Southern Style Shrimp and Grits

This iconic Southern dish was historically served as a morning meal. We adore 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 touch (or extra) of scorching sauce and a squeeze of contemporary lemon and also you’ve bought 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 residence 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! High all of it off with a little bit scorching sauce and also you’ve bought 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 choice permits you to greatest management the flavour. It’s an ideal chef tip.
• Butter: We use salted butter so as to add simply the correct quantity of salt to boost the flavors of the grits.
• Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese:  Freshly shredded melts higher than pre-shredded cheese, which comprises components to stop clumping.
• Shrimp (peeled and deveined): Use giant, uncooked shrimp for one of the 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 gives one of the best taste, however jarred minced garlic works too.
• Bacon: Use customary bacon or thick-cut. You’ll need to use precise bacon, quite than pre-cooked, as a result of you’ll be cooking the shrimp within the leftover bacon fats.
• Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works effectively and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed at all times has one of the best taste.
• Sizzling Sauce: High off together with your favourite scorching sauce.

Shrimp Choices

You’ve got a couple of choices to select from in the case of shrimp, actually it’s various. There are totally 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. Should you use frozen, be sure you thaw them earlier than utilizing.

On the spot vs. White Grits

On the spot grits might 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 true factor which is able to outcome within the creamiest, most flavorful, completely restaurant-quality grits you may make at residence.

Avoiding Lumpy Grits

Should you’re having points with clumping, don’t fear, you aren’t alone. It’s a typical downside that may be simply fastened. The commonest reason behind clumping is just not 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 repeatedly 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! Attempt whisking vigorously. Should you can’t whisk them out, add a splash of scorching water and hold whisking till the clumps dissolve. For additional cussed clumps, you’ll be able to even use an immersion blender briefly to clean them out. Simply don’t overmix.

Alter the Warmth

For much less warmth: Should you don’t tolerate spice effectively, be happy to go away out the recent sauce totally. If you would like a little bit spice however not lots of warmth, add a pinch of paprika and chili powder as a substitute.

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