Shrimp 'N Grits

OK, I may not be a Southerner and I may not have grown up with grits in my veins, but grits and polenta are just about the same thing. There are slight differences, but both are made from stone-ground cornmeal - dried corn that's ground into smaller, coarser bits. 

According to a piece that ran on National Public Radio, Glen Roberts, founder of Anson Mills, says that Southern grits and Italian polenta are traditionally made from two very different types of corn, and there's a difference in the fineness of the grind and how many times it's milled.

Well, that may be true, but it gets complicated when you see so many different types of polenta for sale in Italy, from fine ground to coarse, and even polenta mixed with buckwheat, called polenta "taragna."

Adding to the confusion is the myriad variety of grits available here in the states.

My instinct (and Italian heritage) almost always leads me to reach for polenta instead of grits. But on a trip to Charlestown last year, I bought a bag of grits at a farmer's market, milled at Anson Mills.

What else to do with them, but make the ubiquitous shrimp and grits, found at myriad restaurants, diners and mom and pop cafes throughout the South. 

The grits would be delicious on their own, with just a dab of butter, but I gussied them up and "Italianized" them with some mascarpone and parmesan.

Warning - you won't be able to stop eating this. So save it as a splurge after a week of good behavior! 

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Shrimp 'N Grits

printable recipe here

1 cup grits

4 cups water

(Keep adding more as it gets drier)

1/4 cup cream

1/4 cup mascarpone cheese

1/3 cup parmesan

1 tsp salt

Mix the grits with the water over medium heat. I always use cold water and dump all the grits in at once. I find that helps keep out the lumps. Keep stirring and lower the heat somewhat - it may take 45 minutes to end up with really good, really creamy grits. If it looks like the mixture is getting too dense or too dry, add more water, a little at a time. Add the salt and keep stirring. After about 35-45 minutes, the grits will start to look creamier. To gild the lily, add the cream, mascarpone and parmesan.

18 medium Shrimp

3T Olive oil

Herbs, oregano, thyme, parsley

2 cloves garlic

Paprika

Red pepper flakes

Clean the shrimp and mix the olive oil with the herbs, garlic, paprika and red pepper flakes. Let the shrimp marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Grill the shrimp, but just until almost done. They'll cook a little longer with other ingredients. Remove the shrimp from the grill and set aside. (Use a grill pan or the broiler if you don't have an outdoor grill) 

1/4 cup green pepper, minced

1 T olive oil 

2 strips bacon

Sauté green pepper in oil until softened. Remove. Add bacon, cut in bits. Cook until crispy.

Add green pepper back in and after shrimp is grilled, add it to the peppers and bacon. Turn up heat to high. Add the white wine and let it reduce just a bit, then add 1 tablespoon of butter.

Pour shrimp mixture over grits and serve with a sprinkle of parsley or basil over all.