PRAWN COCKTAIL 2000

This recipe is part of my Sixties revival menu. In those days it used to be something simple but really luscious, yet over the years it has suffered from some very poor adaptations, not least watery prawns and inferior sauces. So here, in all its former glory, is a starter quite definitely fit for Christmas.

Serves 6

900g (2lb) large prawns in their shells (see recipe) 1 crisp-hearted lettuce, such as Cos 30g (1oz) rocket leaves 1 ripe but firm avocado pear 1 whole lime, divided into 6 wedgeshaped sections Cayenne pepper

For the sauce

1 quantity of mayonnaise (see recipe below) 1 dessertspoon Worcestershire sauce A few drops Tabasco sauce 1 dessertspoon lime juice 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup (preferably organic) Salt and freshly milled black pepper The very best version of this is made with prawns (either fresh or frozen in their shells) that you have cooked yourself.

Failing that, buy the large cooked prawns in their shells, or if you can only get shelled prawns cut the amount to 450g (1lb). To prepare them: if frozen put them in a colander and allow to defrost thoroughly at room temperature for about l hour. After that heat a large solid frying pan or wok and dry-fry the prawns for 4-5 minutes until the grey turns a vibrant pink.

As soon as they’re cool, reserve 6 in their shells for a garnish and peel the remainder. Then take a small sharp knife, make a cut along the back of each peeled prawn and remove any black thread.

Place them in a bowl, cover with clingfilm and keep in the fridge until needed.

To make the cocktail sauce, prepare the mayonnaise (see below) and add it to the rest of the sauce ingredients. Stir and taste to check the seasoning, then keep the sauce covered with clingfilm in the fridge until needed later on.

When you are ready to serve, shred the lettuce and rocket fairly finely and divide between 6 stemmed glasses, then peel and chop the avocado into small dice and scatter this in each glass amongst the lettuce.

Top with the prawns and the sauce, sprinkle a dusting of cayenne pepper on top and garnish with 1 section of lime and 1 unpeeled prawn per glass.

Serve with brown bread and butter.