A popular 1970's starter that still has a place on the festive table and makes a simple yet tasty addition to the Christmas meal.
 
Ingredients
for four servings (or make the cocktails as large or as small as you wish)
 
1 1/2 pints prawns
 
a really good mayonnaise
 
tomato puree
 
lettuce heart
 
lemon slices
 
chopped parsley
 
a little cayenne pepper
 
black pepper
- Defrost or peel the prawns (if fresh).
 
- Add enough tomato puree to the mayonnaise to colour it deep pink.
 
- Stir the prawns into this mixture and season with a little freshly ground black pepper.
 
- Wash and shred the lettuce and divide it between four attractive dishes or scallop shells.
 
- Spoon the prawn and mayonnaise mix equally onto the lettuce.
 
- Drop a little chopped parsley onto each and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper.
 
- Take four slices of lemon and cut half way across the diameter of each.
- Twist one cut half backwards and one forwards.
- Place one lemon twist on top of each prawn cocktail.
 
- Serve with thin brown bread and butter.
- The prawn and mayonnaise mixture can also be used to fill half an avocado pear to make another good hors d'oeuvre.