Description
Shrimp and Grits bring Southern comfort right to your dinner table, blending creamy grits with succulent shrimp for a romantic meal that feels like a warm culinary hug. Comfort never tasted so good when shared with someone special on Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound medium to large raw shrimp
- ¾ cup Grits
- 6 ounces Cheddar cheese (grated)
Supporting Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 1 cup diced ripe tomatoes
- ½ cup Chopped Green Bell Pepper
- ⅓ cup Heavy Cream
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 2 cloves Garlic (Minced)
- ¾ tablespoon Chopped Onion
- ½ tablespoon Dried Thyme
- 1 tablespoon Flour
- ¼ tablespoon Salt
- ½ to 1 cup Shrimp Stock
- 2 Dashes Tabasco
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Parsley
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Pour 3½ cups water into a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil at 212°F. Carefully whisk in ¾ cup grits until smoothly incorporated.
- Reduce stovetop heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until your grits become thick and absorb all liquid.
- Remove grits from heat and fold in ¼ tablespoon salt, 6 ounces grated cheddar cheese, and 4 tablespoons butter until everything melts together smoothly.
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat at 350°F. Add ¾ tablespoon chopped onion, ½ cup green bell pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves.
- Sauté the vegetables for 3 minutes until they soften and become fragrant. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Pour 1 cup diced tomatoes into the skillet. Sprinkle ½ tablespoon dried thyme and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Dust 1 tablespoon flour over the vegetable mixture and stir thoroughly to create a light roux.
- Add 1 pound raw shrimp to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes until shrimp turn pink and curl slightly.
- Pour ½ cup shrimp stock into the pan. Stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste until completely blended.
- Drizzle ⅓ cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, and 2 dashes Tabasco into the sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt.
- Ladle warm grits into serving bowls. Gently arrange shrimp and sauce over the creamy base.
- Garnish with 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley just before serving.
Notes
- Always use stone-ground grits for the most authentic, creamy texture that will make your dish taste like it came straight from a Southern kitchen.
- Grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded to get a smoother, more even melt that coats the grits perfectly.
- Cook shrimp just until they turn pink to avoid rubbery texture, which can quickly ruin the delicate seafood’s natural sweetness.
- For a gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder when thickening the sauce, keeping the recipe accessible for more people.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 to 4
- Calories: 386 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 195 mg