Prawn Cocktail-An Oldie but a Goodie with a Difference-Perfect for Summer

Prawn Cocktails
This can bring shivers to your spine but basically it is still an excellent starter for the summer.
Prawns are so cheap these days. I like to buy what they call prawn meat. They have been topped and tailed, so ready to cook. Just keep a bag in the freezer pull out what you need defrost them, cook them and Bob's your Uncle.  this is not as spectacular as when you use whole gorgeous prawns...but this is not a restaurant. Just a little old home kitchen.
On 'Martin Likes Fish' on Food TV he made this simple sauce, which he devised, to serve with Salmon but I thought it would make a great dressing for any seafood.
My addition was Tabasco, for that extra kick.

I also thought. that I would pull on my memory, of my Mother's lettuce salads.
Remember the sliced lettuce, with the sliced tomatoes and sliced eggs laid on top.
Served with the Condensed Milk Salad Dressing!
A bit boring, but My Mum spiced it up a bit...always added chopped onion, celery, radish, all fresh from the garden to her lettuce.
Seasoned it with salt and pepper (white of course), a little sugar and tossed it all in a little vinegar.
No oil in the 50's.  Closest we had to vinaigrette!
Then she laid the sliced cucumber, sliced tomato and sliced hard boiled egg.
She also served with the Condensed Milk  Dressing, actually I shouldnt be so rude.
It is quite tasty. Mustardy and tangy.
The vinegar really lifted the lettuce,  my Mum's knew how to make food taste good.

So to make The Prawn Cocktail 



You will need some Iceberg lettuce, Baby cos could be good, something crisp
Red onion
Chopped Chives
Ripe tomatoes
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
French Dressing
Lemon
Prawns
Olive oil


Prawn Cocktail Dressing (see below)

Garnish
Tomato. lemon and some Chopped Parsley

So for the base of my Prawn Cocktail
First I marinated some finely sliced red onion in French Dressing, for about 2 hours just to take the sharpness from the onion
I cooked the thawed prawns

Pre-heat the oven to 210C
Toss the prawns in some sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and some lemon zest
Lay on a baking sheet
Into the oven for exactly 6 minutes
Remove from baking sheet straight away and chill for about an hour

Then I made the dressing
Very simple
2 tablespoons of Good Mayonnaise
Juice of 1 large lemon
Good pinch sea salt
2 tablespoons lightly whipped cream
Several drops Tabasco sauce
Lightly fold everything together
Set aside for about an hour for the flavours to meld
Now to assemble

I shredded the lettuce, and added the onion, and some chopped chives

I then cut some sweet little tomatoes into thin wedges and sprinkled on top.

Then I tossed the chilled prawns, in the dressing
Popped on top of the salad
Be generous with the prawns
Just top with some chopped parsley, tomatoes and a little wedge of lemon
Actually the photo doesn't do it justice. I'm afraid. There were at least 10 prawns there.

It was so delicious, I am glad I have revived it for our table.