Arron's Shrimp and Grits

Delectable shrimp and vegetables simmer gently in a tomato cream sauce before being served over cheesy cornmeal for a Southern-inspired breakfast fit for company.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 336 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• ½ cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced green bell pepper
• ⅓ cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste (Optional)
• 3 cups shrimp stock, divided
• 1 cup finely ground cornmeal
• 1 ½ pounds uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 teaspoon chopped green onion, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring 2 cups shrimp stock to a boil in a saucepan; reduce heat to low and let the stock simmer.

Step 2

Whisk cornmeal with remaining 1 cup shrimp stock in a bowl until smooth. Whisk the moistened cornmeal into the simmering shrimp stock. Stir grits occasionally until slightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in butter until incorporated. Mix in sharp Cheddar cheese, about 1 tablespoon at a time, until cheese has smoothly melted into grits.

Step 3

Bring grits back to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until tender, 15 to 20 more minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.

Step 4

While grits are simmering, heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir celery until tender, 3 to 4 minutes; stir in onion, green bell pepper, thyme, and oregano. Cook and stir vegetables until onion is translucent, 7 to 8 minutes.

Step 5

Mix tomato sauce into cooked vegetables and simmer for about 5 minutes to blend the flavors; stir in the sour cream to make a sauce.

Step 6

Stir shrimp into the sauce with vegetables and cover skillet. Bring sauce to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer until shrimp are pink and no longer translucent in the middle, 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 7

To serve, turn grits into a large shallow serving bowl and arrange shrimp over the grits using tongs. Pour sauce and vegetables over shrimp and grits; season to taste with hot pepper sauce and sprinkle with green onion.