Shrimp and Grits

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Rule #131: Southern comfort food starts here.

Shrimp and Grits is, to me, one of the best Southern comfort food meals there is! I’ve been tweaking this little recipe for years now, and I finally got the green light from my Sheik of Shrimp (aka Jon Boy). I couldn’t wait to share it with y’all! This is an easy, delicious recipe that’s good for the soul!

creole shrimp and grits

I like to marinate my shrimp before cooking so they soak in the maximum amount of flavor. You can marinate for 6 hours to overnight.

shrimp and grits

After you’ve marinated the shrimp in the sugar and spice mixture, sauté them in a large Dutch oven or skillet. First, melt 2 tbs. of butter in the Dutch oven, then cook the shrimp until pink (about 2 minutes per side).

Remove the cooked shrimp to a dish and keep warm.

To the same Dutch oven or skillet, add in chopped onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper. Sauté until vegetables are cooked through (about 8 minutes).

Then, add in 2 cloves of minced garlic. Cook another 30 seconds, stirring occasionally.

Now, add in the tomatoes by crushing them one-by-one with your hands. Be careful! It’s a messy business! You can also sub the same amount of tomatoes already crushed in the can.

Then, add in some salt and pepper and 2 bay leaves.

Next add in some sage and thyme (can be dried or fresh). Stir, cover, and bring everything to a boil. Then, lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Once the sauce is cooked, add the shrimp back to the pot. Simmer another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Well, hello there, you biggo pot of comforting deliciousness!

While the shrimp and sauce are cooking, make your cheesy grits! I use quick-cooking grits like these to keep it simple.

Pour 1 cup of the quick-cooking grits into 4 cups of boiling water.

Turn the heat off, and stir to combine. Cover and let sit and thicken for 5 minutes.

Next add in some butter.

Then add some grated or shredded Parmesan cheese.

Finally, throw in some salt and pepper.

There’s nothing quite like some cheesy grits, y’all.

We serve ours with cheesy grits on the bottom, some shrimp and sauce on top, then garnish it with some chopped green onion.

recipe shrimp and grits easy

And you’ve got to have some Tabasco on the side, naturally.

Recipe Shrimp and Grits

Put the south in your mouth!

Shrimp and Grits

shrimp and grits easy recipe

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and Grits is one of the all time best Creole comfort food meals! This recipe is an easy one, too! Marinate the shrimp for extra flavor!
Prep Time 6 hours
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Creole
Servings 6
Calories 340 kcal

Ingredients
  

Shrimp Marinade

  • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 2 tbs. paprika
  • 2 tbs. chili powder
  • 1 tbs. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. Ancho chile powder
  • 1 tsp. light brown sugar
  • 2 lb. shrimp cleaned, peeled, deveined, tails off

Sauce

  • 2 tbs. unsalted butter
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
  • 1 (32-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme or 1 tbs. fresh
  • 1 tsp. dried sage or 1 tbs. fresh
  • 1 tsp. Kosher salt
  • 1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Parmesan Grits

  • 1 cup quick-cooking 5 minute grits
  • 1 tsp. Kosher salt
  • ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tbs. unsalted butter
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

Marinate the Shrimp

  • Combine all spices (cayenne through brown sugar) in a large bowl; whisk to combine. Add in the shrimp, tossing to combine.
  • Cover, refrigerate, and marinate for at least 6 hours and up to overnight.

Make the Sauce

  • In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, melt 2 tbs. butter over medium-high heat. Add in the marinated shrimp.
  • Sauté until shrimp are pink on all sides, stirring occasionally (about 2 minutes per side). Remove the shrimp from the Dutch oven, cover, and set aside.
  • In the same pot, add in the red and green bell pepper and the onion. Sauté until veggies are softened (about 8 minutes). Add in the garlic and sauté another 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Then, crush the tomatoes by hand into the pot and pour in remaining juices. Add in the bay leaves, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper.
  • Stir to combine, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes.
  • Then, add the shrimp back to the sauce and simmer another 3 minutes.

Make the Grits

  • While the tomato sauce simmers, make the Parmesan Grits. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, then turn the heat off. Slowly pour in 1 cup of quick-cooking grits, stirring to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes so grits absorb the liquid, then add in the Kosher salt, black pepper, butter, and Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.

To Serve

  • Place a generous scoop of grits in a bowl, top with shrimp and tomato sauce, and garnish with chopped green onions or flat-leaf parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 36gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 271mgSodium: 1124mgPotassium: 775mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2382IUVitamin C: 54mgCalcium: 252mgIron: 5mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary, and Pineapple House Rules makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Keyword Cajun, Creole, Shrimp and Grits, southern
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