No longer just the hero of the 1970s dinner party prawn cocktail, Wild Atlantic Prawns are being appreciated for their subtle, sweet delicate flavour and reappearing in starring roles in salads and light dishes across the country.
Wild Atlantic Prawns are a healthy and versatile ingredient for the experienced chef who knows how to use them and how to get the best from them. Their subtle natural pink colouring, soft texture and a sweet clean taste is developed from years growing in the cold clear, pollution free waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Not only that, they are easy to use arriving to us already cooked, can be portioned readily and help manage waste while making seafood dishes more attractive.
Time matters
Wild Atlantic Prawns live in a harsh cold, environment where they start off as males, growing ovaries and becoming female around 4 years old. It takes them at least six years to reach a size that is large enough to be harvested. During this time, they develop a sweet, delicate flavour that needs to be handled with care and partnered with subtle combinations to maximise their flavour.
Carefully managed stocks from Greenland to the East coast of Canada and a clear management system mean these prawns have the Marine Stewardship Council certification. Small, remote, rural communities handle the prawns with care in order to ensure they reach us in excellent condition. These communities take sustainability seriously. Not doing so threatens their very future.
The natural goodness of Wild Atlantic Prawns make them an ideal part of a balanced diet:
Wild Atlantic Prawns are a delicacy that demands delicate preparation. The sought after shellfish may thrive in an unforgiving environment but must be handled with care from catch to plate.
In the right hands, Wild Atlantic Prawns can be an incredibly versatile ingredient that rewards experimentation. Wild Atlantic Prawns work best in fresh, light dishes where the subtle flavour and natural pink colour can shine through.
They arrive to us frozen with a protective glaze and should be thawed gently in the refrigerator as needed. Avoid quick defrosting to protect the delicate flesh and don’t rinse as this will remove much of the flavour.
Appreciating the art of balance
Whether complementing other ingredients or taking the leading role, Wild Atlantic Prawns allow for great pairings with a range of complementary and challenging flavours.
Sweet:
The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.
Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.
A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.
Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.
