Spicy Shrimp & Grits

 

🌶️🍤 Hey there, charmed cooks! We're about to dive into one my absolute favorite southern classics – Shrimp and Grits, but with a spicy kick!🔥Picture this: shrimp doing a salsa jig in a pan, getting cozy with creamy grits – it's a flavor affair you won't soon forget!

Now, I've been known to turn my kitchen into a concert hall from time to time, and this dish is my secret weapon (and one of the hubby's favorites). The shrimp bring the sass, the grits bring the smooth moves, and together, they create a symphony of deliciousness that's magical!

In my kitchen, we're all about that DIY spice magic. No pre-packaged shenanigans here; we're grinding, mixing, and creating our own symphony of flavors. I personally believe that part of the privilege of being a housewife is having the extra time to cook delicacies from scratch. And when this dish is made from scratch, the shrimp bring the sass, the grits bring the smooth moves, and together, it's a culinary tango that's practically poetry on a plate!

So, throw on your apron, join me in this culinary showdown, and let's spice up our lives together with a plate of Spicy Shrimp and Grits. Trust me; your taste buds will be begging for an encore! 💃🕺

Brittany's Spicy Shrimp & Grits

Prep Time: 10 mins    Cook Time: 30 mins    Servings: 4 - 6 

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WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Large Deep Frying Pan For Shrimp Topping
• Medium Frying Pan for Bacon
  
• Heavy Duty Medium Pot w/ Lid
  
• Whisk
• Stirring and Serving Spoon
• Cutting Board
• Chef Knife

INGREDIENTS

Shrimp Topping

• 1lb of Large Raw Shrimp (wild caught preferred), de-veined, peeled w/ tail-on
• 3 slices of bacon, cooked and diced
• 1/2 of red bell pepper; seeded, sliced and diced
• 1/2 of green bell pepper; seeded, sliced and diced
• 1/2 of habanero or scotch bonnet pepper, seeded or 2 tsp of hot pepper sauce, OR both for extra spice 
  
• 1/2 of medium onion; diced 
• 1 stalk of green onion; sliced thin for garnish
  
• 3 cloves of garlic; minced
• 1 small tomato, diced
  
• 1/2 tsp of onion powder
• 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp of smoked paprika powder
• 1/2 tsp of dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp of white pepper
• 1 tsp of sugar
• 1/4 tsp of cumin
  
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tbs of butter
• 1 tsp of tomato paste
• 1 tbs of flour
• 1 cup of chicken broth

Grits

• 3/4 cup of yellow stone ground grits
• 2 cups of water (more if necessary)
  
• 1.5 tsp of kosher salt (more to taste)
• 1/2 tsp of black pepper
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 tbs of olive oil
  

PREPARATION

For Grits

1. Add water to medium pot with salt, pepper, and oil. Bring to a boil.
2. Slowly add grits to water. Whisk for about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and cover.
   
3. Cook for about 15 minutes, checking and stirring in 5 minute intervals, adding small amounts of water if necessary.
4. In the last 5 minutes, add milk, cream, and cheese and whisk in. Cover and finish cooking, then remove from heat and keep warm.

For Shrimp Topping

1. De-shell, de-vein, and rinse shrimp with water and vinegar. 
2. Pat shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper and set aside.
   
3. Fry bacon in a pan until crispy. Remove from heat, pat with paper towel, dice and set aside. Preserve about 2 tbs of bacon fat for future use.
4. Prepare the vegetables and set aside.
5. Place the large frying pan on medium high heat. Add the butter to the pan and allow to melt and and bubble, then add shrimp.
6. Brown shrimp on both sides (about 30 secs on each side), but DO NOT FULLY COOK. Remove from pan and set aside.
7. Add bacon fat and then add peppers, garlic, onions, and saute for about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and spices, and saute mixture for another 1 minute.
8. Add flour and tomato paste to mixture and stir in. When flour has been absorbed and the mixture has clumped together, deglaze the pan with the chicken broth. Add hot sauce and stir everything together.
9. Reduce heat and let simmer for few minutes, then add shrimp and half of the bacon bits.
10. Cook until shrimp is no longer translucent and "C" shaped and sauce has lightly thickened. Taste and adjust salt and spice level if necessary.
11. Plating: place a large spoonful of grits in the center of a plate or pasta bowl. Next, place a spoonful of shrimp on top of the grits. Garnish with green onions and bacon.
12. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts Servings: 6 Amount per serving   Calories 986 % Daily Value* Total Fat 71g 91% Saturated Fat 29.7g 148% Cholesterol 165mg 55% Sodium 11307mg 92% Total Carbohydrate 63.3g 23% Dietary Fiber 9.1g 33% Total Sugars 26.6g   Protein 32.7g   Vitamin D 22mcg 109% Calcium 385mg 30% Iron 18mg 98% Potassium 1063mg 23% *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. Recipe analyzed by
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