No matter where you are from, you are destined to love shrimp and grits. The delicious taste of fresh seafood mixed with garlic, peppers, cheese, and grits will make you a fan of this dish for life! Let’s take a closer look to see how shrimp and grits are made so you can enjoy this delectable recipe in your kitchen for your next meal.
Secrets Behind The Recipe
To make the most memorable shrimp and grits you have ever had, there are a few secrets to the recipe you should follow. First, be sure to use fresh and local shrimp. Getting a one-of-a-kind flavor in your dish requires fresh shrimp sourced from nearby. If you can’t find any local shrimp and you have a Trader Joe’s near you, you can use their Argentinian Red Shrimp. The second secret to the best shrimp and grits recipe is to never overcook the shrimp. Lastly, always use stone-ground grits. The texture and corn flavor are unbeatable. Let’s take a look at the rest of the ingredients you will need!
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp peeled, deveined and tails removed
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Salt and ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste
- 1 cup white or yellow stone-ground grits
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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Method
Don’t let all the ingredients intimidate you. This is such a simple recipe to make, especially with the amount of flavor it brings! First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Meanwhile, take a medium bowl and combine the shrimp, olive oil, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Add your salt and pepper to taste, and toss it all around in the bowl to coat the shrimp with the mixture. Set aside for now.
Next, melt the butter over medium heat in a large oven-safe skillet. Add the onion and bell pepper and start cooking over medium heat, stirring frequently until softened. Stir in the water, cream, and hot sauce, and bring it to a boil. Once it has boiled, reduce the heat to low and whisk in the grits. Cook until the grits have thickened, stirring consistently for 5 minutes.
Take the pan off the heat and stir in the cheddar and Parmesan cheese until melted. Finally, place your shrimp in the middle of the grits in the pan, pushing them down into the grits. Bake for about 8-10 minutes, until all the shrimp are cooked through. Serve hot and enjoy!
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