Description
Ina Garten’s shrimp and grits recipe blends Southern comfort with gourmet elegance. Rich, creamy cheese grits provide a luxurious base for perfectly seasoned shrimp you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (960 ml) water
- 1 cup (240 ml) stone-ground grits
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) butter
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 4 tsp (20 ml) lemon juice
- 2 tbsps chopped parsley
- 1 cup (100 g) thinly sliced scallions
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Grits Preparation: Bring water to a boil in a medium pot, seasoning with salt and pepper. Whisk in stone-ground grits, eliminating lumps. Simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally until creamy, approximately 20-25 minutes. Incorporate butter and sharp cheddar cheese, stirring until silky and smooth.
- Seafood and Bacon Technique: Rinse and dry shrimp thoroughly. In a cast-iron skillet, render bacon over medium heat until crisp and golden. Remove bacon, reserving drippings. Sauté shrimp in bacon fat, cooking until opaque and light pink, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Flavor Infusion: Add lemon juice, crumbled bacon, parsley, green onions, and garlic to the skillet with cooked shrimp. Toss ingredients together, allowing flavors to meld for 2-3 minutes, creating a vibrant sauce.
- Plating and Serving: Spread creamy, cheese-laden grits in wide-rimmed bowls as a luxurious foundation. Top with shrimp and bacon mixture, ensuring even distribution. Optional: Garnish with additional chopped parsley or green onions. Serve immediately while steaming hot.
Notes
- Grits Consistency Check: Stir constantly to prevent lumps and achieve a creamy, smooth texture without burning the bottom of the pot.
- Bacon Fat Flavor Boost: Use the rendered bacon fat to sauté shrimp for an extra layer of rich, smoky flavor that elevates the entire dish.
- Shrimp Cooking Precision: Cook shrimp just until they turn opaque and pink to avoid overcooking, which can make them tough and rubbery.
- Serving Temperature Matters: Serve immediately while both grits and shrimp are hot to maintain the perfect creamy and juicy consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering, Frying, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg