The festive season is here and one thing we know for sure, is that Australian’s like to celebrate with prawns on our plate. What makes prawns the perfect pick for celebrating with friends, and as a staple feature of an Aussie Christmas, and what should you look for? Paul Papacosta, Fish in the Family’s guru for everything seafood, has got you covered.
What types of prawns should I look for?
There are three main species of prawns available this Christmas; the Tiger prawn, these are always deeper red in colour with a unique “tiger” stripe and have a medium flavour; the King prawn which have bright blue tail ends when raw and a rich flavour, and the Banana prawn which is lighter in colour and sweeter in flavour. The colour of the prawn comes from the depth of the water they live in, the further north the lighter the shell of the prawn due to the deeper water, natural sun protection!
Where are the best prawns from?
For raw prawns we look to Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. We get the majority of our raw King prawns from South Australia. North Queensland is best for cooked Tiger and Banana prawns - anywhere between Northern New South Wales upwards.
What do you look for in a prawn?
We only pick the best to ensure you get the freshest and tastiest out there, you can trust us on that. If you're picking them out yourself, look for a harder shell.
What's the best way to eat prawns?
If they're cooked, then just seafood sauce and lemon or they're great in a salad. If you're buying your prawns raw, then on the BBQ for a couple of minutes each side.
Why are prawns so popular at Christmas?
Since we’ve been in business (1976) we have seen prawns become a “must have” on the family Christmas table! A bowl of prawns and a bowl of mangoes and cherries has become a great Aussie tradition. We think it has something to do with the hot summer Christmas season. Prawns = Summer. What's better when the sun’s out then to share a plate with friends and family? Everyone gets stuck in, the messier the better. Prawns are also a great source of protein, B12 and folate, not to mention a rich source of selenium, an effective antioxidant to maintain healthy cells.
What’s on Paul’s table this Christmas?
Paul and his family of 8 children (yes 8!) can’t go past a cooked platter of ready to eat Lobster, Moreton Bay Bugs and some lovely, cooked prawns - delicious!
About Paul Papacosta
Working in the family business, Fish in the Family, for the past 30 years and learning on the job from the best, Paul credits his mum Andrea and his grandfather, Costas Costi, for his strong lessons in business and work ethic, plus his demand for to quality. Getting up at 3:30am to head to the fish markets, the product sourced is always the best and freshest. Paul's always on top of what's going on and the latest trends - bringing them to our stores daily.
You can find Fish in the Family in most Harris Farm stores. Browse their range of actual family seafood recipes here!
