24 prawn starter recipes

Bloody mary prawn lettuce scoops

Try this speedy twist on the classic prawn cocktail for an easy no-cook starter.

Chargrilled tiger prawns, black rice and roast chilli salsa

Follow this easy starter recipe from Notting Hill's Gold for a simple yet satisfying combination of chargrilled tiger prawns, black rice and roast chilli salsa.

Peri peri prawns

These peri peri prawns are easy and quick to assemble yet offers impressive results, perfect for a starter without any of the fuss.

Tempura prawns

Recreate simple, perfectly crisp tempura prawns in your own home, a perfect dish to kickstart a dinner party.

Avocado and prawn cocktail toasts

For a twist on a classic starter, check out these bite-size avocado and prawn cocktail toasts. With only 15 minutes prep time, this is the perfect dinner party starter.

Thai prawn, sweet potato and coconut fritters

Make a plate of Thai prawn, sweet potato and coconut fritters, paired with a punchy dipping sauce, and watch as everyone tucks in with glee.

Prawn, chorizo and tomato kebabs

For your next dinner party, entertain your friends with a batch of these appetising Spanish-influenced prawn, chorizo and tomato kebabs to pass round with drinks.

Giant champagne and lemon prawn vol-au-vents

For a prep-ahead starter that’s guaranteed to be a hit with guests, try these luxurious vol-au-vents loaded with champagne-spiked prawns.

Coconut tiger prawns

Gurdeep Loyal’s tiger prawn recipe showcases coconutty South Indian and toasty Middle Eastern flavours, finished with a lime dressing and served with herby quinoa.

Sriracha prawn and avocado cocktail

This twist on a classic prawn cocktail is a great throw-together starter but still packs in plenty of heat thanks to the sriracha.

Prawn and avocado Vietnamese summer rolls

These Vietnamese summer rolls, filled with prawns, avocado, chilli and ginger, shredded carrot and noodles, are easy to assemble yet deliver fresh, fiery flavours. Serve with chilli sauce for a dip and watch the crowds gather.

Viet-Cajun fried prawns

This Vietnamese twist on a crawfish boil sees Cajun and Vietnamese seasonings mixed to create a showstopping dish that could easily double up as a dinner party platter. We’ve substituted king prawns for the crayfish.

Cajun prawns with pineapple salsa

This healthier choice for a dinner party starter sees cajun prawns with pineapple salsa on a bed of lettuce leaves.

Spring onion and prawn empanadas

Empanadas stuffed with spring onion and prawns make for a moreish nibble to present as part of a dinner party spread.

Prawn and red cabbage summer rolls with cashew butter dipping sauce

Packed with punchy herbs and crunchy vegetables, these prawn summer rolls with cashew butter dipping sauce would make a brilliant summertime starter to serve to friends and family.

Prawn, watermelon and feta salad

If you’re looking for something a little different to serve at your next get together, why not try this prawn, watermelon and feta salad? It’s an unusual combination but a delicious one, the sweetness of the watermelon and prawns off-set by the salty feta.

Scandi prawn salad with pickled cucumber

This Scandinavian-inspired salad features a mixture of big meaty prawns alongside zesty and fresh flavours, making it a simple but satisfying dish to present to guests.

Garlic and cumin butter prawns

These lighty, punchy and juicy king prawns, slathered in a buttery garlicky sauce and served with plenty of crusty bread, would work really well at any type of dinner party.

Skagen toast

Skagen, a firmly established traditional Danish dish, is super quick to make so is perfect as a simple, sophisticated starter. Plus, it makes a nice change to a prawn cocktail.

Prawn and lobster cocktail

John Torode uses a mix of big and small prawns for a variety of texture and flavour, complemented by a rich and refreshing sauce with a spicy kick. You can make the sauce in advance then assemble everything just before serving.

Little prawn poppadoms

A brilliant party finger food that can be assembled in just 20 minutes, try these moreish mini poppadoms with juicy prawns and serve with a punchy mango and cucumber yoghurt.

Prawn aguachile salad

Check out our quick and easy prawn aguachile salad, promising fiery, zesty and fresh flavours, for an impressive starter to present at your next dinner party.

Chargrilled prawns and crab claws with smoky diabolo sauce

Though it looks really impressive, this recipe for chargrilled prawns and crab claws is easy to make. The smoky diabolo sauce really takes it to the next level and will go down a treat with dinner party guests.