Cajun Shrimp and Grits

The definitive Southern comfort food. Plump shrimp in a smoky sauce over creamy stone-ground grits.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Stone-ground grits: 1 cup grits, 4 cups water or broth, 2 tbsp butter, 1/2 cup cheddar, salt
• Sauce: 4 slices thick-cut bacon, 1 cup onion diced, 1/2 cup green pepper diced, 3 cloves garlic, 1 cup chicken broth, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tbsp hot sauce, 1 tbsp butter
• Lemon juice, green onions, parsley to finish

Directions

1. Cook grits in salted water, stirring frequently, 20-25 min until thick. Stir in butter and cheddar. Season.
2. Cook bacon until crispy. Remove and crumble. Drain most fat.
3. Sauté onion and pepper in bacon fat 4-5 min.
4. Add garlic, Cajun seasoning. Cook 1 min.

Add broth and hot sauce. Simmer 3-4 min.

1. Add shrimp, cook 2-3 min until pink. Finish with butter and lemon.
2. Serve shrimp and sauce over grits. Top with bacon and green onions.

Notes

Stone-ground grits have incomparably better flavor and texture than quick grits. Cook low and slow with frequent stirring. The rendered bacon fat is the flavor foundation of the sauce.