Prawn cocktail facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Shrimp cocktail |
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| Course | Hors d'oeuvre |
| Main ingredients | Prawns, cocktail sauce |
Prawn cocktail, also called shrimp cocktail, is a popular seafood dish. It features cooked prawns (shrimp) served in a special sauce. This sauce is often called Marie Rose sauce or cocktail sauce. The dish is usually presented in a glass.
Prawn cocktail was a very popular starter (or hors d'œuvre) in the UK and USA. It was especially trendy from the 1960s to the late 1980s. Today, some people see it as a bit old-fashioned, but it's still enjoyed.
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History and Origins of Prawn Cocktail
Serving cooked seafood with a tasty sauce has been done for a very long time. Many different versions of this type of dish exist. In the late 1800s, oyster or shrimp dishes were popular in the United States.
Some people believe serving this dish in cocktail glasses became popular during the 1920s. This was when alcohol was banned in the United States.
In the United Kingdom, the TV chef Fanny Cradock is often given credit for inventing the prawn cocktail in the 1960s. However, it's more likely that she simply made her version of the dish very popular. Before her, it wasn't widely known in Britain. Food writers Simon Hopkinson and Lindsey Bareham noted that the prawn cocktail has links to the famous chef Auguste Escoffier.
Variations of Prawn Cocktail Sauce
The sauce used for prawn cocktail is usually called cocktail sauce. In countries like the UK, it's mainly a mix of ketchup and mayonnaise. In the United States, it's often ketchup mixed with horseradish.
Some recipes might also add other ingredients. These can include Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, vinegar, cayenne pepper, or lemon juice. Instead of shrimp, some people use clams or oysters in this dish.
Prawn Cocktail in Britain
The food writer Nigel Slater says that the sauce is the most important part. He believes the best sauce is mostly mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, and a few drops of Tabasco.
Chef Heston Blumenthal says prawn cocktail is his "secret vice." He enjoys it after a long day at his restaurant. Blumenthal suggests using homemade mayonnaise. He also recommends adding chopped basil and tarragon for extra flavor.
Television chef Delia Smith believes the best prawn cocktail uses prawns cooked at home. She says that in the 1960s, it was a simple but delicious dish. Over time, she feels it suffered from bad versions, like watery prawns and poor sauces.
The book The Prawn Cocktail Years mentions a classic "Great British Meal." This meal included Prawn Cocktail, followed by Steak Garni with Chips, and Black Forest Gateau for dessert. The authors say that when made correctly, this meal is still very special.
The "Prawn Cocktail Offensive"
Before the 1992 general election in Britain, the Labour Party wanted to gain support. They tried to convince business and financial leaders that they would not interfere with the economy. This campaign was jokingly called the "Prawn Cocktail Offensive." It suggested they were trying to win over important people at fancy dinners.
Prawn Cocktail Spin-off Products
Because prawn cocktail was so popular, it led to other products. One example is prawn cocktail flavor crisps (potato chips). These crisps are still one of the most popular flavors of snack food. In 2004, prawn cocktail crisps were the second most popular flavor in the UK. They made up 16% of the market share.
See also
In Spanish: Cóctel (comida) para niños
