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 splash (or extra) of scorching sauce and a squeeze of recent lemon and also you’ve obtained 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 arrange, hearty and filling, whereas delivering huge taste. Buttery, tacky grits mixed with savory bacon and garlic shrimp makes our mouths water! Prime all of it off with slightly scorching sauce and also you’ve obtained a scrumptious meal that’s certain to turn into 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.
• Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility permits you to greatest management the flavour. It’s a terrific 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 incorporates components to stop clumping.
• Shrimp (peeled and deveined): Use massive, 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 supplies one of the best taste, however jarred minced garlic works too.
• Bacon: Use normal bacon or thick-cut. You’ll need to use precise bacon, quite than pre-cooked, as a result of you can be cooking the shrimp within the leftover bacon fats.
• Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works nicely and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed all the time has one of the best taste.
• Sizzling Sauce: Prime off along with your favourite scorching sauce.

Shrimp Choices

You may have a couple of choices to select from with regards to shrimp, actually it’s quite a lot of. There are completely different sizes, frozen or recent, veined or deveined, peeled or complete, and all of them work!

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

Immediate vs. White Grits

Immediate 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 actual factor which is able to consequence 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 downside that may be simply mounted. The commonest explanation for clumping will not be stirring the grits instantly after including them to the liquid. This will trigger the grits to stay collectively and type lumps.

To forestall lumps, make sure that to stir the grits repeatedly for the primary couple of minutes after including them to the liquid. Stir, stir, stir!

Add grits slightly at a time whereas stirring to make sure that the grits are evenly dispersed within the liquid. You possibly can simply gently sprinkle them excessive of the boiling liquid.

In case your grits are already lumpy, seize a whisk! Attempt whisking vigorously. In case you can’t whisk them out, add a splash of scorching 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.

Alter the Warmth

For much less warmth: In case you don’t tolerate spice nicely, be happy to go away out the new sauce solely. If you would like slightly spice however not numerous warmth, add a pinch of paprika and chili powder as a substitute.

For extra warmth: Be at liberty to simply add extra scorching sauce. Or, add 1/4–1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper when cooking the shrimp for much more warmth. You can additionally high with recent jalapeño slices or a sprinkle of crimson pepper flakes.