Shrimp And Grits With Creamed Spinach Tomato Confit And Smoked Bacon Gastrique Food

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 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.

SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• First, peel and devein the shrimp. In a small bowl, combine Cajun seasoning, paprika, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the shrimp to coat well and set the shrimp aside.
• Next, make your grits. In a medium saucepan, bring water, chicken bouillon cubes and 2 tablespoons butter to a boil. Slowly add the grits, whisking often with wire whisk for 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, cream, and cheese. Keep whisking for another 2 or 3 minutes until the grits become creamy. Don't skimp on the butter and the cream, folks.
• Now saute the shrimp. In a large saute pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add in the spice-coated shrimp, and cook only until they're just done and tender. Don't overcook. Remove the shrimp from the saute pan and set them aside in a bowl. You can taste 1 or 2, to see if they're okay.
• The roux is next. With all those wonderful drippings from the shrimp in the saute pan, add 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and stir with a wooden spatula to make a roux. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until roux reaches a medium-tan color, then slowly add the chicken stock and heavy whipping cream. Whisk together and cook for 2 minutes, then whisk in Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Set aside.
• And last, a little country ham. Cook 1 center slice of cured country ham in a saute pan, and cut into cubes.
• To serve, and this is the best part-place a few heaping spoonfuls of steaming cheese grits onto a place, top with several sizzling shrimp. Drizzle that wonderful roux sauce over top of the shrimp, and sprinkle on a few cubes of country ham. Enjoy.

SHRIMP AND GRITS WITH ROASTED TOMATO, FENNEL, AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a bowl, combine tomato, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper; toss well.
• Arrange tomato halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet; roast until they collapse and are lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes, then set aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine fennel, half the reserved fronds, and enough water or broth just to cover; add butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer and cook until fork tender, 8 to 10 minutes; transfer to a plate, discard cooked fronds, but reserve the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, prepare the grits according to the package directions, seasoning with salt and adding a bay leaf halfway through cooking; once cooked, mix the grits with butter, cream cheese, pepper, lemon juice, and hot sauce.
• Prepare the shrimp about 15 minutes before the grits are done by heating a large skillet or saute pan over medium heat, add oil, and sear shrimp 1 minute per side; add the fennel, sausage, roasted tomatoes, and 1 1/2 cups of the reserved fennel cooking liquid.
• Bring to a simmer, stir in lemon juice, hot sauce, salt and chopped parsley(add more fennel cooking liquid if it seem too dry).
• To serve, divide grits among shallow soup plates, top with shrimp mixture, and garnish with uncooked fennel fronds.

SHRIMP AND GRITS WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring milk, 1 garlic clove, and salt to boil in medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in grits. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until grits are very tender, whisking often, about 8 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook bacon in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp, stirring often. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon drippings. Add shrimp to drippings in skillet. Sauté until shrimp are pink, stirring often, about 1 minute. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper. Add shallots and remaining garlic to skillet. Sauté until shallots are translucent and shrimp are cooked through, about 2 minutes. Add clam juice to skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Add spinach to skillet and toss just to wilt. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce.
• Divide grits among 6 plates. Top with shrimp mixture and sprinkle with bacon. Garnish with lemon wedges for squeezing over and serve.