Cheesy Shrimp & Grits
Breakfast, lunch or dinner….shrimp and cheesy grits is always a good idea.
What you’ll need!
For the shrimp;
1 lb wild shrimp
½ lb thick cut bacon
2 tbsp Chipotle Garlic seasoning but can also use blackened seafood seasoning or cajun seasoning.
1 clove garlic finelychopped
For the polenta;
3 cups water
1 cup polenta
¼ cup whole milk
1/2 cup white cheddar cheese
2 tbsp salt
For the sauce;
1 cup chicken stock
1 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp pepper
1 tsp flour to thicken
Green onion/ scallion for garnish
THEN;
1.Add 1.5 cups of water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Next, add 1 cup of polenta/grits to the boiling water. Whisk every few minutes and slowly add in an additional 1.5 cups of water as polenta/grits thickens (3:1 water to polenta ratio). Keep whisking every few minutes to ensure the polenta doesn’t clump up. Let the mixture simmer on low heat for 45-60 minutes, stirring often so it doesn’t burn and there is a good water to grits ratio.
2.Chop bacon into small cubes. Add to a frying pan and stir every few minutes until slightly crispy. Once ready, transfer the bacon to a plate. Pour out 3/4 of the bacon grease and save the rest to cook the shrimp in.
3.Take the cheese and cut the block into small cubes.
4.Add the shrimp to a clear bowl. Pour in the chipotle garlic seasoning (cajun or blackening seasoning can also be used). Chop one clove of garlic and mix in the bowl. Place the shrimp flat on the frying pan and flip once after 2 minutes then let it cook for another minute. Transfer the shrimp to a plate once both sides are cooked.
5.Using the same pan, add in chicken stock and mix together with the remaining bacon fat and pan drippings. Cook on low for 10 minutes then add in salt, pepper and whisk in the flour to thicken the sauce slightly.
6.In the pot with polenta, whisk in milk, cheese cubes and salt. Stir until cheese is melted.
7.Pour the polenta into a plate and top with the shrimp and crispy bacon pieces. Garnish with chopped green onion/scallion and black pepper.
Watch the full recipe video here!