Bobby Flay Shrimp 'N' Grits Recipe - TheFoodXP (2024)

FAQs

What goes well in shrimp and grits? ›

What goes well in shrimp and grits? Cheese does! Parmesan and sharp cheddar cheese pair perfectly with the Cajun seasonings and melt lusciously into the grits. Green Onions.

Originally an African dish of ground maize and shellfish, shrimp and grits migrated with people who were enslaved in plantation kitchens of the Lowcountry of the American South.

Consider classic Cheddar cheese grits as a side, or you can always go for the classic combo of shrimp and grits. Not convinced? Give our Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms a try. Complete with garlicky sautéed mushrooms and flavorful pulled pork, this recipe is entrée worthy all on its own.

The true origin of shrimp and grits is believed to be Charleston, South Carolina, where the recipe first appeared in 1950 as a breakfast recipe in the Charleston Receipts cookbook. By 1976, the meal was so popular South Carolina declared shrimp and grits the official state food.

Grits are often cooked in either milk or water; we prefer a combination of the two for silky grits that aren't too heavy. For additional flavor, substitute water with chicken or vegetable stock. Grits require a 1:4 cup ratio of grain to liquid.

Shrimp and grits is Charleston's culinary signature, with grits being South Carolina official state food since 1976.

The word "grits" is derived from the Old English word grytt, meaning "coarse meal". In the Charleston, South Carolina area, cooked hominy grits were primarily referred to as "hominy" until the 1980s.

The South African version of grits is called Mieliepap or maize meal . Mieliepap is widely eaten by the black nations as a staple meal and is also enjoyed by the Afrikaners as a compliment to a meat dish .

Whisk Your Grits Well

Five out of five food editors agree that whisking often (or almost constantly) makes for the creamiest result, since whisking releases starch. Whisking while you slowly pour the grits into the water also helps prevent clumping.

What does putting milk in grits do? ›

Whole milk: You can do all water with just a splash of milk if you like, as long as there is some. It provides a creaminess that you can't get with just water. You can also use anything from whole to skim milk, but for quick grits I don't recommend using anything heavier than half-and-half because it's too thick.

Corn was dried, boiled, and rinsed so the hominy could be used as a staple or ground into "flour" or grits. Grits served with fried eggs, O.J., coffee (cafe au lait if you use a New Orleans blend), Mimosas or Bloody Marys for a brunch, as we say in south Louisiana: "mais-oui, you'll bring da house down fo' sho!"

History of Shrimp and Grits

Many pin the dish's origins to the Lowcountry, where it was once called shrimps and hominy or breakfast shrimp. (Some in that region call cooked grits hominy.

The origin of this popular dish is thought to be Charleston, SC, and the Low Country, more than 70 years ago, when fresh, local, small, peeled shrimp were fried in bacon grease with onion and green pepper and served alongside grits at breakfast.

Fujinaga, the world's acknowledged father of shrimp culture, successfully spawned and partially reared larvae of Penaeus japonicus in Japan. The success in larval rearing and subsequently in the grow-out of shrimp had brought the art to the point that mass culture was possible.

Grits are eaten with a wide variety of foods, such as eggs and bacon, fried catfish, shrimp, salmon croquettes, or country ham. Shrimp and grits is a traditional dish in the coastal communities in the South Carolina Lowcountry and Georgia's Lower Coastal Plain.

Serving Southern Grits

We often eat these grits as-is for breakfast (or topped with a fried egg or crumbled sausage). But they also make a delicious bed for stove-cooked beans or sautéed greens, and are a welcome side for weeknight dinners and holidays, too.