Hot Italian Sausage And Shrimp With Asiago Grits Recipes

SOUFFLE OF GRITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Slowly cook the grits in boiling water for 20 minutes. (If you use instant grits, do not cook 20 minutes. Cook according to package directions.) Add the butter, cheese, salt, Tabasco, eggs and Worcestershire sauce. Pour into a buttered casserole.
• Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until puffed, golden, and set in the middle.

HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine all ingredients, except casings, in a large bowl. Put the meat mixture through a grinder and grind according to manufacturer's instructions. Tie a knot in 1 end of a casing and begin filling the casings with the meat mixture, then tie off the other end of the casing once all the meat has been used. Twist the casing into 6 sausage links.
• Bake sausage for at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat a grill.
• Remove sausage links from oven and place on grill. Grill until crispy and golden brown. Spice up your favorite pasta recipe by adding sausage slices or enjoy your sausage the old-fashioned way, on a bun topped with your favorite condiments.

GRILLED ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE AND SHRIMP OVER GRILLED GRITS

Steps:

• Grilled Grit Squares:
• To prepare grits, bring the water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. And gradually stir in the grits. Reduce the heat and simmer until thick, stirring frequently, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese, white pepper, and pepper sauce.
• Spread the grits in a 15 by 10-inch pan coated with cooking spray and let cool completely on a wire rack. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Invert grits onto a cutting board and cut into 6 squares. Put the squares on a grill pan coated with cooking spray, and grill until lightly browned and thoroughly heated for 3 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan to a plate and keep warm.
• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Put the andouille sausage on the grill and start to cook.
• In a saute pan, over the grill, add the butter and melt. Stir in the flour and cook for 4 to 6 minutes for a medium brown roux. Add the onions, peppers, and celery. Season with salt and cayenne. Continue cooking until the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Remove the sausage from the grill. Dice, add to roux, and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Season the shrimp with salt and cayenne. Add the shrimp and stir in the clam juice and cream. Bring the liquid to a simmer and continue to cook until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the green onions. To serve, put a grilled grits square in the center of each serving bowl. Spoon the sausage/shrimp mixture over the grits and garnish with parsley or chive sprigs before serving. If desired, serve with Grilled Collard Greens.

SHRIMP WITH HOT FENNEL SAUSAGE AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Make the polenta: Bring 8 cups salted water to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot over high heat. Whisk in polenta, continuing to whisk as mixture begins to thicken, about 1 minute. Turn heat to low and let polenta cook slowly, whisking every few minutes for about 10 minutes. Turn heat to very low and continue to cook for least 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. If polenta gets too thick to stir easily, add a bit of water to obtain a porridge-like consistency. (When finished, there should be no raw cornmeal flavor.) Taste a cooled spoonful, then correct seasoning with salt and pepper. Turn off heat, whisk in butter and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, prepare the topping: Heat olive oil in a large, wide skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add shrimp in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, until lightly browned. Using tongs, turn shrimp over, season and cook for 30 seconds more. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. (Shrimp will not be fully cooked.)
• Add onion to pan and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add sausage meat and cook, mashing with a large spoon to let sausage crumble into rough half-inch pieces. Continue cooking for 5 to 6 minutes, until mixture is lightly browned. Stir in garlic, red-pepper flakes and rosemary, and cook for 1 minute more.
• Add wine and tomato purée. Simmer for 1 minute and stir in crème fraîche. Turn off heat and check seasoning. Warm a large serving platter. In a small bowl, mix together scallions, capers, parsley and lemon zest.
• To finish, turn heat to high. Add reserved shrimp to sausage mixture and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, until shrimp are cooked through and sauce has thickened slightly.
• Mound polenta into middle of platter. Spoon shrimp and sauce around polenta. Sprinkle with scallion mixture and serve. (Alternatively, place a large spoonful of polenta into individual plates or soup bowls and top with shrimp and sauce.)