Skip to main content

New & Improved: Shrimp and Grits Recipe

Quality of the shrimp makes the difference—and a few key ingredients seals the deal.

New & Improved: Shrimp and Grits Recipe

Add cheese? Meh. Pancetta and sausage liven it up without trampling the flavors of shrimp and grits.

Print Recipe

It’s been about 100 episodes of Sportsman’s Kitchen since I first featured shrimp and grits. That 2013 column was mostly about the proper preparation of the grits, and the part with shrimp was almost an aside. This year, I’ll address the shrimp—and few extra improvements like pancetta and Andouille sausage.

Likely one of the world’s most popular seafood, shrimp are available in all corners of the United States, thanks to airplanes and freezers. But that’s not to say all shrimp are created equal. Size and source are important, as is the quality of the vendor.

Shrimp are sized based on the number of shrimp per pound, head-on. The larger the shrimp, the higher the price, and peeling/deveining adds to the total you’ll pay. Thirty-one to 40-count shrimp are a mouthful and 16 to 20 or larger might involve a knife at the table.

bowl of peeled and deveined shrimp
With your select shrimp in hand, peeled and deveined, the preparation of this recipe is pretty straightforward.

Most important is the source of your shrimp. We’ve all had those big, watery imported farmed shrimp at cocktail parties and have said thankful prayers for the strong horseradish-laden cocktail sauce for some flavor. Be sure to check that the shrimp you’re buying are WILD-CAUGHT. If they’re not available, spend your money on some nice pork chops!

The time between the catch and the sale is critical, too. There is nothing wrong with frozen or previously frozen shrimp, as flash freezing is common aboard larger shrimp boats. In all cases, you need to smell the shrimp you purchase. Any reputable seller, whether a seafood specialty store or grocer, should be to give you a free whiff. Good fresh shrimp should smell like the sea; bad ones like ammonia. Bagged frozen shrimp are more of a crapshoot. Look for a statement that they’re wild-caught and USA sourced.

Shrimp and Grits Recipe

Serves: 4
Cooking Time: 45 minutes

plated bowl of shrimp and grits
With the right ingredients, no cheese is needed in this delectable dish.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup uncooked grits (makes 2 cups, cooked)
  • 4 ounces salted butter or shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3 cups water and 1 cup milk
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped pancetta or thick-cut bacon
  • ½ cup very thinly sliced Andouille sausage
  • 1 pound wild-caught shrimp, peeled and deveined, lightly dusted with Zatarain’s Fish-Fri
  • Scallions, chopped, for garnish
  • Tabasco sauce

Directions:

shrimp and grits recipe ingredients
Some additional ingredients elevate this once-cheesy classic.
  1. First, cook the grits. The addition of salt, butter and milk and a long, slow 30-minute simmer is important. If you’re so inclined, substitute shredded cheddar cheese for the butter. A rough measure of liquid to uncooked grits is 4 to 1.
    cutting cajun andouille sausage
    Andouille sausage adds a nice smokey touch. Get a spicier andouille blend for some extra kick.
  2. Next, in a frying pan, over medium heat, in a tablespoon or two of olive oil, cook the pancetta and sausage until crisp.
    Andouille sausage and pancetta sizzle in a cast iron pan
    If only you could smell a picture.
  3. Set the cooked meats aside and sauté the lightly breaded shrimp in the remaining fat. Take care not to overcook, remembering, “C’s NOT O’s” is the formula for cooking shrimp.
  4. To finish, spoon the meat and shrimp over a bowl of grits, garnish with some sliced scallions and a splash of Tabasco sauce.

To Cheese or Not to Cheese (Grits)

Personally, I think folks began to add cheese to grits to cover up the flavor of the grits. In the part of Florida I grew up in (North Central), grits were served with fried fish, or with breakfast--not with cheese, but with butter, salt and black pepper. For this recipe, I believe in adding flavor with the toppings, and tasting the corn flavor of the grits.




And don’t argue with me about sweet or savory hushpuppies! FS

Florida Sportsman Magazine July 2021

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Videos

Kayak Fishing Fun 2023 Product Showcase

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Store

Refurbished 1987 Alumacraft Jon Boat | One Man's Dreamboat

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Learn

New Berkley Finisher: The All-Around Live Sonar Lure

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Gear

New Berkley Power Switch: Powerhouse Lure Designed for Foward-Facing Sonar

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Gear

New Berkley Krej: A Reversed Lip Jerkbait?

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Store

How to Install New Fuel Tanks in an Old Boat

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Videos

Testing Out the Latest from Old Town in the Marquesas

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Store

How to Powder Coat: Benefits of Powder Coating Metal Fuel Tanks

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Gear

Father & Son Customize a 20' Center Console | One Man's Dreamboat

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Gear

Best Features of the Shallow Sport X3

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Learn

How to Fix an Outboard Motor that was Submerged in Saltwater

The crew at Marine Customs Unlimited takes on restoring a 31' Contender that has seen Better Dayz.
Store

Analyzing a Hurricane Damaged Boat for Restoration

Florida Sportsman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

Preview This Month's Issue

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Florida Sportsman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Florida Sportsman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now