Treat yourself to the ultimate indulgence with this Surf and Turf with Creamy Garlic Sauce. Juicy seared steak paired with tender shrimp, all smothered in a rich, velvety garlic cream sauce. This luxurious dish is perfect for special occasions, date nights, or any time you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• For the Steak:

  • 2 ribeye or strip steaks (1-inch thick)

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 tsp salt

  • ½ tsp black pepper

  • ½ tsp smoked paprika

  • 1 tbsp butter (for basting)

• For the Shrimp:

  • ½ lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • ½ tsp salt

  • ½ tsp garlic powder

  • ¼ tsp black pepper

  • Juice of ½ lemon

• For the Creamy Garlic Sauce:

  • 1 tbsp butter

  • 4 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • ½ tsp Italian seasoning

  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley (for garnish)

• For Serving:

  • Mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice

  • Steamed asparagus, green beans, or roasted broccoli

  • Lemon wedges for garnish

Directions

1. Prepare the Steak: Pat the steaks dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Let the steaks sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking for even results.

2. Sear the Steak: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add steaks and sear for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare (adjust based on thickness). Add butter and baste the steaks in the last minute. Transfer steaks to a plate, tent with foil, and let rest.

3. Cook the Shrimp: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add a bit more olive oil if needed, then cook shrimp in a single layer. Season with salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Sear for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Squeeze lemon juice over shrimp, then remove from skillet and set aside.

4. Make the Creamy Garlic Sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then remove from heat.

5. Assemble and Serve: Slice the steak if desired. Plate with shrimp and drizzle the creamy garlic sauce over both. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with your favorite sides.

Nutritional Value (per serving)

• Calories: 540 kcal

• Protein: 42g

• Carbohydrates: 7g

• Fat: 38g

• Fiber: 1g

• Sodium: 620mg

This rich and decadent Surf and Turf with Creamy Garlic Sauce will elevate any dinner into something special. Perfectly paired with mashed potatoes or veggies, it’s a delicious and impressive meal for any occasion!

The Perfect Steak: Juicy, Flavorful, and Tender

The star of the show starts with the steaks. Ribeye or strip steaks work wonderfully for this recipe due to their marbling and tender texture. These cuts are known for their rich, beefy flavor and juiciness, making them the perfect match for this luxurious dish. Seasoning the steaks with simple ingredients like salt, pepper, and smoked paprika enhances the natural flavors of the meat without overpowering it.

To achieve that perfect sear, it’s important to let the steaks rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes before cooking. This ensures even cooking and a beautifully seared crust. Cooking the steaks in a hot skillet allows the exterior to caramelize, creating a deep, rich flavor. Adding butter to the pan during the last minute of cooking not only enhances the flavor but also helps baste the steaks, keeping them juicy and tender. Once cooked to your desired doneness, resting the steaks allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring every bite is flavorful and moist.

The Shrimp: Sweet, Succulent, and Flavorful

While the steak is the centerpiece of this dish, the shrimp add a wonderful contrast in texture and flavor. Shrimp cook very quickly, and by seasoning them with salt, garlic powder, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, you can keep the seasoning simple while letting the natural sweetness of the shrimp shine.

Cooking the shrimp in the same skillet used for the steak allows them to pick up all the flavorful browned bits left behind, making them even more delicious. In just 1-2 minutes per side, the shrimp turn pink and opaque, and they’re ready to be paired with the steak. The squeeze of lemon juice right before serving brightens the dish, balancing the richness of the steak and the creamy sauce.

The Creamy Garlic Sauce: Decadent and Velvety

The key to this Surf and Turf dish is the creamy garlic sauce. Made with heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and a touch of Italian seasoning, this sauce is rich, velvety, and packed with garlicky goodness. The sauce is incredibly easy to make—simply sauté minced garlic in butter, then add the cream and cheese, and let it simmer until it thickens slightly. The Parmesan cheese gives the sauce a deep umami flavor, while the Italian seasoning adds complexity and warmth.

This sauce ties the dish together, providing a luxurious coating for both the steak and shrimp. It’s the kind of sauce that you’ll want to drizzle generously over everything, adding that extra touch of indulgence.

Serving the Surf and Turf

Once the steak and shrimp are cooked, it’s time to assemble the dish. Slice the steak against the grain for maximum tenderness and arrange it on a plate alongside the shrimp. Drizzle the creamy garlic sauce generously over both, ensuring every bite is coated with the rich sauce. For an added burst of color and freshness, garnish with chopped parsley. The bright green parsley contrasts beautifully with the creamy sauce and adds a hint of freshness to balance out the richness.

The Perfect Side Dishes

To round out this indulgent meal, serve the Surf and Turf with creamy mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice as a base. These sides work well to soak up the creamy garlic sauce, making every bite even more satisfying. For a fresh and crunchy contrast, pair the dish with steamed asparagus, green beans, or roasted broccoli, which provide a light and healthy balance to the richness of the steak and shrimp.

For an extra touch, serve the dish with lemon wedges on the side. The acidity from the lemon adds a refreshing zing that cuts through the creaminess, making the meal even more dynamic.

Nutritional Value

This Surf and Turf with Creamy Garlic Sauce is both a decadent and relatively balanced dish. A typical serving contains around 540 calories, with 42 grams of protein coming from the steak and shrimp. The dish also contains 38 grams of fat, much of which is from the rich butter and cream used in the sauce, making it indulgent but satisfying. The meal provides a small amount of carbohydrates (7g), which can be adjusted based on your choice of side dishes.

While it’s a rich meal, this dish also provides 1g of dietary fiber and 620mg of sodium, so it’s important to balance it with lighter side dishes like steamed vegetables to maintain a healthy balance.

Conclusion

Surf and Turf with Creamy Garlic Sauce is the epitome of indulgence and elegance in a single meal. Whether you’re preparing it for a special occasion, a romantic dinner, or just treating yourself to something special, this dish combines juicy seared steak, succulent shrimp, and a rich, garlicky cream sauce to create an unforgettable dining experience. The creamy sauce ties everything together, and with the right sides, it’s the perfect meal to impress without spending all day in the kitchen.

This recipe is simple yet sophisticated, offering an impressive dish that’s sure to become a favorite in your repertoire.