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Creamy Seafood Meal

Featured in Dinner Ideas That Actually Work.

This tasty dish combines flaky, tender salmon and juicy shrimp in a smooth, spicy Cajun cream sauce. Perfect over rice or pasta, it’s simple to make at home for a restaurant-quality meal.

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Clare Recipes
Updated on Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:11:00 GMT
Cooked salmon piece and shrimp mixed in thick creamy sauce, topped with parsley. Pin it
Cooked salmon piece and shrimp mixed in thick creamy sauce, topped with parsley. | lilicooks.com

Luscious Seafood in Spicy Sauce

I've gotta share the dinner recipe everyone always asks for. I've been impressing guests for years with this mix of soft salmon, plump shrimp and rich Cajun cream sauce. You'll want to clean your plate completely with bread – the sauce is that amazing.

An Eatery Classic Made Simple

My first taste of Cajun food during our New Orleans honeymoon inspired this dish. Every bit of seafood gets wrapped in this amazing creamy sauce. The trick is combining both shrimp and salmon for that special touch, but it's actually super easy to whip up at home.

Your Ingredients

  • Salmon fillets: Pick 2 pieces with firm texture and vibrant pink color.
  • Shrimp: Grab 10 big ones, thawed frozen works fine if you can't get fresh.
  • Olive oil: You'll need 1 tbsp to get that perfect crust.
  • Cajun seasoning: 1 tbsp of this must-have spice mix.
  • Heavy cream: 1 cup for that can't-resist sauce texture.
  • Garlic: 2 cloves chopped small to boost flavor.
  • Onion: Half of one, diced tiny adds subtle sweetness.
  • Parmesan cheese: ½ cup grated fresh for perfect meltiness.
  • Pasta or rice: Your favorite kind to soak up all that goodness.
  • Fresh parsley: A small bunch chopped adds color and freshness.

Cooking Steps

Season Well First:
Cover your seafood completely with the Cajun mix, don't miss any spots.
Cook Your Salmon:
Heat oil in a pan until really hot. Sear salmon until golden outside but still pink inside, around 4 5 minutes per side.
Handle The Shrimp:
Use the same pan to cook shrimp until they turn pink and curl up, about 2 minutes total.
Create Your Sauce:
Cook garlic and onion until they smell amazing and turn soft. Add cream, let it simmer, then mix in parmesan until smooth.
Combine Everything:
Put seafood back into the sauce and let flavors mix together.
Ready To Serve:
Pour over hot pasta or rice and top with fresh parsley.
A plated dish featuring a thick piece of grilled salmon surrounded by shrimp in a creamy sauce, garnished with chopped parsley. Pin it
A plated dish featuring a thick piece of grilled salmon surrounded by shrimp in a creamy sauce, garnished with chopped parsley. | lilicooks.com

Extra Tips

I sometimes add a tiny bit of cayenne when I want more kick. Grabbing some crusty bread for the leftover sauce is almost mandatory. Don't forget to chill a nice bottle of white wine to make your meal complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How do I know when salmon is cooked perfectly?

The fish is ready when it flakes with a fork and turns fully opaque. For medium doneness, a slight pink in the center still works!

→ Can I make this in advance?

Seafood’s best cooked fresh, but go ahead and prepare the sauce ahead of time. Heat it back up and add a splash of cream to keep it smooth.

→ Which salmon type works best here?

Pick fresh fillets with the skin on—they stay juicy this way while cooking. Take the skin off before plating if you like.

→ How do I stop the sauce from separating?

Cook on medium-low heat once you add the cheese, and keep stirring. Take it off the heat as soon as it thickens up.

→ Can I switch out heavy cream?

Heavy cream’s the go-to for richness, but half-and-half works if needed. The texture will be thinner, but still delicious.

Seafood Cajun Cream

Juicy salmon and shrimp in a creamy Cajun sauce. A quick, tasty, and easy-to-make seafood meal in under 30 minutes.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
30 Minutes
By: Lily Chen

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Cajun

Yield: 2 Servings (1 dish)

Dietary: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

01 Fresh parsley for topping.
02 A pinch of salt and pepper.
03 ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
04 10 jumbo shrimp, peeled and cleaned.
05 2 minced garlic cloves.
06 2 boneless salmon fillets.
07 A tablespoon of olive oil.
08 1 cup of heavy cream.
09 A tablespoon of Cajun seasoning.
10 ½ a small onion, chopped finely.
11 Steamed rice or cooked pasta to plate it up.

Instructions

Step 01

Dust the shrimp and salmon generously with Cajun spice, then add a little salt and pepper.

Step 02

In a heated skillet with oil, cook the salmon on each side for about 4-5 minutes.

Step 03

Brown the shrimp in the same pan for 1-2 minutes per side until they look pink and done.

Step 04

In the same skillet, cook the onion and garlic until they're soft and fragrant.

Step 05

Pour in the cream, letting it gently bubble, then mix in Parmesan. Stir until it thickens.

Step 06

Add the shrimp and salmon back into the pan. Spoon the sauce over to coat it all.

Step 07

Spoon over pasta or rice and sprinkle with parsley for a pop of color.

Notes

  1. Want it spicy? Sprinkle on cayenne.
  2. Tastes amazing with breadsticks and greens on the side.

Tools You'll Need

  • A large frying pan.
  • Metal tongs.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains shellfish.
  • Contains fish.
  • Contains dairy.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 680
  • Total Fat: 48 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 12 g
  • Protein: 52 g