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Surf & Turf Deluxe: Butter-Seared Filet with Garlic Prawns

Big Daddy saves Surf and Turf for special occasions — anniversaries, promotions, or a Tuesday when you've decided you deserve something extraordinary. A filet mignon, seared to a caramelized crust with a blush-pink center, right next to a cascade of golden garlic butter prawns that are so sweet and briny they make your eyes roll back. This dish stops conversations. It earns silent nods of appreciation. It is, in Big Daddy's humble opinion, the greatest thing you can put on a dinner plate.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Ingredients
  • For the Filet Mignon:
  • 2 filet mignon steaks 6–8 oz each, 1.5 inches thick
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves smashed
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • For the Garlic Butter Prawns:
  • 10 –12 large prawns or jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional Pan Sauce:
  • 1/4 cup white wine or dry vermouth
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard optional
  • For Garnish:
  • Lemon wedges
  • Microgreens or thyme sprigs
  • Flaky sea salt

Method
 

  1. Instructions
  2. Remove filets from fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Pat completely dry.
  3. Preheat cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Rub steaks with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  4. Add oil to pan. Sear filets 2–3 minutes per side without moving. Add butter, garlic, and thyme. Baste repeatedly with butter for 1–2 minutes.
  5. Transfer to 400°F (200°C) oven for 4–5 minutes until internal temp reaches 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare.
  6. Remove and rest on a warm plate 8–10 minutes.
  7. OPTIONAL PAN SAUCE: Deglaze the steak pan with white wine. Scrape up the brown bits. Add heavy cream and Dijon mustard. Simmer until slightly thickened and glossy.
  8. GARLIC BUTTER PRAWNS: In a clean skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and saute 30 seconds. Add prawns in a single layer, season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
  9. Cook prawns 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Squeeze in lemon juice and sprinkle with parsley. Do not overcook — prawns are done when they curl into a 'C' shape.
  10. Place each filet at the center of a warm plate. Arrange garlic prawns over or around the steak. Drizzle pan sauce and extra garlic butter across both.
  11. Finish with flaky sea salt, a spritz of lemon juice, and a few microgreens or thyme leaves.