Grits With Broiled Tomatoes And Bacon Food

SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• Prepare the grits: Combine the grits and the water in a large mixing bowl. Allow to soak overnight at room temperature (optional). The next day, skim the top with a fine-mesh strainer to remove and discard the chaff. Strain the grits, pouring the soaking water into a stockpot.
• Bring water to a low simmer; carefully add the grits in several additions, whisking constantly until the grits are emulsified with the water. When the grits come to a boil, lower the heat even further. Use a spatula to scrape down the grits from the side of the pot. Gently crumple the bay leaves in your hand before adding them to the grits. Cover the pot and simmer at a very low heat for 45-60 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the sides of the pot. Add water as necessary to achieve the right consistency: not too runny, not too thick. (Note: Prep your shrimp at this time and use the heads and peels to start the tomato-shrimp broth-see Steps 4 and 6.)
• When the grits are fully cooked, they should be soft, fluffy and creamy. Stir in the butter; season with about 1 teaspoon salt, white pepper, and a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice to taste. Stir well to combine. Reserve, covered.
• Dice bacon and set aside. Remove stems from cremini mushrooms and quarter (or cut as necessary to achieve uniform size); set aside. Remove the shells and heads from the shrimp; reserve for stock. Gently slice down the back of each shrimp and devein with tweezers or a toothpick, being careful to preserve any roe. Gently rinse each shrimp in a small bowl of lightly salted water.
• Add 2 tablespoons lard to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat; when the lard shimmers, add the bacon. Turn heat to low and allow bacon to render, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mince shallot; add to bacon. Thinly slice garlic; add to bacon and shallots. Cook until garlic and shallot are softened, 1-2 minutes. When bacon is finished cooking, strain most of the fat from the pan. (Discard the fat or reserve for another use.)
• Make tomato-shrimp broth: Add 2 tablespoons of lard to a saucepan over medium-high heat; when it shimmers, sear the shrimp shells and heads for 1-2 minutes. Add the preserved tomato, tomato paste, 2 bay leaves, and vegetable stock. Simmer for 2 hours, covered. Strain the stock into a bowl, pushing the solids down to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids. Pour the stock back into the pot and reduce by half over high heat. Add 2 cups of the reduced shrimp stock to the bacon pan (freeze the rest for later use) and bring to a simmer. Add the mushrooms and 2 lightly crushed bay leaves and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Turn the heat to low and add the shrimp in a single layer over broth. Lightly season with salt and cook at a very low simmer until shrimp are just cooked, turning them over halfway through, about 1½-2 minutes. (Do not overcook.)
• Assemble the dish: Stir the warm grits to even out the consistency; spoon into a bowl. Top with shrimp, mushroom, and bacon mixture, including broth. Season with smoked paprika and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Garnish with freshly minced parsley. Serve.

DECONSTRUCTED ROASTED TOMATO GRITS AND SHRIMP, WITH SAUTEED BABY MUSTARD GREENS AND BACON "CONFIT"

Steps:

• For the bacon confit: Blot the bacon with paper towels and place in a small roasting dish Combine the cinnamon, cloves, pepper and thyme in a small bowl. Rub the bacon with the spice mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Melt the bacon fat in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the bacon and cook slowly until golden brown and crisp on one side, about 10 minutes. Turn the bacon and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook the bacon until crisp, about 10 more minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl, drizzle with a splash of vinegar and garnish with parsley. Reserve the bacon fat for the mustard greens.
• For the roasted tomatoes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Mix together the oil, thyme and some salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes in a baking dish and drizzle with the oil mixture. Then sprinkle with the sugar. Bake the tomatoes until they are completely softened and start to wrinkle, 30 to 40 minutes.
• For the cheese grits: Bring 6 cups of water and the milk to a boil in a medium saucepan and season with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the grits and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, whisking constantly. Cook until mixture is thick and tender, about 30 minutes, adding more water, if needed. Mix in the Cheddar and Pecorino-Romano until thoroughly incorporated. Season with some salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
• For the sauteed baby mustard greens: Heat the butter and 2 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook until the garlic is softened, about 1 minute. Add the mustard greens and season with salt and pepper. Toss just to coat with the fat. Add a splash of water and cook until the greens are just wilted, about 2 minutes.
• For the shrimp: Heat the oil in a large saute pan over high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add 8 to 10 shrimp, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until well-seared and crisp but just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
• On a serving platter or individual plates, spoon and slightly spread a mound of hot grits (if they have gotten too stiff, thin them a bit by whisking in hot water over low heat). Spoon the tomatoes on top, then add the greens and bacon. Top with the shrimp.

LOW COUNTRY SHRIMP AND GRITS WITH STEWED TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water, the milk, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste for the grits to a gentle boil. Whisk in the grits. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is smooth and thick and falls easily from the spoon, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Towards the end of the cooking time for the grits, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 45 to 60 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes with their juice and the bay leaves. Season with cayenne pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture is slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Increase the heat under the tomatoes to medium high and add the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp are pink and firm, an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the parsley. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. When the grits have thickened, stir in the cheese and butter. To serve, place a heaping spoonful of grits on each plate. Top with the shrimp and tomato gravy. Garnish with additional Parmigiano-Reggiano and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

SHRIMP AND CHEESY GRITS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Bring chicken broth and evaporated milk to a boil in a large saucepan; stir in grits and salt and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer grits until thick, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese until melted. Set grits aside and keep warm.
• Cook and stir bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a bowl. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings from the skillet and cook and stir shrimp, green bell pepper, and onion in bacon drippings until shrimp are bright pink and no longer translucent inside and green pepper is tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir bacon into shrimp mixture.
• Spread grits into a serving dish, top with shrimp mixture, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Cheddar cheese for garnish.