Prawn Marie Rose Sandwich
Cold North Atlantic prawns in a tangy pink Marie Rose sauce on soft white bread with shredded lettuce.
Origin Story
The prawn cocktail (Marie Rose sauce with prawns) was invented by British chef Fanny Cradock in the 1960s and became the defining dinner party starter of 1970s Britain. Its migration to the sandwich format was inevitable — by the 1980s it had become one of Britain's most popular packaged sandwiches, sold in every service station and supermarket.
Cultural Context
The prawn marie rose sandwich is a British supermarket institution. It appears in the chilled sandwich section of every Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, and Pret a Manger. It represents a particular strand of British food culture: simple ingredients combined into something that manages to be simultaneously nostalgic and perfectly satisfying.
Recipe
Mix 200g of cooked North Atlantic prawns with Marie Rose sauce: 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon ketchup, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne. Spread on soft white bread, add shredded iceberg lettuce, and close the sandwich. Cut into triangles.