Prawn starters & appetizers

Prawns are the perfect starter

If you want to spoil your guests, a shrimp appetizer is always a safe choice. Prawns are one of the most rewarding ingredients in the seafood kitchen: they taste mild and fresh, they look beautiful on the plate, and they work both as a starter in their own right and as a delicious element in something larger. That is exactly why there is almost no limit to the number of prawn starter recipes you can make.

At Coldwater Seafood the prawns are gently caught in the cold, clear deep sea and MSC-certified. They are tender, firm and ready to use straight from the pot. That makes them ideal for a starter, where the prawns are usually served cold and juicy.

Quick shrimp appetizer for a weeknight

If you are short on time, a quick shrimp appetizer can be made in under a quarter of an hour. A classic shrimp cocktail or a simple avocado with prawns asks nothing more than draining the prawns and folding them into a fresh dressing. Want to go straight to the recipe? See our avocado prawn salad, an easy classic that never disappoints.

Shrimp cocktail, the classic that always works

The shrimp cocktail earns its place at every celebration. Cold prawns, a crisp bed of lettuce and a cocktail sauce made with mayonnaise, tomato, a few drops of Tabasco and a squeeze of lemon. Serve it with the prawns in glass and the classic turns into an elegant prawn starter without a single extra step.

Elegant prawn starter and party prawn canapes for a celebration

If the occasion calls for something more festive, prawns lend themselves beautifully to an elegant prawn starter. Combine them with hot smoked salmon, caviar and a cold dill cream, or arrange them in glasses in layers with avocado and lemon zest, so every guest gets their own portion. Party prawn canapes on blinis or small toasts do the same job standing up, with a spoonful of creme fraiche under the prawns to hold them in place.

How to choose the best prawns for a starter

For a starter where the prawns are served cold, hand-peeled prawns in brine are the obvious choice. They are tender and ready to use, and you avoid any cooking at all. As a rule of thumb, count on about 50 to 75 g of peeled prawns per person for a starter. We recommend prawns from Coldwater Seafood, so you can be sure of juicy prawns with the perfect bite.

Find more dishes with prawns

Prawns can do far more than starters. If the prawns are going into dinner instead, take inspiration from our prawn pasta, a fresh prawn salad or the quick garlic prawns served as tapas.

Whichever starter you choose, you will find the best ingredients in the chilled section. Look for the blue MSC label and choose Coldwater Seafood products the next time you shop.