Description
Southern Shrimp and Grits bring comfort straight from Charleston’s kitchens to your dinner table. Creamy stone-ground grits create the perfect base for succulent shrimp simmered in a rich, zesty sauce that’ll make your taste buds dance.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound large shrimp
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 4 slices bacon
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Pour 4 cups chicken broth into a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil at high heat. Whisk 1 cup stone-ground grits, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder into the bubbling liquid.
- Reduce heat to low and cover the saucepan. Simmer your grits for exactly 22 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- After simmering, remove the grits from heat and fold in ½ cup heavy cream, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar, and 2 tablespoons butter until your mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Chop 4 bacon slices into small pieces and crisp them in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes.
- Add 1 finely diced small onion and 2 minced garlic cloves to your bacon. Sauté for 2 minutes until the onions turn translucent.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, and optional ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper into the skillet. Stir for 30 seconds to release the spices’ aromatics.
- Toss 1 pound peeled shrimp into the skillet. Pour ½ cup chicken broth and 2 tablespoons lemon juice over the shrimp.
- Cook your shrimp for 2-3 minutes until they turn completely pink and curl slightly.
- Ladle your creamy grits into serving bowls and top with the spiced shrimp and bacon mixture.
- Garnish with 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley just before serving.
Notes
- Make sure to whisk grits constantly while cooking to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, creamy texture.
- Use stone-ground grits for a more authentic, rich flavor that stands up better to the shrimp and bacon.
- Select large or jumbo shrimp for the best presentation and juiciest bite, ensuring they’re not overcooked.
- For a lighter version, swap bacon for turkey bacon and use low-fat cheese to reduce calories without sacrificing taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 291 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 404 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg