Shrimp and Grits - Simple Food, Not Fast Food

When you hear the words shrimp and grits, you naturally think of the Southern states that border the Gulf of Mexico: Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. This is not a dish prepared often in Florida or Texas, since these states have developed different cuisines of their own. Texas is the oil and beef region, while Florida is a bit of heaven for senior citizens and college kids.

Shrimp and grits is a simple dish. You cook the grits and you cook the shrimp and just before serving, mix them together, right? Well, sort of. Grits are a versatile food. They can easily be turned into a base for sweet or savory or spicy dishes, or even eaten on their own like porridge.

When cooking shrimp and grits, it's a good idea to cook the grits based on your plans with the shrimp. Say you were in the mood for a spicy dish. You decide to cook garlic shrimp, using fresh garlic along with some finely diced peppers and onions. Since the grits won't cook as quickly as the shrimp and vegetables, you'll want to be sure to get them started first.

Now, we could set the grits boiling in plain water, but where would the flavor be in that? Better to use a low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth mixed with a broth made by boiling the shells of the peeled shrimp in a pan of water for a few minutes. Once the grits are simmering (remember to stir occasionally), you can start on cooking the shrimp.

Put cut up onions and peppers together with the dried spices into a fairly hot frying pan with a good deal of butter and saute till softened, remembering to stir frequently. When the onions are halfway cooked, slide the garlic in. After cooking, put the mixture to one side. When the grits are ready, blend in a bit of cream, turn up the heat under the shrimp pot, and add a bit of lemon rind along with the shrimp. The shrimp should be cooked till they're pink. Take them off the burner, throw in a little chopped parsley, and pour in the lemon juice. When serving, the shrimp should be placed on top of a mound of grits.

I know it's a cliche, but salt and pepper and spice to taste. Good herbs and spices for this dish include ginger, cayenne, dill, and parsley. Don't be afraid to experiment, but remember that shrimp & grits are simple flavors that, though they mix well with a lot of things, are easily overwhelmed by too many strong flavors in the dish.