Pan Fried Grits With Virginia Country Ham Recipes

GRITS, COUNTRY HAM AND RED-EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• For the grits, bring the water and milk to a boil in a pan, whisk in the grits, and then reduce the heat and cook for an hour. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• For the poached eggs, bring a pan of water to a gentle simmer and add salt and vinegar. Using a spoon, swirl the water in a circle and crack the eggs into the center of the water. Simmer for about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• For the gravy, to a pre-heated skillet, add a slice of ham and warm it through. Then remove the ham to a plate. Into the same skillet add the coffee and pork stock and reduce.
• To a bowl or plate add a serving of grits, the ham, a poached egg and sprinkle with chives. Drizzle the red-eye gravy over the grits and serve.

CHEESY COUNTRY HAM GRIT BALLS

Steps:

• Fill a large Dutch oven two-thirds full with oil and heat over medium-high heat to 360 degrees F.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil to a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham and cook just until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. Add the grits and cheese to the bowl and stir until combined. Using wet hands, scoop 1/4 cup of the grit mixture, roll it into a ball and place on a platter or large plate. Repeat until all the grit mixture is used.
• Whisk together the flour, paprika and cayenne in a shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, add the eggs. Add the panko to another separate shallow bowl. Dip each grit ball into the flour mixture and shake to remove any excess before dipping into the eggs and then into the panko, spinning to coat completely.
• Add the grit balls to the Dutch oven in batches, frying until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove to a sheet pan lined with a wire rack and immediately sprinkle with salt.

PAN-FRIED GRITS WITH VIRGINIA COUNTRY HAM

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in all ingredients except cheese and oil. Stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat, whipping occasionally, for 15 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat. Mix in cheese. Grease muffin tins with nonstick spray. Fill each to the top with mixture. Let cool. Remove from pans. Split lengthwise. Pan-fry in skillet in hot oil until golden on each side.

PAN FRIED QUAIL WITH GRITS AND HAM

Steps:

• Pan-fry quail in butter until done, about 3 or 4 minutes on each side.
• Remove to plate and keep warm in 200 degree oven.
• Pan-fry country ham in butter left over from quail until done, about 3 or 4 minutes on each side remove to plate.
• Prepare grits per package direction, cook for required time.
• When grits are done, add grated cheese, salt and pepper stir well until cheese is melted.
• Add half and half, a little at a time, continuing to cook and stirring until grits are creamy.
• serve Creamy Cheese Grits on plate, arrange quail on plate. Slice country ham into thin strips and place around quail.
• Garnish with thinly-sliced green onions if desired.
• REMEMBER Ham is heavily salted so becareful of how much salt you choose to add.

COUNTRY HAM WITH STONE-GROUND GRITS AND REDEYE GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the grits and return to a boil. Season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Decrease the heat to low and simmer until creamy and thick, stirring often, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the country ham and cook until crisped and golden brown on each side, about 5 minutes. Remove the ham and keep warm. Add the coffee and 1 cup water to the skillet, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer until the "gravy" has reduced to about 1/2 cup, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Spoon the hot grits into warmed bowls. Top each with a pat of butter and black pepper to taste. Top with the ham and ladle over the gravy. Serve immediately.

EGGS BAKED WITH GRITS AND HAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan with butter, oil, or cooking spray.
• In a medium saucepan, cook the grits according to package directions.
• Once the grits are cooked, stir in 3/4 cup of Cheddar cheese, the ham, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and the garlic powder and continue stirring until the cheese melts.
• Scrape the grits mixture into the prepared pan.
• Using a spoon, make four egg-size indents in the grits mixture.
• Crack 1 egg into each nest.
• Season the eggs lightly with salt and pepper.
• Top with the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar.
• Bake until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny and the cheese is melted, 15-20 minutes.
• Serve sprinkled with the scallions.