Smoky Shrimp And Grits Recipes

SMOKY SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups of the shrimp stock and 2 teaspoons of salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Slowly whisk in the grits and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking until the grits are soft and have lost their gritty texture, whisking every few minutes, 25 to 35 minutes. If the mixture becomes too thick, add the remaining stock and continue cooking until absorbed. Add the cheese and heavy cream and whisk until smooth; season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the grits among 4 bowls and top with the sauteed shrimp. Drizzle with some of the garlic oil and bacon (reserved from the sauteed shrimp) and sprinkle with some of the scallions.
• In a large saucepan, heat the oil over high heat until almost smoking. Add the shrimp shells, heads and tails, onion, carrot and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add 10 cups of cold water, the tomatoes, chipotle, bay leaf, parsley and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, skimming the surface occasionally, for 40 minutes.
• Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a large bowl, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible, then discard the solids. The stock can be made 2 days in advance, tightly covered and refrigerated or frozen for up to 3 months.
• Place bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat and cook until golden brown and crisp and the fat has rendered, about 8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels.
• Remove all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the skillet and place back on the heat. Increase the heat to high. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, add to the skillet in a single layer, in batches, if needed, with the garlic and thyme, and cook, flipping once, until the shrimp are lightly golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove shrimp to a plate. Add the bacon to the garlic oil left in the skillet and reserve to drizzle over the finished dish.

SMOKY CREAMED SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine Cajun seasoning, paprika, olive oil and pepper. Add shrimp and toss until well-combined; set aside.
• Bring medium saucepan to boil with 2 cups chicken broth and butter. While whisking, gradually add grits. Cook about 5 minutes, whisking often. Stir in cream and cheese; continue cooking and whisking until creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a large skillet. Add garlic and scallions and cook, stirring for one minute. Add shrimp and cook one-and-a-half minutes per side, until shrimp are opaque. Transfer shrimp with slotted spoon to a bowl and set aside, keeping warm.
• Stir flour and paprika into remaining butter in the skillet the shrimp was cooked inches Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and medium-brown like peanut butter in color, 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk in combined wine, chicken stock and cream; let cook, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce and remove from the heat. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
• To serve, divide grits evenly among six plates. Stir shrimp into sauce and ladle over grits, sprinkling with scallions.