Southern Fashion Shrimp and Grits

This iconic Southern dish was historically served as a morning meal. We like it a lot, we’d have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. These heat, creamy grits are loaded with butter and cheddar cheese, topped with sautéed shrimp and crispy bacon. Add a splash (or extra) of sizzling sauce and a squeeze of contemporary lemon and also you’ve received a bowl of Southern consolation prepared in simply 45 minutes.

For extra Southern consolation meals, attempt our Chicken and Dumplings or our Southern Style Red Beans and Rice.

Shrimp and grits is an iconic, Southern breakfast meals. Image New Orleans and Charleston, the place this humble dish is an integral a part of their on a regular basis dwelling life. This Southern staple is simple to organize, hearty and filling, whereas delivering massive taste. Buttery, tacky grits mixed with savory bacon and garlic shrimp makes our mouths water! Prime all of it off with a little bit sizzling sauce and also you’ve received a scrumptious meal that’s positive to turn out to be a household favourite.

Ingredient Notes

• White Grits: White grits are extra versatile and tackle the flavors of the dish, whereas yellow grits have a extra assertive corn taste.
• Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility lets you finest management the flavour. It’s an excellent chef tip.
• Butter: We use salted butter so as to add simply the correct quantity of salt to reinforce the flavors of the grits.
• Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese:  Freshly shredded melts higher than pre-shredded cheese, which comprises components to forestall clumping.
• Shrimp (peeled and deveined): Use giant, uncooked shrimp for the very best texture. Frozen shrimp can be utilized if thawed correctly. You ca depart tails on or take away them earlier than cooking..
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the very best taste, however jarred minced garlic works too.
• Bacon: Use commonplace bacon or thick-cut. You’ll need to use precise bacon, relatively than pre-cooked, as a result of you’ll be cooking the shrimp within the leftover bacon fats.
• Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works properly and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed at all times has the very best taste.
• Sizzling Sauce: Prime off together with your favourite sizzling sauce.

Shrimp Choices

You have got a number of choices to select from on the subject of shrimp, actually it’s quite a lot of. There are completely different sizes, frozen or contemporary, veined or deveined, peeled or entire, and all of them work!

For comfort, we choose to cook dinner with already peeled and deveined shrimp. In case you use frozen, you should definitely thaw them earlier than utilizing.

On the spot vs. White Grits

On the spot grits could cook dinner up sooner, nonetheless, they lack the higher taste of white grits. It’s value it to take the time to cook dinner up the actual factor which is able to end result within the creamiest, most flavorful, completely restaurant-quality grits you may make at dwelling.

Avoiding Lumpy Grits

In case you’re having points with clumping, don’t fear, you aren’t alone. It’s a typical drawback that may be simply fastened. The commonest explanation for clumping shouldn’t be stirring the grits instantly after including them to the liquid. This could trigger the grits to stay collectively and type lumps.

To stop lumps, be certain that to stir the grits constantly for the primary jiffy after including them to the liquid. Stir, stir, stir!

Add grits a little bit at a time whereas stirring to make sure that the grits are evenly dispersed within the liquid. You’ll be able to simply gently sprinkle them excessive of the boiling liquid.

In case your grits are already lumpy, seize a whisk! Strive whisking vigorously. In case you can’t whisk them out, add a splash of sizzling water and hold whisking till the clumps dissolve. For additional cussed clumps, you possibly can even use an immersion blender briefly to clean them out. Simply don’t overmix.

Modify the Warmth

For much less warmth: In case you don’t tolerate spice properly, be at liberty to depart out the recent sauce fully. If you would like a little bit spice however not quite a lot of warmth, add a pinch of paprika and chili powder as an alternative.

For extra warmth: Be at liberty to only add extra sizzling sauce. Or, add 1/4–1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper when cooking the shrimp for much more warmth. You possibly can additionally prime with contemporary jalapeño slices or a sprinkle of purple pepper flakes.