Shrimp And Grit Cakes With Seven Pepper Jelly Food

SARA'S SHRIMP AND GRIT CAKES

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Butter a 13-by-18-inch baking pan. Slowly sprinkle grits into boiling water, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce heat to medium, and stir constantly until the mixture is thick, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, and stir in cheese, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, and scallions.
• Pour the mixture into prepared baking pan, and smooth out to a 1/2-inch-thick layer. Using a 2 1/2-inch-round cookie cutter, lightly mark out 24 circles in the grits. Press a shrimp half into each circle. Cover with plastic wrap, press down lightly to smooth, and refrigerate until set, 1 to 2 hours.
• Combine flour and cornmeal in a small bowl. Using a cookie cutter, cut the grits along the marked lines into rounds, keeping the shrimp centered in each circle. In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon butter and enough oil to cover the bottom over medium-high heat. Dredge the cakes in the flour mixture, and saute, 8 at a time, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Wipe out the skillet, and repeat, adding more butter and oil, until all cakes are cooked. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Top with a scant teaspoon of Seven Pepper Jelly and scallion greens; serve warm.

SHRIMP AND GRIT CAKES WITH SEVEN PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Bring 6 c. water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Slowly sprinkle grits into boiling water, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce heat to medium, and stir constantly till the mix is thick, 5 to 7 min. Remove the pan from heat, and stir in cheddar, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, and scallions. Pour the mix into a buttered 13- by 18-inch baking pan, and smooth out to a 1/2-inch-thick layer. Using a 2 1/2-inch-round cookie cutter, lightly mark out 24 circles in the grits. Press a shrimp half into each circle. Cover with plastic wrap, press down lightly to smooth, and chill till set, 1 to 2 hrs. Combine flour and cornmeal in a small bowl. Using a cookie cutter, cut the grits along the marked lines into rounds, keeping the shrimp centered in each circle. Heat 1 tsp. butter and sufficient oil to cover the bottom of a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge the cakes in the flour mix, and saute/fry, 8 at a time, till golden, 1 to 2 min on each side. Wipe out the skillet, and repeat, adding more butter and oil, till all cakes are cooked. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Top with a scant tsp. of seven-pepper jelly and scallion greens; serve hot. This recipe yields 24 cakes. Yield: 24 cakes

SHRIMP AND GRIT CAKES WITH SEVEN-PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Blanch the shrimp until opaque, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp to ice bath until cool. When cool, peel and cut in half lengthwise along the vein. Discard vein; set aside shrimp.
• Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Slowly sprinkle the grits into boiling water, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce heat to medium, and stir constantly until the mixture is thick, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, and stir in cheddar, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, and scallions.
• Pour the mixture into a buttered 10-by-15-inch jelly-roll pan, and smooth out to a 1/2-inch-thick layer. Using a 2 1/2-inch-round cookie cutter, lightly mark out 24 circles in the grits. Press 1 halved shrimp into each circle. Cover with plastic wrap, press down lightly to smooth, and chill until set, 1 to 2 hours.
• Combine the flour and cornmeal in a small bowl. Using the cookie cutter, cut the grits along the marked lines into rounds, keeping the shrimp centered in each circle. Heat 2 teaspoons butter and 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge the cakes in the flour mixture, and saute, eight at a time, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Wipe out the skillet, and repeat, adding more butter and oil, until all cakes are cooked. Transfer to a baking sheet or a plate lined with paper towels. Top with a scant teaspoon of seven-pepper jelly and scallion greens; serve warm.

LOUISIANA GRILLED SHRIMP WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE POBLANO GRIT CAKES, ROUILLE AND PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• For the Grit Cakes: Roast one poblano pepper over open flame on gas stove until completely charred, then cool and dice. Add pepper and cheese to grits. Stir to incorporate and spread in pan approximately 2- to 3-inches thick. Let sit and refrigerate until it is cold. Remove from refrigerator and cut with biscuit cutter to create cakes. Bread the cakes in flour, egg wash and bread crumbs. Keep in refrigerator until you are ready to cook the dish.
• For the Pepper Jelly: Saute diced red peppers and remaining 1 poblano in 1 tablespoon peanut oil for 1 minute. Deglaze with Grand Marnier and add Karo syrup. Cook at moderate heat approximately 20 minutes, liquid should reduce by 2/3. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• For the Rouille: Combine anchovies, capers, pepper sauce, garlic and lemon juice in a blender until smooth. Fold in mayonnaise and refrigerate.
• For plating: Deep fry the cakes. Place pepper jelly on the bottom of the plate. Grill shrimp only until firm and pink. Do not overcook. Briefly place fried cake on grill to score and flavor, being careful not to burn breading. Place cake on pepper jelly and top with 2 shrimp per person. Drizzle rouille on top and sprinkle with scallions.

SAUTEED SHRIMP WITH PEPPERS, SPICY PEACH CHUTNEY AND CHEESE GRIT CAKES

Steps:

• For the chutney: Mix water, cider vinegar, peach juice concentrate, ground cloves, garlic, ginger, salt to taste,sugar, jalapeno peppers and onion in a large saucepan. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. It will be liquid. Add cherries and peaches and simmer 15 minutes more to plump up the cherries and cook the peaches. Mix cold water and cornstarch and stir into chutney. Cook, stirring, about 30 seconds. You may want to add more cornstarch water if you prefer a thicker product.
• For the grit cakes: Boil water and add salt. Slowly stir in grits. Cook until thick. Remove from heat and add butter, cheese, cayenne and beaten egg. Set aside to cool slightly, then refrigerate. When the mixture is cold, form into patties about 4-inches across and 1inch thick. Place flour on a wide plate, eggs in another plate and crumbs in another plate. Dip patties first into flour, then into eggs, then cover with bread crumbs. Chill 30 minutes or up to overnight. Heat butter or olive oil in a saucepan and saute grit cakes until golden brown on both sides.
• For the shrimp: Saute peppers in olive oil until tender and set aside. Add shrimp and saute just until cooked through.
• Place a ladle of warmed chutney on a plate. Place grit cake in the middle. Arrange the shrimp around and sprinkle with peppers and cilantro.

SHRIMP AND GRITS CAKES

Steps:

• Cook grits as directed on package, using about 6 cups stock instead of water. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; coat paper with cooking spray. Stir Parmesan and butter into grits; season with salt and black pepper. Pour grits onto sheet; smooth into an even layer. Cover and refrigerate until very firm, at least 2 1/2 hours or overnight. Use a 2-inch biscuit or round cookie cutter to cut out 16 cakes; cover cakes and refrigerate. A half hour before serving, heat oven to 300°. In a bowl, toss shrimp with juice and a few shakes of hot pepper sauce. In a large skillet, sauté bacon and bell pepper over medium heat until bacon is light brown but not crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove all but 2 teaspoons bacon fat from pan. Reduce heat to medium-low; add scallions and toss to coat. Sprinkle in flour; sauté, stirring frequently with a wooden spatula, until light brown, 2 to 5 minutes. Add remaining 2/3 cup stock and wine; cook, stirring, until sauce thickens. Season with salt, black pepper and more hot pepper sauce. Add shrimp and any liquid; sauté until just opaque, 2 to 5 minutes, being careful not to overcook. Just prior to serving, transfer grits cakes to a baking sheet; bake until warm through, about 6 minutes. Spoon a bit of sauce and 1 shrimp over each cake; garnish with parsley. Do AHEAD: The grits-cake base of these nibbles needs to firm up in the fridge for at least 2 1/2 hours-and more time is fine. Prep it the night before your party.