I know it is old school. But I love a prawn cocktail! Super easy and you can make in advance for a group and it is always a hit. With a few Zsa Zsa tricks you can make simple into special!

What you will need (give or take)

Frozen cooked prawns. Defrost them in a sieve, over a bowl covered, over night. You are going to need around a handful per person. This all totally depends on if it is a starter or a main.

You are going to hate me for this, but drop a few $ and get at least 1 uncooked Australian prawn per person. It does make it more special.

Black and Red Caviar…… not required, but pretty and delicious!

Lemon wedges for squeezing if you want to. Or just as a garnish. You could use anything really.

Baby cos lettuce leaves to use as cups, these need to be cold and crisp. 1 per person for an entree, more for a main.

Whipped avocado (you can buy this) or squashed avocado or slices if you fancy.

Rose Marie Sauce

Good quality mayo and tomato ketchup. Don’t go down the ‘light’ or ‘low sugar’ road. Please! You are only compromising flavour. I admit this is not an everyday food…. but if you are going to do it right, do it right right baby! Some lemon juice, some kaitaia fire or tabasco. Start with 2 TB of mayo. Add 1 TB ketchup. Mix. Add some lemon juice. Taste. Add more of all to make up how much you will need for your prawns. Taste. It should be a blushing bride pink. Add some hot sauce. Taste. Adjust to suit your flavour. It should be rich, but balanced with a wee ‘hello’.

Once you are happy with your sauce and your frozen prawns are defrosted and most of the water drained, you can mix them together and store them in the fridge till you are ready.

AU Prawns (Raw and Defrosted)

These are so delicious and so worth the $. In a bowl, toss prawns with some olive oil, lashings of salt and pepper and some garlic. Heat a skillet or BBQ pan or something that you have that gets really hot. Spray said hot pan lightly (it should be at smoking point), quickly drop in the prawns and add a dollop of butter. It will sizzle and spit and carry on, so stand back for a second. When it calms itself down (30 seconds or so) turn the heat down to about half and start flipping them. We want the outside crispy and the inside soft. When they are pink take them out and let them cool. They will still keep cooking after you take them off the heat, so urr on the side of under. No one likes an over done chewy prawn. Oh and turn the fire alarm off!

To assemble, put your cos cup down on the plate, tumble in some rose marie prawns, top with some caviar for extra colour and flavour. Add a dollop of your avocado. Pop your fancy crispy AU prawn on the side. Give your rose marie prawns a scatter of paprika or cayenne pepper or hot sauce for prettiness and extra Zsa Zsa.

Everyone will think you are so clever…. all done in advance!

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