Carolina Brunch Style Grits Recipes

Steps:

• Bring water and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk grits into the boiling water, and then whisk in half-and-half. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until grits are thickened and tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
• Sprinkle shrimp with salt and cayenne pepper to taste. Add lemon juice, toss to combine, and set aside to marinate.
• Place sausage slices in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove sausage from the skillet.
• Add bacon to the same skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Cook until evenly browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, then chop or crumble when cool enough to handle. Leave bacon drippings in the skillet.
• Add bell peppers, onion, and garlic to the bacon drippings; cook and stir until onion is translucent, about 8 minutes.
• Stir cooked sausage and marinated shrimp into the skillet with the cooked vegetables. Turn off the heat and set aside.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour, stirring to create a smooth roux. Turn heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is golden brown in color, 8 to 10 minutes. Watch carefully, mixture burns easily.
• Pour the roux over the sausage, shrimp, and vegetables. Place the skillet over medium heat, add chicken broth, bacon, and Worcestershire sauce, and stir to combine. Cook until sauce thickens up and shrimp turn opaque and bright pink, about 8 minutes.
• Just before serving, mix sharp Cheddar cheese into grits until melted and grits are creamy and light yellow. Serve shrimp mixture over cheese grits.

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 350F. cook grits in water as directed on package.
• 2. In ungreased 13x9 inch baking dish, combine cooked grits and all remaining ingredients except 1 cup of cheese; mix well. Sprinkle with remaining cup of cheese.
• 3. Bake at 350F for 22-27 minutes until edges are bubbly and cheese is melted.

Steps:

• Make the grits: Place grits in a bowl, and cover with cold water by about 3 inches. Stir grits so that bits of husk rise to the top; pour off top layer of water. Strain through a fine sieve, and transfer to a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in 5 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, whisking, until beginning to thicken. Reduce heat, and simmer gently, stirring occasionally and scraping bottom and sides of pan with a wooden spoon, until thick and creamy, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the shrimp: Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until beginning to crisp, about 5 minutes; transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon. Cook garlic, onion, and bell pepper in bacon fat, stirring occasionally, until just tender but not browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Season shrimp on both sides with salt and pepper. Raise heat to medium-high; push vegetables to edge of skillet. Add oil, and heat until shimmering. Sear shrimp in a single layer for 2 minutes. Flip, and sear for 1 minute. Push shrimp to edge of skillet; sprinkle flour into center. Cook, stirring flour into vegetable-shrimp mixture, for 2 minutes. Add stock. Simmer, stirring, until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice, and stir in reserved bacon. Season with salt and pepper.
• Just before serving, heat grits over medium-low. Stir in cheese and butter; season with salt and pepper. Serve shrimp over grits on warmed plates.