Classic prawn cocktail
A recipe for classic prawn cocktail served in cocktail glasses.
Servings 4 people
Ingredients
Prawn cocktail
- 300 g good-quality prawns, drained weight
- 1 bunch fresh green asparagus
- 1 large head of romaine, crisp lettuce or similar
- Fresh dill and lemon (optional), to serve
Thousand Island dressing
- 100 ml crème fraîche (18% fat)
- 100 ml good-quality mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp mild chilli powder
- 4 cornichons, finely chopped
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1/2 fresh dill, finely chopped (optional)
- 1/4 lemon, juice only
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Thousand Island dressing
- Mix the ingredients for the dressing, season to taste with salt and pepper and add a pinch of sugar if needed.
- Chill the dressing until ready to serve.
Prawn cocktail
- Finely shred the lettuce.
- Peel the green asparagus into thin ribbons with a vegetable peeler, or slice them thinly with a knife. Put them in iced water for 5 minutes to make them extra crisp, then drain them on a tea towel.
- Rinse and drain the prawns and pat them dry.
- Arrange a good handful of shredded lettuce in the bottom of 4 cocktail glasses.
- Top with the asparagus ribbons, prawns and a generous spoonful of dressing.
- Season with freshly ground pepper, sprinkle with finely chopped dill and serve with a slice of lemon if you like.