If a luxury steak dinner at a fancy restaurant is not in the budget, maybe making it at home is. This easy surf and turf recipe makes those expensive dinners a little more accessible to anyone looking to create a special meal on a budget.
Not only is this recipe budget-friendly, but it's also time-friendly as it takes only 20 minutes to have a plate of delicious shrimp and hot buttery steak on the table.
If you are ready to start producing restaurant-quality food right in your own kitchen, then you've come to the right place. Today we learn just how easy it really is to make your own quick surf and turf dinner at home.
Table of Contents
Recipe Video
Why This Recipe Works
This surf and turf recipe works because it offers the luxurious taste of a meal typically found in upscale steak houses yet is surprisingly quick and easy to prepare at home. By using simple ingredients like steak, shrimp, salt, and pepper, anyone can recreate this gourmet dish with minimal effort. The key lies in the methodical cooking process—whether grilling the steak to a perfect medium-rare or quickly sautéing shrimp in butter (or vegan butter)—both components come together effortlessly to create a restaurant-quality meal.
Ingredients
Shrimp:
You can use either fresh or frozen shrimp to make this gourmet surf and turf dinner. Fresh shrimp should have a mild sea odor and firm, translucent flesh. Frozen shrimp should be firm, odor-free, and ideally shell-on for better flavor. They should be thawed out before use. Peel off the shell and remove the vein running along the back.
If shrimp isn't preferred or available, lobster, crab mussels, scallops, and firm-fleshed fish like salmon or halibut all make excellent "surf" options. If you are looking to create a vegan surf and turf, you can Cut firm tofu into rounds, marinate them in soy sauce, lemon juice, and garlic, then sear them to resemble scallops.
Hearts of palm can be sliced and sautéed or grilled to resemble lobster meat in texture and appearance. You can even use shredded young jackfruit mixed with breadcrumbs, herbs, and spices to make flavorful vegan crab cake.
Steak:
To select the best cuts of steak for surf and turf, opt for tender cuts such as filet mignon, ribeye, or New York strip steak. Look for well-marbled meat with even thickness for consistent cooking. If you prefer another option for the "turf" portion of your surf and turf dinner, there are plenty of options available.
Breaded and fried chicken breast cutlets, grilled chicken thighs, thick-cut pork chops or tenderloin medallions, and lamb chops or rack of lamb all provide excellent alternatives to steak. For a vegan surf and turf, grilled portobello mushrooms, cabbage steaks, or cauliflower steaks seasoned and grilled are hearty alternatives.
Seasonings:
While this recipe for surf and turf keeps the seasonings very simple with salt and pepper, you can experiment with your favorite seasonings. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, rosemary, and thyme make excellent steak seasonings. To elevate your shrimp, consider using old bay seasoning, chili powder, lemon pepper, cajun seasoning, or lime zest.
Butter:
Butter is a classic surf and turf ingredient because it adds flavor and tenderizes the shrimp and steak, making their meat tender and succulent. However, vegan butter melts and behaves similarly to regular butter when heated, making it a suitable option for a vegan surf and turf.
Garlic and Parsley:
Adding classic surf and turf ingredients like garlic and parsley to the butter provides the meal with freshness, color, and a ton of flavor!
How to Make Surf and Turf
Step One:
Season your peeled and deveined shrimp with ½ a teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Season your steak with the remaining salt and pepper.
Step Two:
Heat the olive oil in a pan or cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat.
Step Three:
Once the pan is hot, add your steaks and cook them for 2-3 minutes on each side. You will want to see a nice golden brown crust forming on the edges before flipping them.
Step Four:
Once the steaks are seared on each side, remove them from the pan and set aside.
Step Five:
Add the shrimp to the hot pan and cook for 1- 1 ½ minutes on each side. Shrimp should be pinkish in color but not rubbery in texture.
Step Six:
Remove cooked shrimp from the pan and set aside.
Step Seven:
Reduce the heat to medium-low and melt the butter in the pan. Add the garlic and parsley to the melted butter and saute for 30 seconds to 1 minute until aromatic.
Step Eight:
Add the steaks and shrimp back into the pan and saute them in the garlic butter for 30 seconds to a minute, continuously basting with the butter.
Step Nine:
Serve your homemade surf and turf with lemon wedges and a side dish like sauteed asparagus. Enjoy!
Tips
- To make the best surf and turf, it's essential to have your pan incredibly hot before you put any food in it. This is because a high temp prevents food from sticking to the pan, but it also ensures a perfect sear on your steaks. To check if your pan is hot enough, add some drops of water to the pan. If the water sizzles up, the pan isn't how enough. If the droplets roll around like balls on the hot pan before evaporating, the pan is hot enough.
- Before adding the butter, try deglazing the pan with ¼ cup of dry white wine. This will create a more flavorful result by getting all the flavorful crispy bits off of the pan and into the sauce. It also produces a creamy white wine butter sauce to elevate your surf and turf dinner.
What to Serve With Surf and Turf
When considering what to serve with surf and turf, there are a number of delicious side dishes that will perfectly complement your meal. Creamy mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes make a hearty choice, while grilled asparagus or even canned asparagus adds a touch of freshness.
For a gourmet touch, consider adding a drizzle of rich bearnaise sauce over the steak and seafood. Additionally, a side of buttery garlic bread or a light nicoise salad can balance the rich flavors, creating a well-rounded and satisfying dining experience.
FAQs
How can I tell if my steak is properly cooked?
To tell if your steak is properly cooked, use a meat thermometer: 125F for rare, 135F for medium-rare, 145F for medium, 150F for medium-well, and 160F for well-done. Alternatively, press the steak; it should feel firm yet springy for medium-rare.
How can I tell if the shrimp is cooked properly?
Shrimp are cooked properly when they turn pink and opaque, and the flesh is firm to the touch. They should form a loose "C" shape. Overcooked shrimp will curl tightly into an "O" shape and become rubbery.
What's the best way to store leftover surf and turf?
Leftover surf and turf can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the steak and seafood separately in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating gently to avoid overcooking.
More Steak Recipes
Steak is an incredibly convenient meal option, as it cooks very quickly and requires very simplistic preparation methods while still delivering in the flavor department. If you loved this surf and turf recipe, you should check out this collection of more steak recipes we have gathered to help inspire mealtime.
Surf and Turf
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ pounds New York strip steak
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons parsley
Instructions
- Season your peeled and deveined shrimp with ½ a teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Season your steak with the remaining salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a pan or cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat.
- Once the pan is hot, add your steaks and cook them for 2-3 minutes on each side. You will want to see a nice golden brown crust forming on the edges before flipping them.
- Once the steaks are seared on each side, remove them from the pan and set aside.
- Add the shrimp to the hot pan and cook for 1- 1 ½ minutes on each side. Shrimp should be pinkish in color but not rubbery in texture.
- Remove cooked shrimp from the pan and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and melt the butter in the pan. Add the garlic and parsley to the melted butter and saute for 30 seconds to 1 minute until aromatic.
- Add the steaks and shrimp back into the pan and saute them in the garlic butter for 30 seconds to a minute, continuously basting with the butter.
- Serve your homemade surf and turf with lemon wedges and a side dish like sauteed asparagus. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Notes
- To make the best surf and turf, it's essential to have your pan incredibly hot before you put any food in it. This is because a high temperature prevents food from sticking to the pan and ensures a perfect sear on your steaks. To check if your pan is hot enough, add some drops of water to it. If the water sizzles up, the pan isn't hot enough. If the droplets roll around like balls on the hot pan before evaporating, the pan is hot enough.
- Before adding the butter, try deglazing the pan with ¼ cup of dry white wine. This will create a more flavorful result by getting all the flavorful crispy bits off of the pan and into the sauce. It also produces a creamy white wine butter sauce to elevate your surf and turf dinner.