Description
Ina Garten’s shrimp and grits showcase Southern comfort with creamy, cheesy goodness. Coastal flavors mingle seamlessly, offering you a delectable journey through classic Southern cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lbs (0.45 kg) jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 strips bacon (or 2–3 thick-cut slices)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¾ cup stone-ground grits
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 ½ cups chicken stock, divided
- 4 tbsps butter, divided
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Thinly sliced green onions, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Liquid Foundation: In a medium pot, combine chicken stock, milk, and butter, bringing to a gentle boil with a pinch of salt. Gradually whisk in grits, reducing heat to low and simmering for 10-15 minutes until achieving a smooth, velvety consistency. Remove from heat and cover.
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon in a skillet over medium heat until golden, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease, then finely chop. Reserve approximately 30 milliliters of bacon drippings in the skillet.
- Shrimp Transformation: Rinse shrimp under cold water, pat dry with paper towels, and season generously with salt and black pepper. Sauté in reserved bacon drippings over medium heat for 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
- Flavor Infusion: Add remaining butter and chicken stock to the shrimp skillet, stirring until butter melts and liquid warms. Fold shredded cheese into prepared grits until fully incorporated and creamy.
- Plating Artistry: Spread creamy grits on plates, top with sautéed shrimp, and drizzle skillet liquid over the dish. Garnish with crispy bacon pieces and thinly sliced green onions before serving immediately.
Notes
- Achieve Creamy Grits: Whisk slowly and stir frequently to prevent lumps and create a smooth, velvety texture that’s restaurant-quality.
- Bacon Drippings Magic: Reserve bacon fat for incredible depth of flavor, transforming an ordinary shrimp and grits into a rich, southern-style masterpiece.
- Shrimp Cooking Precision: Cook shrimp just until pink and opaque to prevent rubbery texture; 2 minutes per side maintains perfect tenderness and juiciness.
- Cheese Integration Technique: Fold cheese into hot grits immediately after removing from heat, ensuring complete melting and creating a luxuriously smooth consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 552
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1380 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 201 mg