Layered Prawn Cocktail Salad

This layered prawn cocktail salad is a stunning centrepiece dish that brings together sweet king prawns, juicy rockmelon, creamy avocado and crisp cucumber in a beautiful glass bowl. Finished with a homemade creamy herb dressing and golden garlic crostini, it’s a modern take on a classic that’s as impressive to look at as it is to eat.

Perfect for Christmas, summer entertaining or any occasion where you want to serve something truly special without spending hours in the kitchen.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Stunning presentation in a glass serving bowl
• A fresh and modern take on the classic prawn cocktail
• Homemade creamy herb dressing is quick and easy
• Garlic crostini add a satisfying crunch
• Great for Christmas, Easter or summer entertaining
• Can be mostly prepared ahead of time

Why make a layered prawn cocktail salad?

The classic prawn cocktail gets a stunning upgrade here. Layering the ingredients in a large glass bowl creates a beautiful visual effect that doubles as a centrepiece, making it ideal for entertaining when presentation matters.

The creamy herb dressing — made with mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon and Dijon mustard — is far more elegant than a standard cocktail sauce, and the addition of rockmelon and fresh dill gives this salad a distinctly modern Australian feel.

Ingredients (serves 8)

Servings8

Salad

• 1 rockmelon (approx. 2kg), halved and seeded
• ½ iceberg lettuce, roughly shredded
• 2 Lebanese cucumbers, quartered and thickly sliced
• 1000 g cooked large king prawns, peeled and deveined
• 2 avocados, cut into 2cm pieces
• ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup fresh dill sprigs
• ½ bunch fresh chives, cut into 3cm lengths

Crostini

• ½ baguette, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, halved

Creamy herb dressing

• ⅓ cup whole-egg mayonnaise
• ⅓ cup sour cream
• 1 tsp lemon rind, finely grated
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
• 2 tsp fresh dill, finely chopped

How to make layered prawn cocktail salad

Step 1: Make the crostini

Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan-forced. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

Place bread slices in a single layer on the tray. Brush both sides with olive oil. Bake for 5 minutes, then turn and bake for a further 5 minutes or until golden and crisp.

Set aside for 5 minutes then rub one side of each toast with the cut side of a garlic clove. Allow to cool completely.

Step 2: Prepare the rockmelon

Using a melon baller, scoop small balls from the rockmelon flesh.

Place on a tray lined with paper towel and pat dry to remove excess moisture.

Step 3: Make the creamy herb dressing

Place mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon rind, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, chives and dill in a bowl.

Whisk until smooth and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 4: Assemble and serve

Arrange shredded lettuce in the base of a 3.5-litre glass serving bowl. Top with rockmelon balls, then sliced cucumber to form distinct layers.

Arrange king prawns on top, then finish with avocado pieces, red onion, dill sprigs and chives. Drizzle over a little dressing.

Serve immediately with remaining dressing and garlic crostini on the side.

Tips for best results

• Pat the rockmelon balls dry so they don’t water down the dressing
• Use a large clear glass bowl to show off the beautiful layers
• Peel and devein the prawns ahead of time and refrigerate until needed
• Make the crostini and dressing up to a day in advance
• Assemble the salad layers just before serving for the freshest result
• Add avocado last to prevent browning

Serving suggestions

This layered prawn cocktail salad pairs beautifully with:

• Extra garlic crostini or crusty sourdough
• A chilled glass of Pinot Grigio or sparkling wine
• Grilled seafood as part of a larger spread
• A simple green salad on the side
• Lemon wedges for extra freshness

Nutrition per serving

Based on 8 servings

Energy

1583 kJ

Calories

378 cal

Protein

17.3 g

Total fat

26.1 g

Saturated fat

6.6 g

Carbohydrate

16.5 g

Sodium

519 mg

Final thoughts

This layered prawn cocktail salad is one of those recipes that looks far more impressive than the effort involved. The combination of sweet king prawns, juicy rockmelon, creamy avocado and a herb-loaded dressing makes every forkful something to savour — and the garlic crostini are the perfect finishing touch.

Whether you’re serving it as a starter at a dinner party or as the centrepiece of a Christmas spread, this salad is guaranteed to get people talking. Make it once and it’ll become your go-to entertaining recipe for years to come.