Cajun Shrimp & Pimento Cheese Grits with a Red Pepper Jelly Drizzle

Cajun Shrimp and Pimento Cheese Grits

Ingredients:

For the Grits:

  • 1 cup stone ground grits

  • 3 cups water

  • 2 cups Chicken or Beef Broth

  • ¼ cup milk

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 3 tbs butter

  • 4 oz jar diced pimentos

  • 3 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

  • ½ tsp ground black pepper

  • ¼ tsp onion powder

  • ¼ tsp chili powder

  • ¼ tsp garlic powder

For the Shrimp:

  • 5 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 tsp salt

  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper

  • 1 tsp paprika

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper

  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes

  • ½ tsp oregano

  • ½ tsp dried thyme

  • 1 lb peeled and deveined uncooked shrimp of your choice

  • 3 tbs butter

Toppings:

  • 4 tbs red pepper jelly

  • Chopped green onion for garnish

Directions:

1.     Mix minced garlic and all shrimp seasonings together in a medium sized bowl. Add the shrimp, stir to coat, and sit aside.

2.     Bring water, broth, milk and salt to a boil in a large saucepan. Whisk in grits, stir well, cover and turn down heat to low. Continue to whisk frequently and cook for at least an hour until grits are creamy. I cooked mine about 1 ½ hours.

3.     With about 10 minutes left on the grits, melt butter in skillet on medium high heat and then add shrimp. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side.

4.     Remove grits from heat, stir in butter, pimentos (including juice from the jar), cheese, salt, pepper and rest of seasonings.

5.     Spoon grits onto plate, top with shrimp. Melt red pepper jelly in the microwave for about 15 seconds and drizzle over shrimp. Garnish with chopped green onion.

Tips:

  • Make sure you use Stone Ground Grits! They take longer but are worth it. Low and slow is the way to go!

  • Never use pre-shredded cheese…always always always shred your own cheese.

  • Buy your the Red Pepper Jelly local and homemade.

  • Add more cheese if you’d like…you can never have enough cheese.