CHRISTMAS is going to be different for many of us this year – so why not use it as an excuse to change your traditional dinner?
Prawn cocktail is the ultimate starter.
But there are lots of fish dishes that would impress your diners.
If you are worried about preparing it, just head to your local Morrisons store.
Its fishmongers will fillet and prepare your fish exactly how you want it.
Here are three recipes from Love Seafood that work as starters or are a great choice for party food.
Classic calamari – £1.70 per serving
Serves 2
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 2 minutes
YOU NEED:
- 200g squid, cut into ½ cm rings
- 200ml vegetable oil, for frying
- 50g plain flour
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 large egg, beaten
For the mayo:
- 4 tbsp light mayonnaise
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- Zest of half a lemon, plus extra wedges for serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
METHOD:
Mix the mayonnaise with the garlic, lemon zest and parsley, and set aside.
Place enough oil in a large saucepan, or deep-fat fryer to fill half. Heat to 180C. If you don’t have a cooking thermometer, test it is hot enough by dropping a cube of bread into the oil – it should turn golden in one minute.
Combine the flour, cayenne pepper and paprika in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Put the beaten egg in a separate bowl.
Put the squid in the bowl of seasoned flour and toss well. Remove the rings from the bowl and shake off any excess flour. Then dip the squid into the egg. Gently lift the squid rings out of the bowl, allowing any excess egg to run off.
Lower the squid into the hot oil and cook for two minutes.
Drain on kitchen paper and serve immediately with the mayonnaise and lemon wedges on the side.
Prawn croquettes – £1.12 per serving
Serves 6
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 10-15 minutes
YOU NEED:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for deep-fat frying
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 250g cooked, peeled king prawns, chopped
- 300g cooked mashed potato
- 1 tbsp mixed fresh soft leaf herbs such as dill, coriander, flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon, plus wedges to serve
- 50g plain flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 50g breadcrumbs
- 6 tbsp reduced-fat seafood sauce
METHOD:
Heat oil in a pan, add the onion and cook gently until softened.
Mix the cooked onion with the prawns, potato, herbs and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Divide into 12 balls and roll each to form a log shape. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
Put the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into separate bowls. To coat the croquettes, roll them in the flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs.
Heat oil in a deep-fat fryer or a large deep pan to 180C. Deep fry croquettes for three minutes, or until golden. Once cooked, drain on kitchen paper until ready to serve. Then serve with the seafood sauce and with lemon wedges on the side.
Crab cocktail – £2.99 per serving
Serves 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes
YOU NEED:
- 10-12 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 100g brown crab meat
- 400ml mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 200g white crab meat
- 1 tsp tarragon, chopped
- 1 tsp chives, chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Sourdough loaf, sliced
METHOD:
Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 190/gas 6. Put the tomatoes on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and roast for 20 minutes until soft. Place brown crab meat, half the mayonnaise, ketchup and cayenne into a food processor, and blend until smooth.
Place white crab meat, mayo, tarragon, chives and lemon juice into a bowl and mix.
Drizzle olive oil on to sourdough slices and place on a hot griddle until toasted.
Top with the roasted tomatoes, a spoon of white crab mix, some brown crab mayonnaise and serve, garnishing with lemon.
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