Cajun Shrimp with Cheese Grits

Louisiana style gets together with low-country cooking for a Cajun-inspired version of shrimp and grits with andouille sausage and the Cajun holy trinity - onion, bell pepper, and celery.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 327 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups water
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup dry white wine
• ½ teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• ½ jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• ¾ cup diced celery
• ¾ cup diced green bell pepper
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, with juice
• 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste (Optional)
• 1 pound fresh large shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1 cup regular grits, uncooked
• 2 ¼ cups 2% low-fat milk
• 2 teaspoons chicken soup base (paste)
• ½ teaspoon smoked salt
• ½ pound andouille sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• ¾ cup diced yellow onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring milk, water, chicken soup base, and smoked salt to a boil in a saucepan; slowly whisk in grits, reduce heat to low, and cover pan. Simmer until grits are tender and thick, about 20 minutes. Keep grits warm.

Step 2

Brown andouille sausage slices with vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat; remove sausage and set aside.

Step 3

Cook and stir green bell pepper, yellow onion, celery, and jalapeno pepper in the same skillet until onion is tender and translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and Cajun seasoning; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 4

Stir flour into the vegetables until well coated; gradually stir in fire-roasted tomatoes and white wine, cooking until the sauce begins to thicken, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low, stir bay leaf into the sauce, and simmer for 5 minutes; season with salt and black pepper.

Step 5

Mix cooked andouille sausage and shrimp into the sauce and cook, stirring often, until sausage is hot and shrimp are pink and no longer translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.

Step 6

Just before serving, stir Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses into grits until melted.

Step 7

To serve, spoon grits onto a serving plate and top with shrimp, sausage slices, and sauce. Garnish with chopped chives.