Shrimp Grits Pickled Jalapeño Fried Egg Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until almost crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer bacon to a dish, leaving drippings in the skillet.
• Whisk 1/4 cup water, cream, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce together in a bowl.
• Stir 4 cups water, butter, and 1 teaspoon salt together in a pot; bring to a boil. Whisk grits into pot, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook until grits are creamy, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir white Cheddar cheese into grits.
• Place shrimp in a large bowl and season with Cajun seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• Heat skillet with bacon drippings over high heat. Cook shrimp in hot bacon fat in a single layer for 1 minute. Turn shrimp and add jalapeno; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir cream mixture, bacon, green onion, and garlic to shrimp mixture; cook and stir, adding water as necessary to thin the sauce, until shrimp are cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.
• Ladle grits into a bowl and top with shrimp and sauce.

JALAPEñO CHEESE GRITS

Steps:

• Bring the stock to a boil over medium heat.
• Add in half-and-half, and bring back to a boil.
• Whisk in grits, reduce heat to low, and cook for 10-15 minutes until creamy, stirring occasionally.
• Add chopped jalapenos, and let cook for 5 more minutes.
• Turn off heat, add in cheese, and stir till melted and incorporated.
• Note: Salt needed will vary depending on stock used.

SHRIMP GRITS, PICKLED JALAPEñO, FRIED EGG

Steps:

• Place the jalapeño slices in a small heatproof bowl.
• In a small saucepan, bring the water, vinegar, sugar, and salt to a boil. Pour over the jalapeño, cover, and let cool. Once the mixture is cool, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Grind the shrimp using a meat grinder fitted with a fine (3/16-inch) die.
• Clean and dry the meat grinder and parts (you will need it again later).
• In a large, deep sauté pan over moderate heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter until foamy. Add the ground shrimp, along with 1/2 teaspoon salt and the cayenne, and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon (the shrimp will clump, but that is OK), until firm and crumbly, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and use the meat grinder fitted with a fine (3/16-inch) die to grind the shrimp 2 more times.
• Return the shrimp "grits" to the large, deep sauté pan, and add the vegetable stock, corn powder, and remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Place over moderate heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, along with the scallion and pepper. Divide the shrimp "grits" evenly among 4 shallow bowls, garnish with pickled jalapeño slices, and, if desired, top each with 1 fried egg.