Prawn Cocktail
Labels: seafood, she cooks, small bites
Monday, April 23, 2007
Found on most posh European menus, Prawn Cocktail is a fancy appetizer. We love this at home and dining out and I'm always on the lookout for a good recipe. Recently I tried this featured on the May 2007 issue of Olive. It's from Boxwood Cafe, part of the restaurant chain owned by Gordon Ramsay, British celebrity chef extraordinaire. Forget that little twerp Jamie Oliver (sorry Jamie fans, no offence), Mr Ramsay's the real thing. Whenever I can, I try to catch one of Gordon Ramsay's shows (reality or cooking) on the BBC channel. The only thing I don't like about him is his penchant for swearing. His sentences are frequently peppered with the F-word. All the time. It's rather painful on the ears but I try to be deaf as he's very charasmatic and has good recipes. Incidentally, his swearing is also his trademark. So.
Anyway, here is the recipe. I promise you won't swear at the final result. If you do, then it was because it was so damn f***ing good. *heh*
Prawn Cocktail
Whisk together 1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp white wine vinegar and 1/2 tbsp English mustard in a large bowl using electric beaters. Slowly drizzle in 250ml vegtable oil, whisking all the time, until all the oil is used up and you have a mayonnaise. Speed freaks can start with 250ml good bought mayo.
Stir into the mayo 3 tbsp tomato ketchup, 1.2 tsp Worcestershire sauce and 1 tsp brandy. Season with a little cayenne pepper, lemon juice and salt (add more ketchup for a sweeter sauce). Shred 2 baby gem lettuces and arrange in pretty glasses. Pile 75g cooked peeled prawns into each glass then generously spoon the cocktail sauce over. Sprinkle with a little more cayenne pepper and serve with lemon wedges and buttered brown bread. Serves 6.
The Dutchess of Cookalot whipped this up at 2:49 pm
I like this appetizer on a hot day because it gives a cold, refreshing start to the meal.
