New Orleans Style Shrimp and Grits
Indulge, in an adventure that takes you straight to the heart of the Crescent City with this dish of New Orleans Style Shrimp and Grits. Every spoonful combines the cheesy goodness of grits infused with a tantalizing blend of spices harmonizing perfectly with the succulent shrimp. The symphony of flavors that dances on your taste buds includes bacon, garlic and tangy bell peppers. This recipe is more, than a meal; it's a melody that captures the essence and liveliness of Cajun heritage in the Southern region.
4 Servings
Ingredients
For the Cheesy Grits:
- 1 c quick-cooking grits
- 4 c water
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 1/2 c sharp cheddar cheese shredded
For the Shrimp:
- 6 slices smoked bacon
- 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
- 3 green onions chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 c low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
Let's make some delicious Cheesy Grits:
- Start by bringing 4 cups of water to a boil and adding 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Gradually stir in 1 cup of quick-cooking grits while keeping the mixture stirred.
- Allow the grits to simmer on heat for 5 to 7 minutes until they become creamy in texture.
- Now it's time to add some flavor. Mix in 3 tablespoons of butter along, with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Finally, sprinkle in 1 and a half cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Moving on to the shrimp:
- Begin by cooking 6 slices of smoked bacon until they turn crispy. Once ready set them aside while keeping the bacon grease intact.
- In the skillet with the bacon grease cook 1 pound of shrimp seasoned with 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for one minute per side. Remove the shrimp from the skillet.
- Now add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet along with one chopped red bell pepper. Sauté this mixture for about 2 to 3 minutes until it becomes slightly tender.
- Next include three chopped onions and three minced garlic cloves into the skillet. Continue cooking this combination for a minute.
- Stir in a quarter cup of broth followed by adding a teaspoon of Worcestershire Sauce and two teaspoons lemon juice into the skillet mixture.
- Return both the cooked shrimp as well as the chopped bacon back, into the skillet and heat everything together for about a minute so that all flavors meld together nicely.
- Lastly, pour your grits into bowls. Top them off with your deliciously flavored shrimp mixture. Now you're ready to enjoy this dish!
Notes
If you're aiming to make this delightful dish gluten-free, don't fret – the essence of its flavor remains uncompromised. First and foremost, ensure your grits are labeled gluten-free as cross-contamination can be an issue in some processing plants. Next, when choosing your Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire Sauce, scan the ingredients or opt for brands that specifically mention being gluten-free to avoid any hidden gluten components. And just like that, with a couple of mindful choices, your Cajun culinary adventure remains deliciously authentic and wholly gluten-free.