5 Great Prawn Dipping Sauces Recipe

ByEthan Lark
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Introduction

Prawns are a delicious seafood treat, and pairing them with the right dipping sauce can elevate their flavor to a new level. Here are five great prawn dipping sauces ranging from creamy to tangy and spicy, perfect for any occasion or taste preference.

The image shows a seafood spread centered around bright orange shrimp with black eyes and long thin antennae, layered on a bed of crushed ice in a large white bowl, garnished with lemon wedges and a small white bowl of light pink dipping sauce in the middle. Nearby, there is a smaller stainless steel bowl filled with more shrimp on ice. At the top, a white rectangular tray holds opened oyster shells with the creamy brownish oyster meat inside. Surrounding the bowls are four small white bowls containing different sauces: a creamy white sauce with herbs, a green herb sauce garnished with lime slice, a dark orange sauce being dipped into by a woman's hand holding a shrimp, and a pale beer glass filled with foam at the top. The entire scene is set on a white marbled surface with scattered lemon wedges adding bright yellow touches. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • Classic Cocktail Sauce: 2/3 cup (160 g) tomato ketchup, 1 tbsp mayonnaise, 1/4 tsp each mustard powder (or Dijon), onion powder, garlic powder, white sugar, dash of Tabasco, 1 tsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce, salt and pepper to taste
  • Dill & Gherkin Mayo: 1 cup (220 g) mayonnaise, 1 tbsp very finely chopped gherkin/cornichon, 1 1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh dill, 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp finely chopped capers, 1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1/2 tsp white sugar, 1/4 tsp salt
  • Horseradish Mayo: 2/3 cup (145 g) mayonnaise, 1 tbsp ketchup, 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tsp fresh horseradish (or 1 1/2 tsp jarred), dash of Tabasco, pinch of cayenne pepper
  • Sweet Chilli Lime Sauce: 5 tbsp (75 g) store-bought sweet chilli sauce, 2/3 cup (165 ml) fresh lime juice (about 4–5 limes), 5 tbsp olive oil (or neutral oil like canola), 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tbsp white sugar, 1/4 cup finely chopped coriander/cilantro leaves
  • Capers & Dill Mayo: 2/3 cup (145 g) mayonnaise, 1/3 cup (80 g) ketchup, 1 1/2 tbsp drained and finely chopped capers, 1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped gherkin/cornichon, 1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped eschallot or onion, 1/4 cup finely chopped dill leaves, dash of Worcestershire Sauce, 4 dashes of Tabasco, 1 tbsp lemon juice (adjust to taste)

Instructions

  1. Step 1: For all sauces except the Thai-style Sweet Chilli Lime Sauce, place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well until combined evenly.
  2. Step 2: Adjust salt and seasoning to taste.
  3. Step 3: For the Sweet Chilli Lime Sauce, whisk all ingredients except the coriander together in a bowl until blended.
  4. Step 4: Stir through the coriander and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Step 5: Let the Sweet Chilli Lime Sauce rest for 20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Tips & Variations

  • Use fresh herbs whenever possible for the brightest flavor in sauces with dill, parsley, and coriander.
  • Adjust the heat by adding more or less Tabasco and cayenne pepper according to your spice tolerance.
  • The horseradish sauce can be swapped with prepared horseradish from a jar for convenience, just adjust quantity to taste.
  • Store-bought sweet chilli sauce saves time but choose one that suits your preferred sweetness and spiciness level.

Storage

Store unused dipping sauces in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3–5 days. Stir well before using again. Sauces with fresh herbs may lose some freshness over time, so it’s best to consume them sooner rather than later. The Sweet Chilli Lime Sauce might separate slightly; just whisk it again before serving.

How to Serve

A white large bowl filled with bright orange cooked shrimp lying on ice, garnished with lemon wedges on the side, with a small white bowl of light pink dipping sauce placed inside the bowl of shrimp; below to the left is a smaller white bowl with more shrimp on ice, next to a small bowl of green sauce with a lime wedge on the rim; above that is a bowl of creamy white sauce with herbs mixed in; above the creamy sauce is a white rectangular plate holding opened oysters in a row with their grayish shells and pale inner flesh; a beer mug partly visible with frothy beer sits at the top left; the bottom right shows a woman's hand dipping a peeled shrimp into a small white cup of reddish cocktail sauce resting on a folded white cloth; the whole scene is set on a white marbled surface scattered with lemon wedges. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these sauces ahead of time?

Yes, most of these dipping sauces benefit from resting, which allows the flavors to meld. Prepare them a few hours or up to a day in advance and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Are these sauces suitable for other seafood?

Absolutely! These sauces pair beautifully with shrimp, crab, lobster, and even grilled fish. Feel free to experiment and find your favorite combinations.

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5 Great Prawn Dipping Sauces Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 139 reviews
  • Author: Ethan
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: Approximately 1 cup (240 ml) per sauce, serves 4-6 people as dipping portions 1x
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Description

Discover five delicious prawn dipping sauces that range from creamy and tangy to spicy and fresh. These easy-to-make sauces combine ingredients like mayonnaise, ketchup, fresh herbs, and zesty citrus to perfectly complement your prawns. Whether you prefer classic cocktail sauce, tangy tartar, spicy horseradish, vibrant Thai-style, or a zesty caper mix, these recipes are quick to prepare and guaranteed to enhance your seafood experience.

Ingredients

Scale

Classic Cocktail Sauce

  • 2/3 cup (160 g) tomato ketchup
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1/4 tsp mustard powder (or Dijon mustard)
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp white sugar
  • Dash of Tabasco
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Tartar Sauce

  • 1 cup (220 g) mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped gherkin or cornichon
  • 1 1/2 tsp finely chopped fresh dill
  • 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tsp drained and finely chopped capers
  • 1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp white sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Horseradish Sauce

  • 2/3 cup (145 g) mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp fresh horseradish (or substitute 1 1/2 tsp jarred horseradish)
  • Dash of Tabasco
  • Pinch cayenne pepper

Thai-style Sauce

  • 5 tbsp (75 g) store-bought sweet chilli sauce (e.g., Trident)
  • 2/3 cup (165 ml) fresh lime juice (from 4–5 limes)
  • 5 tbsp (75 ml) olive oil (can substitute with neutral oil such as canola)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tbsp white sugar (or substitute sugar of choice)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves

Caper & Herb Sauce

  • 2/3 cup (145 g) mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup (80 g) ketchup
  • 1 1/2 tbsp drained and finely chopped capers
  • 1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped gherkin or cornichon
  • 1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped eschallot or onion
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped dill leaves
  • 1 dash Worcestershire Sauce
  • 4 or so dashes Tabasco
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste)

Instructions

  1. Prepare All Sauces Except Thai Sauce: In a bowl, combine the respective ingredients for each sauce as listed above. Mix thoroughly to ensure all components are well-blended. Taste and adjust salt accordingly to balance the flavors.
  2. Prepare Thai Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the sweet chilli sauce, fresh lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and white sugar until well combined. Stir in the chopped coriander leaves just before serving. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Allow the sauce to rest for 20 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Notes

  • Use fresh lemon and lime juice for the best brightness and tang in the sauces.
  • Adjust Tabasco and cayenne pepper according to your preferred spice level.
  • You can prepare the sauces a few hours ahead; the flavors improve as they chill.
  • Mayonnaise-based sauces should be kept refrigerated and consumed within 2-3 days for freshness.
  • For a lighter option, substitute regular mayonnaise with a light or low-fat version.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Sauce/Dip
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: International/Seafood

Keywords: Prawn dipping sauces, seafood dips, cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, horseradish sauce, Thai prawn sauce, caper herb sauce, easy prawn dips

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