Pan Fried Grits With Virginia Country Ham Recipes

GRITS, COUNTRY HAM AND RED-EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• For the grits, bring the water and milk to a boil in a pan, whisk in the grits, and then reduce the heat and cook for an hour. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• For the poached eggs, bring a pan of water to a gentle simmer and add salt and vinegar. Using a spoon, swirl the water in a circle and crack the eggs into the center of the water. Simmer for about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• For the gravy, to a pre-heated skillet, add a slice of ham and warm it through. Then remove the ham to a plate. Into the same skillet add the coffee and pork stock and reduce.
• To a bowl or plate add a serving of grits, the ham, a poached egg and sprinkle with chives. Drizzle the red-eye gravy over the grits and serve.

COUNTRY HAM WITH STONE-GROUND GRITS AND REDEYE GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the grits and return to a boil. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Decrease the heat to low and simmer until creamy and thick, stirring often, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the country ham and cook until crisped and golden brown on each side, about 5 minutes. Remove the ham and keep warm. Add the coffee and 1 cup water to the skillet, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer until the "gravy" has reduced to about 1/2 cup, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Spoon the hot grits into warmed bowls. Top each with a pat of butter and black pepper to taste. Top with the ham and ladle over the gravy. Serve immediately.

CREAMY STONE-GROUND GRITS WITH MUSHROOMS AND COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the water and milk to a gentle boil over medium high heat. Slowly add the grits, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Decrease the heat to low, and simmer, stirring often, until the grits are creamy and thick, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Line a plate with paper towels. While the grits are cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham and cook until lightly browned and some of the fat has rendered, about 3 minutes. Remove the ham from the skillet to the prepared plate and tent loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• In the same skillet, using the oil left in the pan, add the mushrooms, season with freshly ground pepper, and saute, stirring, until barely tender, about 2 minutes. (No salt is needed, as the salt from the ham has flavored the cooking oil.) Add the wine and cook, stirring, until the liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are tender, about 5 more minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Remove the grits from the heat; whisk in the cheese, parsley, and butter. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. To serve, place a dollop of grits on individual serving plates. Spoon over the sauteed mushrooms and top with the country ham. Serve immediately.

GRITS CAKES WITH COUNTRY HAM AND BOURBON MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• To make the mayonnaise: In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolk, mustard and lemon juice. Whisking constantly, drizzle in 1 cup grapeseed oil in a slow, steady stream until emulsified and fluffy. Whisk in the bourbon and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• To make the grits: In a medium pot over medium-high heat, combine milk, 2 cups water, butter, hot sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil; slowly whisk in grits and lower heat to a simmer. Cook until grits are very tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Spread the hot grits evenly into a 9-inch baking pan (the grits should be about 1 inch in thickness). Cool completely and cut into 1-inch squares. Toss each square lightly with flour.
• Fill a large skillet with 1/2-inch grapeseed oil and place over medium heat. You will know oil is hot enough if a drop of water splashed into the pan sizzles. Fry the grits squares until golden and crisp all over, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on a plate lined with paper towel. Serve each topped with a sliver of country ham and a dollop of mayonnaise.

PAN-FRIED GRITS WITH VIRGINIA COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in all ingredients except cheese and oil. Stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat, whipping occasionally, for 15 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat. Mix in cheese. Grease muffin tins with nonstick spray. Fill each to the top with mixture. Let cool. Remove from pans. Split lengthwise. Pan-fry in skillet in hot oil until golden on each side.

PAN FRIED QUAIL WITH GRITS AND HAM

Steps:

• Pan-fry quail in butter until done, about 3 or 4 minutes on each side.
• Remove to plate and keep warm in 200 degree oven.
• Pan-fry country ham in butter left over from quail until done, about 3 or 4 minutes on each side remove to plate.
• Prepare grits per package direction, cook for required time.
• When grits are done, add grated cheese, salt and pepper stir well until cheese is melted.
• Add half and half, a little at a time, continuing to cook and stirring until grits are creamy.
• serve Creamy Cheese Grits on plate, arrange quail on plate. Slice country ham into thin strips and place around quail.
• Garnish with thinly-sliced green onions if desired.
• REMEMBER Ham is heavily salted so becareful of how much salt you choose to add.