21 December 2023 , 12:00
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Nothing kicks off the Christmas Day feast quite like a zesty prawn cocktail starter, which has been a festive staple since the Sixties - but many Brits are overcomplicating the crowd-pleasing dish.
In fact, a recent poll by Rodda’s revealed that the famous cocktail is the ultimate starter amongst Brits, followed by steak and chips with peppercorn sauce and an apple crumble. It boasts a light freshness which is a welcomed relief amidst the indulgent Christmas stodge.
Fortunately, professional chef Aaron Middleton, from the Cooking Academy, has shared his “super simple” prawn cocktail recipe on TikTok - and it only requires a handful of kitchen essentials. The food expert, who regularly shares cooking hacks online, opened up the video with footage of the juicy prawns, which were perfectly placed on a bed of lettuce and coated in the classic pink dressing. He then shared his easy recipe, which you can find below.
Ingredients
- 60g Mayonnaise
- 40g Ketchup
- 5g Tabasco sauce
- 5g Worcestershire sauce
- Two lemons
- 5g Smoked paprika
- Flaked sea salt and cracked pepper
- 50 Cognac
- 400g Cleaned raw prawns
- Selection of soft herbs
- One Romaine lettuce
- Olive oil
Kitchen equipment
- Bowl
- Grater
- Spoon
- Non stick medium-sized pan
- Knife
- Chopping board
Method
- To start making the classic starter, simply mix together in a bowl the mayonnaise, ketchup, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, zest and juice from one lemon, most of the paprika, a flicker of salt and pepper, and herbs.
- In a separate bowl, mix the prawns, zest from the other lemon, salt and pepper, Cognac and a splash of olive oil.
- Place your pan on the hob and get it "very hot" before adding in the prawn mixture. Safely and with a responsible adult, ignite the contents with a lighter and burn until the flames have stopped and the liquid is reduced. Pour this onto a tray and set aside.
- On a chopping board, slice in half the lettuce and segment the lemons.
- Serve the lettuce on a plate, and cover with the prawns, sauce and lemon.
Rushing to the comments section, one avid follower gushed: "That looks amazing, definitely trying that for Xmas day." Another penned: "That is absolutely awesome!" While a third shared: "Please bring out a recipe book with all these recipes! Would be a best seller for sure!!"