Description
A cozy and elegant dinner featuring Cajun-seasoned shrimp and salmon in a creamy garlic sauce, served with creamy mashed potatoes and fresh green beans.
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon fillets, cut into portions
- 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 4 tablespoons butter (for mashed potatoes)
- 1/2 cup milk or cream for mashed potatoes
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley, lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prep the potatoes and green beans.
- Place potatoes in a pot, cover with cold salted water, bring to a boil, and simmer until fork-tender (about 15–20 minutes).
- In the last 4–5 minutes of potatoes cooking, blanch green beans in the boiling water, drain, and shock in ice water to keep them bright and crisp.
- Season and cook the salmon and shrimp.
- Pat fish and shrimp dry. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning evenly over both.
- Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear salmon 3–4 minutes per side depending on thickness until cooked through; remove and keep warm.
- In the same pan, add another tablespoon butter and quickly cook shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until pink. Remove and set aside.
- Make the garlic cream sauce.
- Reduce heat to medium, add remaining butter and olive oil. Sauté shallot until translucent, add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in broth and scrape up brown bits. Stir in heavy cream and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add lemon juice, season with salt and pepper. Return shrimp and a spoonful of pan juices to warm through for 1 minute. (Place salmon on plates and spoon sauce over both fish.)
- Finish the mashed potatoes and green beans.
- Drain potatoes and mash with butter and milk until smooth and creamy; season with salt and pepper.
- Toss green beans with a little butter, salt, and a squeeze of lemon, then reheat briefly in a pan or oven.
- Plate and serve.
- Spoon mashed potatoes onto each plate, arrange salmon and shrimp on top, ladle garlic cream sauce over fish, and add green beans to the side. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.
Notes
For extra silky mashed potatoes, warm the milk before adding it to the potatoes. Adjust the Cajun seasoning based on your heat preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing, Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun