My Shrimp and Grits are a lightened up version of a classic Southern dish.
I’m often inspired by the food that I eat on my travels. On our recent road trip from New York City down to our new home in Florida, my husband and I travelled through the South and we splurged on many classic Southern dishes. We filled our bellies with fried green tomatoes, biscuits and gravy, crispy fried chicken, collard greens, black eyed peas, and of course plenty of ice cold, sweet tea.
But the dish I found myself craving the most when I got home was shrimp and grits. So I decided to
perform a recipe resuscitation and set about trying to create a healthier version of this hearty Southern classic. Growing up in the Northeast, I had never really experienced grits, which are such a staple in the South. Grits are made from coarsely ground corn. They’re available in white or yellow varieties and are usually cooked in water or milk until they reach a porridge-like consistency similar to Italian polenta. Grits are often served for breakfast topped with some butter and cheese or they’re served with shrimp in the classic dish originating in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Good news for those of you who are short on time- they also come in a quick cooking variety.
Because this was my first time cooking grits, I experimented and cooked them a few different ways. Traditional grits often have a substantial amount of butter and cream added to them for extra flavor and creaminess. I found that by cooking the grits in a combination of chicken stock and milk, it infused them with a lot of flavor and gave them a creamy texture without having to use any butter or cream. I used Skim Plus, which is a very creamy skim milk, but if you don’t have it, you can use traditional skim or 1% milk. To finish the grits, I opted for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese instead of cheddar since it’s so packed with flavor, a little goes a long way.
To cook the shrimp, I swapped out the traditional butter or bacon grease for heart healthy olive oil. For extra flavor, I tossed the shrimp with a Cajun seasoning blend. If you don’t have Cajun seasoning, you can season the shrimp with a mixture of dried spices like thyme, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne and oregano. I then cooked the shrimp in a light sauce made with chicken stock thickened with a small amount of flour. By making the sauce this way, you don’t have to use the butter that’s traditionally used to finish the sauce. If you’re feeling especially inspired, instead of using ready made chicken stock, you can make a quick shrimp stock with the shrimp shells to infuse the dish with a richer shrimp flavor.
Instead of using traditional bacon or smoked sausage, I used Canadian bacon in the dish. Despite its name, Canadian bacon is not a true cut of bacon, which is taken from the side region of the pig. Canadian bacon is a smoked cut of pork taken from the loin region (a leaner region) and thus has significantly less calories and fat. It still has a great smoked flavor that goes so well with the other ingredients in this dish.
And finally, to pump up the nutrition factor in the dish, I added some chopped red bell pepper. Besides adding vibrant color, peppers also add a nice boost of Vitamin C. They also contain high levels of Vitamins A, E, K and B-complex vitamins as well as the antioxidant lycopene.
So if you want to bring a bit of Lowcountry flavor into your home, go ahead and try this lightened up take on a Southern classic.
Recipe
Shrimp and Grits
My Shrimp and Grits are a lightened up version of a classic Southern dish.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 339kcal
Ingredients
Parmesan Grits:
- ¾ cup stone ground grits
- 1 ⅔ cup reduced sodium chicken stock (or shrimp stock)
- 1 cup skim or 1% milk (I used Skim Plus)
- 1 ounce grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (about ¼ cup)
- Kosher salt
Shrimp:
- 1 lb. extra large shrimp (26-30 ct), peeled and deveined with tails on
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning blend*
- 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided use
- 2 ounces Canadian bacon, diced
- ¾ cup finely chopped scallion
- ¾ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 teaspoons all purpose flour
- ¾ cup less sodium chicken stock (or shrimp stock)
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
- Chopped scallion greens and lemon zest for garnish
Instructions
- Pour the grits into a large, heavy saucepan and fill with enough water to cover them. Drain off as much water as possible to remove any floating pieces of bran. Add the stock and milk and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan and reduce to a simmer. Cook the grits, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan, for 20 minutes. Partially uncover the pan and cook another 5-8 minutes until thickened. Stir in the cheese. Taste and season the grits with salt. Keep warm.
- Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and toss them with the seasoning blend. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet (cast iron if you have it) over medium high heat and add the bacon. Cook the bacon for a few minutes until browned. Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook, stirring them often, until they just turn pink, 3-4 minutes (the shrimp will finish cooking later in the sauce). Transfer the bacon and shrimp to a bowl.
- Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil in the skillet over medium heat and add the scallions, bell pepper, and garlic. Season the vegetables with salt and cook until slightly softened, 4-5 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook another minute. Add the stock and cook another minute or two until the sauce thickens slightly. Stir in the lemon juice and hot sauce.
- Add the bacon and shrimp back to the pan and stir to combine. Cook another few minutes until the shrimp are cooked through. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- To serve, place a serving of grits in a bowl and top with some shrimp and sauce. Garnish with scallions and lemon zest.
Notes
* If you don’t have a premixed Cajun seasoning blend, you can sprinkle the shrimp with a combination of dried thyme, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, and cayenne.
Nutrition
Serving: 0g | Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 33.9g | Protein: 28.7g | Fat: 8.2g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 2.6g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg
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Colleen says
Made this last night and it was Fantastic!! Rave reviews from everyone. Thanks for a great recipe !
Kulwant says
Loved your blog 🙂 Great recipes
Terra says
LOL, I love the title! It definitely depends on where you get shrimp and grits in the south, some are more intense then others. We had one that was slathered in cheese, but I like the ones with the tomato base more. Your recipe looks delicious, and sounds wonderful! Hugs, Terra
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Good morning Sonali~I have featured this recipe on my blog today for my weekly seafood round-up and have linked this recipe to your original post so that my readers will be forwarded to your site. Thank you for allowing me to share and have a wonderful weekend! Here is the link: http://carriesexperimentalkitchen.blogspot.com/2012/10/seafood-frenzy-friday-week-40.html
Amee Livingston says
Sonali, this is one of my favorite southern dishes!! I can't wait to try your healthier version...amazing! 🙂
Unknown says
This looks so delicious! Thank goodness you lightened it up.
sonaliruder says
Thank you!
TastefullyJulie says
I've been wanting to make shrimp and grits, too! This looks perfect.
sonaliruder says
Thanks for stopping by!
Anonymous says
This looks great! I wanted to make shrimp & grits this week, but am watching my calories, so this fits the bill perfectly. Looking forward to trying it out!
sonaliruder says
Thanks! Let me know how it goes if you try it!
Ann says
What a fabulous recreation of a Southern classic, Sonali! I know that even my Southern relatives will approve!
sonaliruder says
Thanks Ann, I hope they do!
katherine Martinelli says
I love this! It sounds like you managed to cut a lot of fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. Good luck settling into your new home!
sonaliruder says
Thanks Katherine!