Gala Prawn Salad

Those of us of a certain vintage will recall the original ‘prawn cocktail’ which started popping up in the late 60s and early 70s. The last word in sophistication, it featured lettuce, prawns and sometimes a wedge of lemon, fetchingly displayed in a martini glass. The key was the not-so-secret Marie Rose sauce, a blend of mayonnaise and tomato sauce with a touch of Worcestershire or horseradish for a little extra kick. Having taken centre-stage at many a Kiwi dinner party, over the years the dish slowly went out of fashion, apart from the odd retro resurrection. While we won’t be breaking out the cocktail glasses any time soon, this combination salad doesn’t just breathe life into the original, it is a spectacular reinvention!