Easy Shrimp and Grits Recipe - Sweet shrimp swimming in a slightly spicy, intensely garlicky olive oil sauce over cheesy grits with a smooth creamy texture that coats your palate deliciously. An easy recipe perfect for Mardi Gras, but also quick enough to enjoy any night of the week.

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Sunday Supper

Today, the Sunday Supper Tastemakers are sharing a collection of Easy Mardi Gras Recipes for you to enjoy at home. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is on February 28th this year. It is a celebration that begins on or after Three Kings Day, the Christian feasts of the Epiphany. The name means Fat Tuesday in French to reflect on the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before fasting for Lent!

Shrimp and Grits has its roots in the Low Country of South Carolina and Georgia, but you are sure to find many fusion type recipes using New Orleans Creole Shrimp with grits, and many recognize Shrimp and Grits as Mardi Gras fare, so I decided to put my own little spin on this classic. I hope you enjoy it!

The Taste

You can be sure anyone who loves Shrimp and Grits has a very strong opinion of how they should taste. In my recipe, I love how the spicy Spanish style garlic shrimp contrasts with the coolness of the cheesy, white corn grits. I also really love the textural contrast you get from the silky grits with the crunch of the shrimp. Another great bonus with this recipe is the aroma! The Spanish garlic shrimp smells so good y'all, and the sauce tastes out of this world! I just love tearing off a big hunk of french bread and dipping it into the olive oil based sauce. It is soooo good! Instead of dipping bread this time, I decided that sauce would be perfect with cheesy grits. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Recipe Prep Tips

• Get the grits going first.
• While the grits are cooking it allows time for mincing the garlic, seeding and slicing the peppers, chopping the parsley, and preparing the olive oil so everything is handy. It's a good idea to have everything prepped and ready to go as the shrimp cook quickly.
• Click here to view step-by-step directions for making the Spanish Garlic Shrimp
• Add the cheese to the grits right before serving.
• Serve by dividing grits evenly into 4 serving bowls and top each with shrimp and sauce mixture. Divide the shrimp and sauce evenly among the serving bowls. Serve immediately.
• I don't like to save leftover grits. I've never had good luck using them as leftovers, however if you have leftovers, I recommend to store the grits and shrimp separately as the grits won't hold up well if stored in the sauce.

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Easy Shrimp and Grits Recipe

By Life Tastes Good
Published 02/26/2017

Sweet shrimp swimming in a slightly spicy, intensely garlicky olive oil sauce over cheesy grits with a smooth creamy texture that coats your palate deliciously. An easy recipe perfect for Mardi Gras, but easy enough to enjoy any night of the week.

Ingredients

Grits

• 1 cup white hominy grits
• 3 cups water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups half and half cream
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Spanish Garlic Shrimp

• 1 pound medium raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3 fresh red Thai chili peppers, seeded and sliced into thin strips
• 2 tablespoons freshly minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Bring 3 cups water, 1 cup grits, and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a heavy saucepan with a lid. Stir in 2 cups half-and-half, cover, and reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Simmer until grits are thickened and tender, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
2. While grits are simmering, Season shrimp with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper and set aside. Use this time to seed and slice the peppers, mince the garlic, and chop the parsley, as well as measure the oil to have handy.
3. When the grits are done, remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. While the grits are resting, prepare the shrimp.
4. Heat a cast iron skillet over mid-high heat and add 1/2 cup olive oil. Test the oil is hot by dropping in a few of the chiles. If they sizzle, the oil is ready. Add the remaining chilies and saute about a minute until the peppers start to soften.
5. Add the 2 tablespoons of minced garlic and saute about 30 seconds. The garlic will smell amazing! Add the seasoned shrimp and saute about 1 1/2 - 2 minutes until cooked through. The shrimp will take on a slightly pink color and be opaque. Remove from heat.
6. Stir 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese into the grits until smooth. Divide the grits evenly into 4 serving bowls. Divide shrimp and sauce mixture evenly over top of the grits in the serving bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy.

Yield: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 10 mins.

Cook time: 20 mins.
Total time: 30 mins.