grits Archives • A Sweet Pea Chef

There is no better comfort food than healthy shrimp and grits. Honestly! This Southern staple is simple, yet delicious and sure to be your go-to recipe when a comfort craving hits. LOVE me some Shrimp and Grits! Not only is this simple dish amazingly yummy and robust with incredible flavor, but it's also super easy to make. The entire meal can be made in about 30 minutes which makes it a no-brainer for us when we have plump and ready-to-enjoy shrimp on hand. And we intentionally have shrimp on hand. We like our grits creamy and cheesy in our house because...well...yum. And, really, why not? So, I add sharp cheddar, whole milk, and honest-to-goodness butter to the grits. Pretty much does the trick. This meal will stick to your bones and keep you craving more once you're good 'n full. So let’s look at how to make the healthiest shrimp and grits, delicious every time! IS SHRIMP HEALTHY? Shrimp is healthy, yes. It’s low in calories and a serving size of 3 ounces contains more than 20 minerals and vitamins. Shrimp also contains selenium, which is an antioxidant. Some of the good things in shrimp are: IronProtein (read more about protein here)PhosphorusVitamin B12ZincNiacinMagnesiumIodine (it’s one of the best sources and is excellent for brain health) CAN GRITS BE HEALTHY? You’re looking at this recipe because it’s called Healthy Shrimp and Grits. And you want to learn how to make healthy shrimp and grits, so let’s learn about grits before you head to the recipe. Grits are made from ground dried cornTo make my grit recipe, I use cornmeal polenta which is made from yellow corn (not to be mixed up with cornmeal)You can also use grits, which are made with either yellow or white corn (grits are more processed than polenta)Stone ground grits are the healthiest because they undergo less processing than instant or quick gritsGrits have iron, B Vitamins, and antioxidantsGrits are gluten-free but check the packaging to make sure they have not been packaged in a plant where there is the possibility of cross-contamination WHAT GOES IN HEALTHY SHRIMP AND GRITS? Shrimp and grits have a lot of ingredients that transform them from being tasteless to super tasty! I love that grits are easy to make and go so well with one of my favorite proteins, shrimp. How to make healthy shrimp and grits? Gather these ingredients: Whole milkSharp cheddar cheeseOlive oil (read about the healthiest oils for cooking)Unsalted butterYummy spicesBalsamic vinegarLarge shrimp, deveined and deshelled HOW TO MAKE GRITS WITHOUT CHEESE You can definitely make grits without cheese. If you are vegan or dairy intolerant and do not want to add the cheese, use a non-dairy milk like almond or oat milk. The butter can be omitted or replaced with vegan butter. Nutritional yeast is a fantastic cheese replacement. It’s a bit nutty and crunchy and is quite like parmesan. If you still want the creamy cheesiness, you can use vegan shredded cheese. HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT HEALTHY SHRIMP AND GRITS You can store cooked grits in the refrigerator for about 3 days. To reheat, I do so on the stovetop. They may be a little clumpy when stored, so I add some water to thin them out and remove the clumps. It doesn’t take long. When I reheat the shrimp, I microwave them for just a few seconds. You don’t want them getting rubbery. MORE HEALTHY SHRIMP RECIPES Shrimp is such a tasty addition to grits. If you are a shrimp lover like me, you’ll want to see more shrimp recipes. Here they are! Honey Garlic Shrimp Meal Prep15 Minute Healthy Shrimp Scampi RecipeBreaded Shrimp Meal PrepCreamy Tuscan Shrimp With Sweet Potato NoodlesSpicy Shrimp TacosCrispy Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Jalapeno Poppers Recipe with Cilantro Lime Dipping Sauce5 Healthy Spring Rolls Recipes This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend. How to Make Healthy Shrimp and Grits There is nothing better than healthy shrimp and grits. This Southern staple is simple, yet delicious and sure to be your go-to recipe when a craving hits! 2 cups whole milk2 cups water1 1/2 tsp plus 1 1/2 tsp plus more to taste, kosher salt, divided1 cup coarse ground cornmeal (polenta)1/4 tsp plus 1/4 tsp. pepper (plus more to taste, divided)1/8 tsp garlic powder4 tbsp plus 1 tbsp unsalted butter (divided)4 oz sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)2 tbsp olive oil2 shallots (finely chopped)1 lb large shrimp (de-veined and de-shelled)2 tbsp balsamic vinegar1 squeeze of lemon (roughly 1 tsp)2 green onions (optional, finely sliced) Heat the milk, water and 1 1/2 tsp. salt in a deep, medium sized pot over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently to keep the milk from burning the bottom of the pan.Once boiling, slowly add the cornmeal, stirring or whisking constantly to avoid causing clumps. Once all the cornmeal is mixed in, decrease the heat, cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the grits are creamy, stirring frequently.While the grits are cooking, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large sauce or saute pan. Once hot, add the shallots and cook 1-2 minutes or until the shallots begin to sweat. Add the shrimp to the pan along with 1/4 tsp. kosher salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Stir to coat the shrimp. Cook the shrimp, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes or until the shrimp begins to turn opaque (whitish).Tend to the grits for a quick sec. (See No. 5)Remove the grits from heat and add the pepper, garlic powder and butter. Once mixed through, slowly add the cheese, stirring to incorporate. Cover and keep the grits warm so they do not harden as you will want to serve them as soon as the shrimp has been cooked.To finish the shrimp, add the balsamic vinegar, squeeze of lemon and remaining 1 tbsp. butter. Stir to incorporate and remove from heat.To serve, place a healthy serving of the creamy, cheesy grits into a bowl and top with your desired amount of shrimp (I use about 5-6 per serving). Garnish with sliced green onions if desired. DinnerAmericangrits diet plan, low calorie shrimp and grits, simple shrimp and grits