Description
This Southern Creole shrimp and grits recipe is loaded with andouille sausage, rich tomato gravy, and cheesy stone-ground grits. Ready in about an hour with big, bold flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound andouille sausage (sliced)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 1–2 jalapeno peppers (chopped)
- 2 stalks celery (chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasonings
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups seafood stock
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (chopped)
- 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 2 cups grits
- 4 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
- Spicy chili flakes (fresh chopped parsley, chopped green onions)
Instructions
- Heat a large pot to medium and add the andouille. Saute for 3 minutes, stirring, until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
- Make a Roux. Add vegetable oil and flour. Stir to form a paste, then cook, stirring constantly for 10-15 minutes, until the roux darkens to a rich brown.
- Add the onion, jalapeno and celery. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes and Cajun seasonings, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the stock and fresh thyme. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Stir in the sausage and simmer another 30 minutes or longer. Adjust for seasonings.
- Remove from heat and stir in the shrimp. Cover and let the shrimp cook 3-5 minutes.
- While the shrimp gravy is simmering, add the butter, water and optional salt to a pot. Bring to a boil.
- Stir in the grits and bring back to a boil. Lower the heat, then cover and simmer 30 minutes.
- Adjust for salt.
- Stir in the cheese a bit at a time until it is melted through.
- Serve the cheesy grits into bowls, top with shrimp gravy, andouille and cooked shrimp.
- Garnish with red pepper flakes, fresh parsley and green onion.
Notes
- Use fire roasted tomatoes for extra flavor.
- Adjust spice level by choosing different peppers.
- For creamier grits, use milk or heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 745
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 250 mg
Keywords: Shrimp Grits, Southern Recipe, Cajun, Creole, Seafood