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–+ servings

Cajun Shrimp and Salmon with Garlic Cream Sauce

A culinary experience combining bold Cajun flavors, succulent seafood, creamy mashed potatoes, and vibrant green beans, perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a gourmet meal at home.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Serving Size 4 servings

Ingredients

For the seafood

  • 4 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 6 oz fillets salmon, skin on or off depending on preference
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter (for seafood)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

For the sauce

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon butter (for sauce)

For the mashed potatoes

  • 4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup butter (for mashed potatoes)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

For the green beans

  • 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons butter (for green beans)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (for green beans)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Preparation of Potatoes

  • Start by peeling and cutting the russet potatoes into even chunks. Add them to a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until fork-tender.
  • Drain the potatoes, return them to the pot, and mash with a potato masher or hand mixer until smooth. Add butter and milk while mashing to achieve a creamy consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste, cover, and set aside.

Cooking the Seafood

  • Pat shrimp and salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with Cajun seasoning.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, melt butter and add salmon fillets. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked through and flaky. Set aside with shrimp.

Making the Garlic Cream Sauce

  • In the same skillet, melt another tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  • Stir in heavy cream, chicken broth, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
  • Return shrimp and salmon to the sauce, allowing them to simmer together for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Preparing the Green Beans

  • For the green beans, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook green beans for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp, then drain.
  • In a skillet, melt butter, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using), and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Toss cooked green beans in this mixture and sauté for another 3-4 minutes until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.

Serving

  • To serve, scoop mashed potatoes on plates, place salmon and shrimp on top, coat with garlic cream sauce, and add sautéed green beans on the side. Garnish as desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, let your seafood marinate in the Cajun seasoning for 30 minutes prior to cooking. Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream if you want a lighter sauce. Adjust the spice level according to your taste by varying the amount of Cajun seasoning and adding more red pepper flakes if desired. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.