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Prawns with Mango Avocado Salsa

| 30 Minute Meals, Fish & Seafood, Holidays & Entertaining

These Prawns with Mango Avocado Salsa are an easy to to make, entree or starter that’s sure to impress!  It’s a light, fresh meal that’s perfect for warmer days. Sweet mango, creamy avocado, and zesty lime come together with juicy prawns, all served in crisp lettuce cups. It’s a super easy, no-fuss dish that’s bursting with delicious flavours and ideal for a quick lunch or a casual dinner. Perfect for our Christmas in Australia.

I come from Western Australia and a long line of cray-fisherman…including my grandfather, uncle and cousin. But I have always, absolutely hated crustaceans of any kind which made me the black sheep of the family most family gatherings, when everyone else was enjoying lobster for lunch.

So this recipe is courtesy of my mum and enjoyed by my boys when I photographed it. The vegetarian variation I’ve included is all mine and I’d argue, the haloumi with the salsa is just as delicious 😉

Health benefits

Prawns are a great source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for good health. Avocado adds more healthy fats, and mango provides a dose of vitamin C. The lime juice and fresh coriander boost the dish with antioxidants, making this meal both refreshing and nourishing.

Ingredients

You’ll need cooked prawns, fresh Cos lettuce, and a handful of simple ingredients like mango, avocado, spring onions, and coriander to create the salsa. The lime yoghurt sauce, made with natural yoghurt, lime, and garlic, adds a creamy, tangy touch to this vibrant dish.

How to make Prawns with Mango Avocado Salsa

Start by peeling and cleaning the prawns, then wash the Cos lettuce leaves and set them aside. For the mango salsa, mix diced mango, avocado, spring onions, coriander (cilantro) leaves, and lime juice. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yoghurt, garlic, lime juice, salt, and pepper for the lime yoghurt sauce. Serve the salsa in lettuce cups, top with prawns, and drizzle with the lime yoghurt for a fresh, delicious meal.

Serving suggestions and how to store

This gluten-free dish is best enjoyed fresh, served immediately once assembled. If you’re looking to switch things up, serve with a side of quinoa or rice for a heartier meal. If you have leftovers, store the prawns and salsa separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to a day. The salsa may brown slightly due to the avocado, but it will still taste great!

Vary this to suit your dietary needs

For a vegetarian twist, swap out the prawns for grilled haloumi or firm tofu. If you’re seafood-free, cooked chicken works wonderfully in this dish. For those avoiding dairy, replace the yoghurt with whole-egg mayonnaise or a cashew cream for a dairy-free option.

Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements (including vegetarian and dairy-free).

These Prawns with Mango Avocado Salsa are an easy to to make, entree or starter that's sure to impress!
Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Prawns with Mango Avocado Salsa

These Prawns with Mango Avocado Salsa are an easy to to make, entree or starter that’s sure to impress!  Perfect for our Christmas in Australia.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time14 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Salad
Servings: 4
Author: Georgia Harding

Ingredients

  • 600 g prawns - cooked
  • 1 Cos lettuce

Salsa

  • 1 avocado/s - diced
  • 1 mango/s - diced
  • 4 spring onion/s - white part only, finely sliced
  • ½ bunch/s fresh coriander leaves - torn from stems
  • 1 lime/s - juice
  • 1 pinch sea salt

Lime Yoghurt

  • 60 g natural, Greek or coconut yoghurt (¼ cup)
  • ½ clove/s garlic
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • ground black pepper - to taste

Instructions

  • Peel and clean the prawns and wash the cos lettuce leaves.

Salsa

  • Combine the mango, avocado, spring onions, coriander leaves and the lime juice (reserving 1 tbsp for the lime yoghurt) in a bowl.

Lime Yoghurt

  • Mix the yoghurt, garlic, reserved 1 tbsp lime juice, salt and pepper.

To Serve

  • Serve the salsa in lettuce cups topped with the prawns and a drizzle of lime yoghurt. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

Vegetarian  

Replace the prawns with grilled haloumi, or if you are vegan, grilled firm tofu. 

Seafood-free

You can also replace the prawns with cooked chicken. This as a delicious way to use up leftover chicken too. 

Garlic-free

Replace the garlic with a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Dairy-free

Replace the yoghurt with whole-egg mayonnaise or cashew cream.

 

 

I'd love to hear how you enjoy this fresh and tasty dish. Post a comment and rate this recipe below. 

Smoked Salmon Roulade

| Make-ahead Meals, Fish & Seafood, Holidays & Entertaining

There are many wonderful things about the festive season. The creation of family traditions, especially those involving delicious food are one of my favourites. My brother in-law made this Smoked Salmon Roulade many years ago for our ‘Melbourne family’ Christmas Day. Since then, I have given it a bit of a Well Nourished make-over, as I do! It’s been a starter for of our Christmas Day feasts ever since.

It makes for a great entertainer, especially as you can make it a day or two ahead and simply slice to serve. It’s quite rich so one or two slices is very satisfying!

It looks quite fussy, but making it to photograph and share with you, I was reminded how very simple it is. It suits gluten-free and grain-free peeps and I’ve included an equally delicious dairy-free variation.

Health benefits

Zucchini is rich in antioxidants and fibre, while salmon provides protein and essential omega-3 fatty acids. The eggs add more quality protein. The combination of fresh herbs boosts the dish’s anti-inflammatory properties, and the crème fraîche or quark offers a source of probiotics and calcium.

Ingredients

This roulade features a zucchini base, lightened with whipped egg whites for an airy texture, and a rich, savoury filling made from hot smoked salmon, crème fraiche, capers, and lemon juice. Fresh herbs, parmesan, and capers add vibrant flavour to balance the creaminess of the filling.

What is ‘Hot’ smoked salmon?

Hot smoked salmon is smoked at a higher temperature, cooking the fillets of fish fully, resulting in a firm, flaky texture and a rich, smoky flavour. It’s ready to eat and great in salads or cooked dishes. Cold smoked salmon, on the other hand, is smoked at a lower temperature, which doesn’t cook the fish but cures it instead. This gives it a softer, silky texture and a more delicate, mild smoky flavour. It comes in thin slices where as the hot smoked salmon is sold in fillets. Both are available in major supermarkets.

How to make this Salmon Roulade recipe

Begin by grating and salting the zucchini, allowing the moisture to drain for about 30 minutes. After squeezing out the excess water, mix it with egg yolks, herbs, and parmesan. Fold in whipped egg whites and bake in a thin layer (in a tin lined with parchment paper). While the roulade is baking, prepare the salmon filling by combining hot smoked salmon with crème fraîche, lemon zest and juice, and capers. Once the roulade has cooled, spread the filling evenly and roll it up like a Swiss roll. The video below demonstrates how simple it is to make. If you own a Thermomix, we’ve also included Thermomix instructions for this recipe.

Serving suggestions and how to store

Serve this roulade sliced into 2cm rounds and topped with toasted flaked almonds and micro-herbs for extra texture and flavour. It can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days, making it a convenient dish for entertaining.

Vary this Smoked Salmon Roulade to suit your needs

To make this dairy-free, substitute the parmesan with nutritional yeast and use a thick cashew cream instead of crème fraîche. For a nut-free version, simply omit the almonds. If you’re avoiding onions, leave out the spring onions and enjoy the fresh herb flavours on their own.

    Remember to take a look at the variations (below the main recipe). Here, you’ll find suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your dietary goals (dairy-free, nut-free, onion-free).

    This healthy Smoked Salmon Roulade is a divine starter or entree. It's perfect for a celebration or special occasion & is quite simple to make. Gluten-free.
    Print Recipe
    4.70 from 23 votes

    Smoked Salmon Roulade

    This Smoked Salmon Roulade is an elegant and nutritious dish perfect for entertaining or serving as a light lunch. The zucchini-based roulade is filled with a delicious mixture of hot smoked salmon, crème fraîche, and herbs, making it both light and satisfying. The toasted almonds and micro-herbs on top add a lovely crunch and freshness.
    Prep Time30 minutes
    Cook Time15 minutes
    Total Time45 minutes
    Course: Appetizer
    Servings: 10
    Author: Georgia Harding

    Ingredients

    • 400 g zucchini/s - grated
    • 1 tbsp sea salt
    • 4 egg/s - separated
    • 3 tbsp herbs - I love a combination thyme, parsley, chives, dill
    • 3 tbsp parmesan cheese - freshly grated
    • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
    • Pinch cream of tartar
    • 200 g hot smoked salmon fillet/s (approx.) **
    • 1 lemon/s (small) zest and 2 tbsp juice
    • 3 tbsp capers
    • 4 spring onion/s -white part finely chopped
    • 50 g crème fraîche
    • 150 g quark - or mascarpone
    • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
    • 40 g flaked almonds (¼ cup) toasted to serve
    • ¼ cup/s micro-herbs - to serve

    ** Hot smoked salmon is a whole salmon fillet smoked with heat (cold smoked salmon is the thinly slice/ cured slices of salmon). Hot smoked salmon is available in major supermarkets.

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 200℃/395℉ (fan-forced).
    • Line a 24 x 33cm slice tin with non-stick baking paper. It's important the tin is this size otherwise the roulade will be too thick and won't roll without  splitting.
    • Grate the zucchini. Toss with the sea salt in a colander and leave 30 minutes. Rinse and squeeze dry in the sieve and then in a clean cloth or tea-towel.
    • In a mixing bowl, beat in the egg yolks, herbs and Parmesan and season with sea salt and pepper. Once the zucchini is ready, add this and mix well.
    • In a separate clean bowl, whisk the egg whites with the cream of tartare until peaks just form. If using a Thermomix, beat butterfly inserted, 1 min 30 sec, speed 4.
    • Gently fold the egg white into the courgette/ egg yolk mixture using a large spoon. You are aiming to just combine the ingredients without over working the mixture.
    • Pour into prepared tin and quickly level the mixture, spreading it out into the corners. Bake for 13-15 minutes until set and light golden brown.
    • Whilst that's baking, crumble the salmon into a bowl with the finely grated lemon zest, 2 tbsp lemon juice, capers, spring onion and crème fraîche, and quark / mascarpone. Season with sea salt and pepper. Mix until almost smooth. If using a Thermomix mix 20 seconds, speed 3.
    • Taste the mixture and season with salt, pepper and more lemon juice if you feel it's needed.
    • Store the salmon mixture in the fridge until required.
    • When the roulade is cooked, invert it onto a clean tea towel. To do this easily, I wrap the tea-towel around the baking tin then tip it over.
    • Peel away the baking paper carefully and loosely roll it up from the short side (so it's like a Swiss roll). Allow it to cool fully.
    • When its cooled completely, carefully un-roll the roulade and spread it with the salmon cream filling. Roll-up again from the short side, then carefully transfer to a serving plate with the seam-side down.
    • Chill and store in an air-tight container until ready to serve.

    Serve

    • Carefully toast the almond flakes, watching carefully so they don't burn.
    • Cut into 2cm slices and top with toasted almonds and micro-herbs to serve.

    Make-ahead

    • Either store the filling and the zucchini roll separately (up to 2 days) and assemble the day you plan to serve it. Or you can make one day ahead.
    • Store in an airtight container in the fridge and serve at room temperature.

    Notes

    Dairy-free

    Replace the parmesan cheese with the same amount of nutritional yeast. Replace the crème fraîche and quark with approx. one and half cups of cashew nut cream (thickish blend).

    Nut-free

    Simply omit the almonds.

    Onion-free

    Just leave the spring onions out.
     
     
     
     

    I'd love to hear how you love this recipe. Post a comment below if you make it or if you have any questions!

    Half Shell Scallops

    | Fish & Seafood, Holidays & Entertaining

    So with Christmas Day fast approaching, I thought I’d share one of my favourite ‘celebration’ starters. These Half Shell Scallops are such a simple, yet impressive start to a Christmas Day feast or other special occasions. Better still, they are SO simple and fast to make – prep to plate in less than 10 minutes (5 if you have good knife skills)! Goes to prove even ‘special’ can be too easy!

    Seafood is such an Australian Christmas tradition, but I’m so fussy with seafood. I don’t do crustaceans (shame because growing up, my grandfather, uncle, and cousin were all cray-fisherman off the coast of WA). But scallops, when well cooked, I just love!  The key with them is to add flavour without overpowering their own sweet, melt in the mouth taste and I think this recipe does that perfectly.

    Hope you enjoy this delicious starter!

    Health benefits

    Scallops are rich in lean protein and packed with vitamins and minerals like B12 and selenium. Paired with healthy fats from butter or ghee, and a sprinkle of heart-healthy almonds or macadamia nuts, this gluten-free dish is as nutritious as it is delicious.

    Ingredients

    You’ll need fresh half shell scallops, melted butter or ghee, garlic, lemon zest, fresh parsley leaves, and slivered almonds. A few simple, high-quality ingredients go a long way in making this dish shine.

    How to make Half Shell Scallops

    Start by preheating your grill (broiler) to 180°C/350°F. Arrange the scallops on a baking tray and top with a delicious mix of butter, garlic, lemon zest, and parsley. Sprinkle with slivered almonds and pop under the grill for just 3 minutes. You can also cook them on the BBQ (on high) for a quick summer alternative.

    Serving suggestions and how to store

    Serve these scallops with lemon cheeks (and a good squeeze of lemon juice), a sprinkle of parsley, and a pinch of sea salt. For a pop of colour, add edible flowers like garlic flowers. If you have leftovers (though unlikely!), store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

    Vary this half shell scallops recipe to suit 

    For a dairy-free version, use ghee or macadamia oil instead of butter. You can swap slivered almonds for crushed macadamia nuts, or if you need a nut-free option, try fresh breadcrumbs or skip the topping altogether.

    Take a look at the variations below for all the details as well as suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.

    Half Shell Scallops are SO simple & fast to make, prep to plate in 10 minutes. Perfect for a fast Christmas day or celebratory starter.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 8 votes

    Half Shell Scallops

    These half shell scallops are an easy, elegant dish that will impress at any dinner party. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time, they’re perfect for entertaining or a fancy yet simple weeknight meal.
    Prep Time10 minutes
    Cook Time3 minutes
    Total Time13 minutes
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 4

    Ingredients

    • 12 half shell scallops -I have used QLD scallops with no roe because I don't like it (told you I was fussy)
    • 40 g butter, ghee or macadamia oil -melted
    • 1 clove/s garlic -peeled and crushed
    • 1 lemon/s -zest finely grated
    • 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley -finely chopped
    • 30 g slivered almonds (¼ cup)

    Instructions

    • Preheat your grill to high 180℃/350°F (fan-forced).
    • Arrange your scallops on a large baking tray.
    • Mix together the butter, garlic, lemon zest and parsley.
    • Spoon a little blob of the mixture onto the flesh of each scallop.
    • Top with a pinch of slivered almonds.
    • Pop under the pre-heated grill for 3 minutes (yes they cook super fast)

    BBQ

    • Last year on Christmas day our oven was full of the turkey and other goodies, so we preheated the BBQ on a high heat and cooked them in there with the lid closed for a couple of minutes.

    Serve

    • With lemon wedges (a good squeeze of lemon is a must), scattered parsley leaves and a sprinkling of sea salt. I added some garlic flowers and other edible flowers.

    Notes

    Dairy-free

    Replace the butter with ghee (my preference) or macadamia nut oil.

    Macadamia

    You can replace the almonds with crushed macadamia nuts (I love this version a lot).

    Nut-free

    Replace the nuts with fresh bread crumbs or just leave off.
     

    I'd love too hear if you try this special starter. Post a comment below or rate this recipe.