Sweet and Savory Shrimp and Grits
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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