Grits a Ya Ya

Bacon, spinach, and mushrooms come together with jumbo shrimp in a creamy sauce served over a platter of smoked Gouda cheese grits.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 839 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups heavy cream
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 cup chopped portobello mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon minced shallot
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste
• 3 ½ cups chicken stock
• 2 cups chopped spinach
• ¼ cup sliced green onions
• 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 8 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 splash white wine
• ¾ cup old fashioned grits
• ¼ cup heavy cream, plus more as needed
• 1 cup shredded smoked Gouda cheese, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a saucepan over high heat.

Step 2

Slowly pour the grits into the stock while stirring constantly.

Step 3

Reduce heat to low; simmer until the grits are tender and thick, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4

Stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream to thin the grits.

Step 5

Stir in the Gouda cheese and 1/4 cup butter until melted and smooth.

Step 6

While the grits are cooking, place the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium heat; cook until the bacon fat is rendered, about 3 minutes.

Step 7

Stir in the shallot and garlic; cooking and stirring until the shallots are tender, about 5 minutes.

Step 8

Pour in the white wine and stir in 3 tablespoons butter, cooking and stirring until the butter has melted.

Step 9

Drop the shrimp in the skillet; cook and stir until they are bright pink on the outside and the meat is no longer transparent in the center, about 3 minutes.

Step 10

Stir in the spinach, mushrooms, and green onions; cook and stir until the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes more.

Step 11

Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon.

Step 12

Stir in 2 cups heavy cream. Simmer until the cream is reduced by about a third, about 10 minutes.

Step 13

Season with hot sauce, salt, and pepper.

Step 14

Return the shrimp to the skillet to heat through.

Step 15

Serve shrimp and sauce over the prepared grits.