Total Time 35 mins
AuthorAyesha Curry, star of Ayesha's Homemade on the Food Network

Recipe by Ayesha Curry, star of Ayesha’s Homemade on the Food Network and author of The Seasoned Life (Little, Brown and Co., 2016). A couple of years ago, Ayesha came up with this spin on a Southern classic. Usually she adds bacon, but given that the party menu already included Brown-Sugar Bacon, it’s optional here.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Cook grits according to package instructions. Stir in cheeses and butter, plus salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm.

Step 2
2

Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Sauté onion until it begins to soften but not brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add peppers and a pinch each salt and pepper, then cook until tender-crisp, 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in brown sugar and wine. Increase heat and simmer until liquid is reduced by half. Add shrimp; cook until just curled and pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3
3

Stir enough hot water into grits to make them soft and spoonable. Spoon 2 tbsp. warm grits onto each of 10 to 12 small plates. Top each with 2 shrimp, 1 tbsp. pepper-wine sauce, a sprinkle of parsley, a few green onion slices, and, if desired, Brown-Sugar Bacon Bites, crumbled.

Step 4
4

Note: Nutritional analysis does not include Brown-Sugar Bacon Bites.

Ingredients

 1/2 cup quick-cooking grits
 1/4 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
 1/4 cup shredded fontina cheese
 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  Kosher salt
  Pepper
 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
 1/2 cup minced yellow onion
 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
 3 garlic cloves, minced
 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
 1/2 cup dry white wine
 1 pound shrimp (21 to 25 per lb.), peeled, deveined
 2 tablespoons lemon juice
 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
 3 green onions, green parts only, sliced

Directions

Step 1
1

Cook grits according to package instructions. Stir in cheeses and butter, plus salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm.

Step 2
2

Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Sauté onion until it begins to soften but not brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add peppers and a pinch each salt and pepper, then cook until tender-crisp, 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in brown sugar and wine. Increase heat and simmer until liquid is reduced by half. Add shrimp; cook until just curled and pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3
3

Stir enough hot water into grits to make them soft and spoonable. Spoon 2 tbsp. warm grits onto each of 10 to 12 small plates. Top each with 2 shrimp, 1 tbsp. pepper-wine sauce, a sprinkle of parsley, a few green onion slices, and, if desired, Brown-Sugar Bacon Bites, crumbled.

Step 4
4

Note: Nutritional analysis does not include Brown-Sugar Bacon Bites.

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