 8.0g

Fat 8.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ shellfish ⚠ eggs

Equipment Needed

large bowl serving glasses or bowls

Presentation Guide

Vessel: glass coupe or martini glass

Garnishes: paprika, lemon wedge, parsley

Accompaniments: crusty bread

Ingredients

1kg cooked king prawns, peeled and deveined (tails on)
1/2 cup whole-egg mayonnaise
2 tbsp tomato sauce (ketchup)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Juice of 1 lemon
Dash of Tabasco
1/2 iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
Lemon wedges
Paprika for dusting

Instructions

1
Mix mayonnaise, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, lemon juice, and Tabasco into a smooth Marie Rose sauce. Chill.
2
Shred iceberg lettuce finely and divide among four serving glasses or bowls.
3
Arrange prawns over the lettuce, reserving a few for the top.
4
Spoon Marie Rose sauce generously over the prawns.
5
Perch reserved prawns on top, dust with paprika, and serve with lemon wedges.

💡

Did You Know?

Australians consume more prawns at Christmas than at any other time — an estimated 45,000 tonnes of prawns are eaten over the festive season, often outdoors in the summer sun.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large bowl
serving glasses or bowls

Garnishing

paprika, lemon wedge, parsley

Accompaniments

crusty bread

The Story Behind Aussie Prawn Cocktail

The prawn cocktail arrived in Australia during the 1960s entertaining boom and became the definitive starter for Christmas lunch, New Year's Eve, and any occasion worth celebrating. While it fell from fashion elsewhere, it never disappeared from the Australian table, and recent retro dining trends have restored it to hip restaurant menus alongside its original home on the Christmas spread.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed christmas lunch starter, summer entertaining 📜 Origins: 1960s

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