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Prawn Cocktail Mini Tacos Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 99 reviews

These prawn cocktail mini tacos are a delightful appetizer featuring crispy homemade corn tortilla shells filled with a creamy, tangy prawn cocktail filling. Perfect for entertaining, they combine the crunch of golden-baked mini tacos with a flavorful mixture of diced prawns in a classic Marie Rose sauce enhanced with subtle spice and fresh herbs.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Mini Taco Shells

  • 6 corn tortillas (~13cm / 3″ wide)
  • 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (reduce by half if using table salt)
  • Olive oil spray

For the Prawn Cocktail Filling

  • 220g / 7 oz cooked prawns/shrimp, peeled (approx. 500g / 1 lb whole cooked in shell, peeled)
  • 4 tbsp mayonnaise (preferably whole egg or Kewpie)
  • 1 tbsp ketchup (or Aussie tomato sauce)
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp horseradish cream (or fresh horseradish)
  • 2 dashes Tabasco sauce (optional, for spice)
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for spice)
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder (or a small garlic clove pressed)
  • 1 tbsp cornichons (or dill pickle), finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp chives, finely sliced (or parsley)

Optional Garnishes and Serving

  • Salmon roe or caviar (optional)
  • Dried black beans or rock salt (to keep tacos upright when serving, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) or 160°C fan-forced. Prepare a standard 12-hole muffin tin by turning it upside down to use as a mold for shaping the taco shells.
  2. Cut Tortilla Rounds: Using a 6cm (2.4″) round cutter, cut 17 circles out of the corn tortillas. You can collect the offcuts to use for other recipes or to press more rounds if desired.
  3. Soften Tortillas: Spread half of the tortilla rounds on a dinner plate and microwave them on high for 30 seconds to make them pliable and easier to shape.
  4. Season and Shape: Lightly spray the softened tortillas with olive oil spray and sprinkle half the salt over them. Then wedge each round, salt side down, between the upside-down muffin tin holes to form mini taco shapes. Repeat with the remaining rounds.
  5. Final Oil Spray: Spray the surface of all the shaped tortillas lightly with olive oil spray but do not add more salt at this stage.
  6. Bake the Taco Shells: Place the muffin tin with the shaped tortillas in the preheated oven. Bake for 12 minutes or until the mini taco shells are golden and crispy. Allow them to cool in the muffin tin so they hold their shape. The shells will stay crisp for up to 2 days if stored properly.
  7. Prepare Prawn Filling: Dice the cooked prawns into small 5mm (0.2″) cubes. If the prawns are large, cut them in half horizontally lengthwise before chopping.
  8. Make Marie Rose Sauce: In a bowl, mix together mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish cream, Tabasco sauce (if using), cayenne pepper, and garlic powder until well combined to create a flavorful Marie Rose sauce.
  9. Combine Prawns with Sauce: Just before assembling, stir the diced prawns into the Marie Rose sauce to coat evenly.
  10. Assemble the Mini Tacos: Spoon the prawn cocktail filling generously into each crispy mini taco shell. Sprinkle finely sliced chives on top for freshness and garnish.
  11. Serve: To keep the mini tacos upright when serving, place them on a bed of dried black beans or rock salt. Optionally, garnish with salmon roe or caviar for an elegant touch. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • Note 1: Corn tortillas are preferred for crispiness; flour tortillas can be used but may not hold shape as well.
  • Note 2: Using whole cooked prawns in shell and peeling yourself ensures freshness and better texture.
  • Note 3: Whole egg mayonnaise or Kewpie mayonnaise adds creaminess and authentic flavor.
  • Note 4: Fresh horseradish enhances the tangy profile of the filling, but horseradish cream is a suitable substitute.
  • Note 5: Rock salt or dried black beans help keep the mini tacos upright and stable on the serving dish.
  • Note 6: Offcuts from tortillas can be used as chips or baked again if possible.

Keywords: prawn cocktail, mini tacos, shrimp appetizer, Marie Rose sauce, party snacks, baked taco shells, seafood appetizer

Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/prawn-cocktail-mini-tacos-recipe/