Shrimp and Grits (or Polenta)
with bacon and romaine salad

Name: Shrimp and Grits (or Polenta)
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 lb Shrimp, peeled and deveined ((Don't eat seafood? Chop up chicken breasts)); 8 slices Bacon, diced; 3 stalks Green onions, chopped - white and green parts separated; 3 cloves Garlic, minced; 1 can Fire-roasted diced tomatoes (14 oz), drained ((Sub normal diced tomatoes) ); 1 1/2 cups Water; 1/2 cup Milk; 1/2 cup Grits or polenta ((Find a less coarse grind for quicker cooking. Sub ½ lb. of orzo if you prefer pasta.) ); 3 Tbsp Butter; 2 Tbsp Cooking oil; 1/2 Lemon, juice of; to taste Hot sauce (opt); 6 oz Romaine lettuce, chopped; 1 tsp Honey; 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard; 1 1/2 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar; 3 Tbsp Cooking oil

Active: 35 min Total: 35 min

Original

This classic Southern dish gets an update with some fire-roasted tomatoes. Use grits (made from hominy) or polenta. Our vegetarians will be enjoying this as a chickpea saute with similar flavor. Our paleo members will have shrimp and pureed garlic cauliflower instead.

Proteins

Shellfish, Pork, non-ground

Cuisines

American - Southern

Ingredients

Metric

Servings:

Shrimp and Grits with Bacon:

Shrimp - 1 lb , peeled and deveined ((Don't eat seafood? Chop up chicken breasts))
Bacon - 8 slices , diced
Green onions - 3 stalks , chopped - white and green parts separated
Garlic - 3 cloves , minced
Fire-roasted diced tomatoes (14 oz) - 1 can , drained ((Sub normal diced tomatoes) )
Water - 1 1/2 cups
Milk - 1/2 cup
Grits or polenta - 1/2 cup ((Find a less coarse grind for quicker cooking. Sub ½ lb. of orzo if you prefer pasta.) )
Butter - 3 Tbsp
Cooking oil - 2 Tbsp
Lemon - 1/2 , juice of
Hot sauce (opt) - to taste

Romaine Salad:

Romaine lettuce - 6 oz , chopped
Honey - 1 tsp
Dijon mustard - 1/2 tsp
Apple cider vinegar - 1 1/2 Tbsp
Cooking oil - 3 Tbsp

Prep

Shrimp - Defrost, rinse, and dry. (Can be done up to 1 day ahead)
Bacon / Green onions / Garlic - Prep as directed. (Can be done up to 3 days ahead)
Diced tomatoes - Drain.

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Make

Bring water and milk to boil in a saucepan (do watch the pan because boiled milk will quickly spill over!). Add in grits or polenta with a dash of salt. Lower heat and simmer 20 to 30 minutes until liquid is all absorbed, stirring occasionally. Finish with butter and season to taste with more salt as needed. If you have a rice cooker, you can also cook it in there (turn on cooking cycle and then wait 10 minutes after it's done to allow liquid to be fully absorbed).
Chop romaine and whisk together honey, Dijon, apple cider vinegar, and oil. Taste and adjust flavors as needed.
Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add cooking oil and then bacon. Saute until the edges are golden and then set aside onto a paper towel lined plate to catch any fat. Keep ~1 tbs. (15 ml) of fat in the pot and add white parts of green onions and shrimp to heated oil. Saute for ~3 minutes and then toss in minced garlic and diced tomatoes. Cook until shrimp is pink and cooked through, another 2 to 4 minutes. Finish with lemon juice, and season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
Toss lettuce with some salt and then dress with vinaigrette. Enjoy as a side to hot grits or polenta topped with shrimp and bacon, garnished with green onion!

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