This classic prawn cocktail salad is a super quick & easy dish that is always a hit. Perfect for a starter or a light main, when you want to impress! Gluten-free, dairy-free & low carb.
This prawn cocktail recipe is an all-year-round dish, but is always a must during Christmas at home, and for a good reason! It has a beautiful presentation and it's so delicious!
If you're looking for more festive season recipes ideas, try these delicious steamed green beans for a healthy side dish, or this vegan whole roasted cauliflower for another wow-presentation dish. And for a bite-size dessert, these chocolate coconut balls are always a winner!
Jump to:
- Prawn Cocktail salad ingredients
- How to make prawn cocktail salad
- How to cook prawns for prawn cocktail
- Serve on a lettuce leaf instead!
- Substitues
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storage
- Top tips to make the best prawn cocktail salad!!
- FAQ
- More recipes you will love!
- Prawn Cocktail Salad (Classic, Easy Recipe!)
- See what other people think about this recipe!
Prawn Cocktail salad ingredients
All you need to make this classic prawn cocktail salad is...
Marie-Rose sauce
- Mayonnaise (look for one made with olive oil)
- Tomato ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce (GF)
- Cognac (optional but great addition)
- Spicy sauce (like tabasco sauce)
Salad ingredients
- Large cooked prawns (king prawns are ideal)
- Mango diced
- Mini romaine lettuce head
- Lemon wedges or lemon juice, optional, for serving
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make prawn cocktail salad
This prawn cocktail recipe is super easy to make following the next steps:
Whisk all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Adjust the amount of spicy sauce to suit your taste.
Prepare the salad ingredients: chop the lettuce leaves, dice the mango, and cut each prawn in 3-4 pieces.
In a large bowl, combine the homemade marie rose sauce with the prawns and the mango. Don't mix with the lettuce!
In a coupe-style cocktail glass, lay a bed of lettuce and add the mango & prawn mixture on top. Optional to add some chopped parsley on top to decorate.
Hint: when you're mixing the prawns & mango with the sauce, it might look like it's a lot. But bear in mind it will be combined with the lettuce directly on the glass when eating.
How to cook prawns for prawn cocktail
My preference is always to buy the prawns already cooked at the fish store or supermarket. It makes the process easier and they're super tasty!
But if you have the prawns raw, you can cook them at home by boiling them for a couple of minutes in saltwater. The cooking time will depend on the size of the prawns. You want the prawns to have a firm texture. Taste one first, and if it's ready remove from the boiling water, or leave for a minute more if it's still a bit raw.
Serve on a lettuce leaf instead!
This prawn cocktail salad can be served as a canape in a small lettuce leaf, instead of in a cocktail glass!
If you're going for this option, mix the prawns, mango & lettuce with the sauce. And then put on top of a small leaf. You can present all the little leaves on a platter or timber board.
Substitues
- Apple & orange - instead of mango.
- Decorate with chives, dill, or black sesame seeds - instead of parsley.
- Serve as canapes - on top of light crackers. I would recommend using very light crackers with soft flavour, so the hero is still the prawn cocktail.
- Lime wedges - instead of lemon wedges
Variations
- Add-ins: Consider adding cherry tomatoes, finely sliced spring onions, or avocado for extra flavor and texture.
- Spice Level: Adjust the heat by increasing or reducing the spicy sauce, or add prepared horseradish for a different kind of kick.
- Crunch Factor: Add crunchy elements like chopped nuts or crispy fried onions for texture.
Equipment
All you need to make this recipe is...
- Knife & chopping board
- Bowls & spoons
- Glasses to serve (coupe-style or martini glasses)
Storage
Store the leftover ingredients in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The ingredients will last for a day or two longer, but the lettuce and mango will get soggy.
If you're preparing ahead, don't mix with the marie rose sauce until short before serving to preserve the texture of all the ingredients.
Top tips to make the best prawn cocktail salad!!
Cut the prawns in big-ish chunks. You want the prawn to be the main ingredient in each spoonful.
Choose a firm mango. The mango has to be cut in small pieces (approx. 1 cm wide). If the mango is soft it will end up falling apart.
The cognac adds a very distinctive flavour. You can start by adding ¼ tablespoon first, taste the sauce, and add the other half if desired.
FAQ
Mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, cognac and spicy sauce.
More recipes you will love!
Prawn Cocktail Salad (Classic, Easy Recipe!)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer, main
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This classic prawn cocktail salad is a super quick & easy dish that is always a hit. Perfect for a starter or a light main, when you want to impress! Gluten-free, dairy-free & low carb.
Ingredients
Marie Rose sauce
- ¼ cup of mayonnaise (look for one made with olive oil)
- 2,5 teaspoon of tomato ketchup
- ½ tsp of Worcestershire sauce (GF)
- ½ tbsp of cognac (optional but great addition) - see notes
- 5 drops of spicy sauce (like tabasco sauce)
Salad ingredient
- 15 large cooked prawns (like king prawns)
- ¾ cup of mango diced
- 1 mini romaine lettuce head
- Lemon wedges or lemon juice, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Whisk all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Adjust the amount of spicy sauce to suit your taste.
- Prepare the salad ingredients: chop the lettuce leaves, dice the mango, and cut each prawn in 3-4 pieces (see notes).
-
In a large bowl, combine the homemade marie rose sauce with the prawns and the mango. Don't mix with the lettuce!
-
In a coupe-style cocktail glass, lay a bed of lettuce and add the prawn & mango mixture on top.
-
Optional to add some chopped parsley on top to decorate.
Notes
- The cognac adds a very distinctive flavour. You can start by adding ¼ tablespoon first, taste the sauce, and add the other half if desired.
- Cut the prawns in big-ish chunks. You want the prawn to be the main ingredient in each spoonful.
- When you're mixing the prawns & mango with the sauce, it might look like it's a lot. But bear in mind it will be combined with the lettuce directly on the glass when eating.
- This prawn cocktail salad can be served as a canape in a small lettuce leaf, instead of in a cocktail glass! If you're going for this option, mix the prawns, mango & lettuce with the sauce. And then put on top of a small leaf. You can present all the little leaves on a platter or timber board.
Andre says
Delicious recipe!! I made it for a dinner party and it was a hit among all guests. I served it in short glasses and the presentation looked very nice.
Sara says
I love this salad! Great fit for a starter during this Christmas season ☺️ It is delicious and very easy to make!