Shrimp and Sausage Grits

This summer I took my first trip to South Carolina (food review here!) and fell in love with so many different parts of Charleston. Especially the food. The south has a great range of flavors and dishes that will fill you up, no matter how big your appetite is. One of my favorite new discoveries while I was in South Carolina was grits. At first I didn’t understand what all of the talk was about but after I tried them I quickly understood. They’re smooth, buttery, downright delicious. I love making them in the morning as a breakfast side or along side some shrimp and sausage for a perfect dinner. Try this lighter version of low country grits and it will be like your tastebuds are taking a trip to the south. Sausage, shrimp, and grits oh my!

 

Sausage, Shrimp, and Grits Recipe

 

Ingredients:

Shrimp and sausage mixture-

• 3/4 pound deveined shrimp
• 1 tsp old bay seasoning
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 cup chopped bell pepper
• 1 link smoked sausage cut into 1/8 in slices (I used chicken sausage but turkey sausage is another healthier option)
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 cup water

Directions:

• Cook shrimp, seasoning, and pepper over medium heat until completely cooked
• Remove from pan and cook sausage and bell peppers over medium heat until lightly browned
• Add shrimp mixture and garlic to sausage pan and cook for 1 minute
• Add 1/4 cup water and cook for 30 seconds (this gets the flavor and bits from the bottom of the pan to join the rest of the mixture)
• Remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes 

 

Grits recipe- 

• 3 cups water
•  1 cup quick cooking grits
• 1 cup fat free milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Bring water to boil in medium pot
• Slowly stir in grits (slow is the key here along with continual stirring otherwise grits will clump up and not be smooth)
• Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for a few minutes until water is absorbed
• Stir in milk, butter and cheese until completely mixed in
• Remove from heat and let sit 2 minutes
• Sir under a hearty scoop of shrimp and sausage!