Shito Prawn Blini are easy prawn canapés made in 15 minutes: warm blini, a spoonful of crème fraîche, butterflied prawns, a drizzle of Coast of Gold Hot Shito and a finish of fresh lime zest. Six ingredients, twelve canapés, and they are always the first plate to empty.
Prawns are a must on the Australian Christmas table, and this is the quickest way we know to dress them up. Shito is Ghana's much loved chilli crisp, deep, savoury and properly hot. Loosened with a splash of oil, it becomes a glossy drizzle that runs over every prawn. The lime in ours comes straight off the tree in the garden.
Ingredients (makes 12)
- 12 cocktail blini
- 100g crème fraîche or sour cream
- 12 raw prawns, peeled
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons Coast of Gold Hot Shito
- 1 lime
Method
- Butterfly the prawns: run a small knife along the back of each one, remove the vein and open it out.
- Warm the blini in the oven at 180°C for 3 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a frying pan and fry the prawns for 5 minutes, turning halfway, until pink all the way through.
- Spoon crème fraîche onto each blini and top with a prawn.
- Stir the Shito with the remaining tablespoon of oil to make a drizzle, then spoon it over each prawn.
- Finish with finely grated lime zest and serve.
Can I use sour cream instead of crème fraîche?
Yes. Sour cream works just as well and is easy to find in any supermarket. Both cool the heat of the Shito.
Why butterfly the prawns?
Butterflied prawns cook evenly, sit neatly on the blini and catch more of the Shito drizzle in every fold.
Can I use cooked prawns?
Yes. Skip the frying, peel them and spoon the Shito drizzle over the top.
Can I make them ahead?
Cook the prawns ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. Assemble and drizzle just before serving so the blini stay soft and the crème fraîche stays cool.
Are they very spicy?
Hot Shito has a real kick. For a gentler canapé, use Medium Shito or Mild Shito.
What is Shito?
Shito is a Ghanaian pepper sauce and chilli crisp, eaten with almost everything in Ghana. Coast of Gold Shito is plant based and award winning, and it works anywhere you would use chilli oil: eggs, noodles, rice, seafood and, of course, prawns.
Want a higher protein version?
Swap the blini for Koose blini, made from black eyed peas. Our recipe is coming soon.
