Description
Garlic herb shrimp with creamy grits offer a Southern comfort classic with bold flavor profiles. Coastal ingredients combine in this quick, elegant dish perfect for home cooks seeking restaurant-quality meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 tbsps (113 g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (240 ml) quick-cooking grits
- 2 cups (480 ml) chicken stock
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 1 shallot, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- 3 tbsps fresh parsley leaves, chopped
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Grits Preparation: Combine chicken stock and milk in a saucepan, seasoning with salt and pepper. Whisk butter into the mixture until achieving a creamy, luxurious consistency. Keep warm for serving.
- Aromatic Base: Melt butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Sauté shallots until translucent, releasing their delicate sweetness and developing a robust flavor foundation.
- Herb and Spice Infusion: Add minced garlic, thyme, and paprika to the skillet. Stir continuously to prevent burning and maximize the herb and spice complexity, creating an intense aromatic profile.
- Seafood Integration: Deglaze the skillet with Worcestershire sauce, creating a rich flavor base. Season shrimp with salt and pepper, then introduce them to the herb-infused butter. Cook until shrimp turn a vibrant pink, ensuring perfect doneness while maintaining a tender texture.
- Final Flourish: Incorporate fresh parsley and a splash of lemon juice, stirring to distribute the bright, zesty flavors throughout the shrimp. Plate by spreading creamy grits as a luxurious base, topping with the garlic herb shrimp. Garnish with additional parsley for a visually appealing and fresh finish.
Notes
- Prevent Overcooking Shrimp: Watch closely as shrimp turns pink and curls slightly; overcooking leads to rubbery, tough texture that ruins the delicate seafood.
- Maximize Flavor Infusion: Allow herbs and spices to bloom in hot butter, releasing maximum aromatic compounds before adding shrimp for deeper, more complex taste.
- Control Skillet Temperature: Maintain medium heat to develop flavors without burning garlic or butter, ensuring a rich, golden base for the shrimp.
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: Select high-quality, fresh shrimp and vibrant herbs to elevate the dish’s overall taste and presentation, creating a restaurant-worthy meal at home.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 569
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 629 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 202 mg