Shrimply Delicious Shrimp and Grits
Chances are, if you grew up in the South, you have eaten your fair share of grits. You’ve probably eaten your share of shrimp, too. It’s no wonder that these two Southern staples come together in one of the best dishes of all time. Crystal grew up eating grits almost every morning and had always considered them a breakfast dish—until the day she was served shrimp and grits for dinner. That was when her obsession began. Instead of seeking help, Crystal continued to make shrimp and grits on her stove top, working and reworking the dish to find the perfect recipe. Her work definitely paid off. Here is her winning combo of smoked Gouda cheese grits and Cajun spiced shrimp, topped off with an herbed tomato mixture. Perfection indeed.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 8 servings
Ingredients
Grits
Tomato Sauce
Shrimp
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
Step 2
For the grits, melt the butter in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook for 8 minutes or until golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in the broth, milk, and salt and bring to a boil. Gradually add the grits, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat; stir in the cheese, eggs, and pepper. Spoon the grits mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Bake for about 40 minutes or until firm.
Step 3
For the tomato sauce, heat the oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the bell pepper and rosemary and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, wine, garlic, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Step 4
For the shrimp, heat the oil in a nonstick skillet set over medium-high heat. In a small bowl, stir together the black pepper, white pepper, cayenne, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Toss the shrimp in the seasoning mix, and then put the shrimp in the pan. Cook and stir for 3 minutes or until the shrimp are opaque.
Step 5
To assemble the casserole, spread the tomato sauce over the grits in an even layer. Top the sauce with the shrimp. Serve immediately.
note
Step 6
Crystal grew up preparing shrimp for this dish. Here’s how it’s done: First, remove the shells and legs. Take a paring knife and make a shallow slit along the back of each shrimp. With the tip of the blade, lift up and remove the vein. The vein will tend to stick to your knife, so set a glass of water beside you while you work to dip your knife in and remove the vein before moving to the next shrimp.
