Grilled Cheese Grits Cakes with Shrimp

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Grilled Cheese Grits Cakes with Shrimp

Grilling the grits is absolutely optional.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Chill Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes

Servings

Calories 678kcal

Ingredients

For The Grits:

2 Tbsp butter (unsalted)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
3 cups half and half
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 cup quick cooking grits (tested with Quaker)
14.5 oz can creamed corn
½ cup smoked gouda
1 cup mild cheddar
salt and black pepper (to taste)
2 Tbsp fresh flat leaf parsley (minced)

For the Shrimp:

1 pound large shrimp (deveined and unpeeled)
1 Tbsp cajun seasoning
4 slices bacon (thick sliced)
1 small shallot (finely chopped)
1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
3 cloves garlic (minced)
salt and black pepper (to taste)
1 pinch saffron (optional)
1 cup dry white wine (tested with Sauvignon Blanc)
1 Tbsp butter

To Finish:

chili oil (for drizzling)
2 Tbsp chives cut into ¾ inch slices

Instructions

To Make The Grits:

Melt the butter over medium heat. Add garlic. Cook for 20 to 30 seconds, or until fragrant and cooked. Add in half and half and bouillon cube. Increase heat to medium high. Bring to a light boil.
Whisk in grits until well combined. Add in corn. Whisk constantly until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cheeses salt and pepper and whisk until very thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in parsley.

If Not Grilling:

Divide up grits on the centers of plates. Set aside.

If Grilling:

Pour grits into a lightly greased casserole dish.
Cover grits with plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge for 4 hours, or until very cold.
Heat nonstick skillet to medium-high. Cut out grits into 2½" to 3" squares. Cook each square for 5 minutes or until crispy. Flip. Repeat. Place 2 squares on the centers of each plate. Set aside.

For The Shrimp:

Toss shrimp together with cajun seasoning in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
Cook bacon in a very large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove and plate on a paper towel lined plate. Leave the grease in the pan.
Add shrimp to the pan and spread out. Cook for 3 minutes. Flip. Cook for 3 minutes. Remove shrimp from pan and place in a bowl. Set aside.
Add in shallot and thyme and cook for 2 minutes or until shallots are transluscent. Add garlic, saffron, salt and pepper and cook for 20 seconds, stirring around.
Add in the wine. Scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Reduce to a simmer and cook until wine is reduced by about half, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and add the butter.
Peel shells off shrimp and discard. Stir shrimp in wine reduction Return to low heat if shrimp have any pieces of gray still in them. Shrimp is done the moment all the gray is gone.

To Plate:

Cut or tear each piece of bacon in half or in pieces and place on top of the grits.
Divide the shrimp mixture out on top of each plate of grits.
Drizzle a little chili oil on the outside of each plate.
Top each plate with chives. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not grill grits on an outdoor grill. They will fall through the grates as they heat. If you don't feel comfortable grilling the grits or are short of time, DON'T. It's great either way.

Cooking shrimp in their shells may seem odd to you. It protects the shrimp from overcooking and keeps that juicy flavor inside. Feel free to get shrimp that's already peeled, you may not taste the difference. This is all personal preference.

Nutrition