Fiery Los Angeles Prawn Cocktail

This is a very different prawn cocktail. It’s easy to dismiss the traditional version but at the same time, it is good. The boy has been expecting a 1970s pastiche so he should be pleasantly surprised.

400g raw king prawns

250ml passata

Juice & zest of a lemon

Olive oil

Sea salt & black pepper

Juice of 3 limes, zest of one of them

2 green chillies, sliced

2 spring onions. Sliced

A handful chopped coriander

1tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1tbsp tequila

½ a cucumber

1 little gem lettuce

1 avocado, sliced at the last minute

A long list of ingredients, but worth it. Raw king prawns aren’t cheap so you should only do really good things with them. The boy has been playing hockey so he’s muddy and freezing. Into the shower he goes while you gently fry the prawns in olive oil with  a good sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Drain them and add them to a bowl and cover with the passata. Unusually, our house has the bathroom just off the kitchen, so the boy comes out in his bathrobe about now. The passata isn't cooked so it should be top notch. Unsurprisingly, I'm using Cirio brand.  Add the chillies. Since he’s watching, maybe use only 1 ½ instead of two. Let it rest for an hour so the chillies can do their work. Get the boy to taste. Stir in the coriander.

Add more salt, pepper, the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, lime juice and the zest of both and Tequila. As you have Tequila and lime juice, you may as well make the two of you a Margarita.

Get the boy to peel the cucumber and then run a fork down it so it has nice deep ridges. He can slice it thickly. While he’s at it he can tear the lettuce and divide it between your bowls. Add the cucumber, spring onion and avocado and spoon over the fiery prawn cocktail.

It’s good. The boy will be surprised – not that it’s good, but how different it is from what he was expecting.