Whitsundays Seafood Recipes

Whitsundays Reef & Beef

Creamy Garlic Reef Seafood Sauce Over Premium Steak

A rich tropical Australian Island style steak dish loaded with prawns, scallops and creamy garlic sauce perfect for seafood lovers and coastal BBQ nights.

Prep Time - 15 mins

Cook Time - 20 mins

Serves - 2

Ingredients - Steak

2 x 300g ribeye or sirloin steaks

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp cracked black pepper

• 1 tbsp butter

Reef Seafood

• 6 large prawns, peeled

• 6 scallops

• 150g calamari rings

• 1 tsp olive oil

Creamy Garlic Sauce

• 2 tbsp butter

• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1 small brown onion, finely diced

• 1 cup thickened cream

• 1/2 cup chicken stock

• 1/3 cup dry white wine

• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

• 1 tsp wholegrain mustard

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 tbsp chopped parsley

• Salt & cracked pepper to taste

Method

1. Cook the Steak

Season steaks with sea salt and cracked pepper.

Heat a cast iron pan or BBQ plate over high heat. Add olive oil and cook steaks for:

• Medium Rare: 3–4 mins each side

• Medium: 4–5 mins each side

Add butter in the final minute and baste the steaks.

Rest steaks for 8–10 minutes.

2. Cook the Seafood

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Cook:

• Prawns: 1½–2 mins each side

• Scallops: 1–1½ mins each side

• Calamari: 1 minute total

Set seafood aside.

3. Make the Cream Sauce

In the same pan add butter, onion and garlic.

Cook for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.

Pour in white wine and simmer for 2 minutes.

Add chicken stock and reduce slightly.

Stir through:

• Thickened cream

• Parmesan cheese

• Wholegrain mustard

• Lemon juice

Simmer gently for 4–5 minutes until thick and creamy.

Return seafood to the sauce briefly to warm through.

4. Serve

Place steak on warm plates and generously spoon over the creamy reef seafood sauce.

Serve with:

• Grilled asparagus

• Garlic mash

• Crispy chips

• Tropical salad

Coastal Cooking Tip

Fresh local prawns and reef seafood give this dish the ultimate Whitsundays flavour.

Perfect for BBQ nights, coastal entertaining and seafood lovers.

Seafood Recipes

Whitsunday Salmon Cakes

Tropical Coastal Style Salmon Cakes

Fresh, crispy salmon cakes with zesty lime, herbs, and a relaxed Whitsunday beach vibe.

Prep Time - 15 mins

Cook Time - 10 mins

Serves - 4

Ingredients

• 400g cooked or canned salmon

• 2 medium potatoes, mashed

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

• 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• Zest of 1 lime

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Olive oil for frying

Method

1. In a large bowl, combine salmon, mashed potato, egg, breadcrumbs, parsley, dill, garlic powder, lime zest, salt, and pepper.

2. Mix well until fully combined.

3. Shape mixture into evenly sized patties.

4. Chill patties in the fridge for 15 minutes to help them firm up.

5. Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat.

6. Cook salmon cakes for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.

7. Serve with fresh salad, lime wedges, aioli, or sweet chilli sauce.

Serving Suggestion

Serve in a basket lined with paper on a bed of tropical salad for the ultimate Whitsunday coastal vibe.

Perfect For

Beach lunches • Seafood platters • BBQs • Tropical entertaining • Light summer dinners & the kids.

Whitsunday Seafood Sauce

Creamy Tropical Garlic Seafood Sauce

A rich creamy seafood sauce packed with garlic, prawns, scallops and fresh coastal flavour — perfect over grilled fish, steak, pasta or fresh reef seafood.

Prep Time - 10 mins

Cook Time - 15 mins

Serves - 4

Ingredients

• 300g green prawns, peeled

• 150g scallops

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1 small brown onion, finely diced

• 1 cup thickened cream

• 1/2 cup chicken stock

• 1/3 cup dry white wine

• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

• 1 tsp wholegrain mustard

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tbsp chopped parsley

• Sea salt & cracked pepper to taste

Method - 1. Cook the Seafood

Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.

Cook prawns for 1½–2 minutes each side until lightly golden.

Cook scallops for 1 minute each side.

Remove seafood and set aside.

2. Build the Sauce

In the same pan melt butter.

Add onion and garlic and cook for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and soft.

Pour in white wine and simmer for 2 minutes.

Add chicken stock and reduce slightly.

3. Make it Creamy

Reduce heat to low.

Stir through:

• Thickened cream

• Parmesan cheese

• Wholegrain mustard

• Smoked paprika

• Lemon juice

Simmer gently for 4–5 minutes until silky and thick.

4. Finish the Sauce

Return seafood to the pan and warm through for 1 minute.

Season with sea salt and cracked pepper.

Finish with fresh parsley.

Best Served With

• Grilled reef fish

• Steak

• Seafood pasta

• Garlic bread

• BBQ prawns

• Crispy chips

Coastal Cooking Tip

Fresh local seafood gives this sauce its rich Whitsunday flavour and restaurant quality taste. Perfect for tropical seafood dinners and coastal entertaining.

Join Aquaventure Below

Get fresh seafood recipes and fishing tips every time we update!