Tasso Grits Batons Recipes

MAGNOLIA'S SPICY SHRIMP, SAUSAGE, AND TASSO GRAVY OVER CREAMY WHITE GRITS

Steps:

• To make the grits, bring the chicken broth to a boil in a heavy-bottomed stockpot or large saucepan. Slowly pour in grits, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and continue to stir so that the grits so not settle to the bottom and scorch. In about 5 minutes, the grits will plump up and become a thick mass.
• Continue to cook the grits for about 20 to 25 minutes, stirring frequently. The grits should have absorbed all of the stock and become soft.
• Stir in the heavy cream and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently. The grits should have a thick consistency and be creamy, like oatmeal. Season, to taste, with salt and white pepper. Keep warm over low heat until ready to serve. If the grits become to thick, add warm chicken broth or water to thin them down. To make the Shrimp and Sausage: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the Italian sausage on a baking sheet with raised sides. Place on the top rack of the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the sausage is firm and the juices run clear. Cool and cut into small bite size pieces.
• Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottomed frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausage and saute for 2 minutes to brown slightly. Add the shrimp and saute until they begin to turn pink, no longer than 1 minute.
• Add 1 cup of chicken broth to deglaze the pan. Add the Tasso Gravy and 1 tablespoon of the parsley. Bring up to a boil and simmer for 1 minute. The last 1/2 cup of the chicken stock is to be used to thin the gravy, if needed.
• Divide the hot grits between 8 warm bowls. Spoon the shrimp, sausage mixture over the grits. Sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of parsley and serve immediately.
• Melt the butter in a heavy bottomed saucepan over low heat. Add the tasso. Saute for 1 minute, browning slightly. Make a roux by adding the flour and stirring until well combined.
• Continue to cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Stirring frequently until the roux develops a nutty aroma. Turn the heat up to medium and gradually add 2 cups of the chicken broth, stirring vigorously. Keep stirring constantly until the broth begins to thicken and is smooth. Gradually add the remaining 2 cups of broth, stirring constantly until the broth thickens into gravy. Reduce the heat and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes to cook out the starchy flavor. Add the parsley. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and white pepper.

SHRIMP AND SMOKED GRITS WITH TASSO GRAVY

Steps:

• For the shrimp spice: Mix the ingredients together. Measure out 1 teaspoon for the tasso gravy and 2 tablespoons for the shrimp and reserve. Store the remaining shrimp spice in an airtight container.
• For the smoked grits: In a thick-bottomed pot, bring the cream and chicken broth to a boil. Add in the grits and reduce the heat to medium high. Stir often and cook until the grits are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Fold in the goat cheese and cook until the goat cheese is melted and the grits are smooth.
• For the tasso gravy: In a thick-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Cook until the butter is bubbling and hot, then add the flour. Stirring often, cook the flour until it is a golden-brown color. Add the ham broth and heavy cream. While stirring often, cook until it comes to a boil and begins to thicken. Once the gravy is thick, stir in the paprika, hot sauce, mustard, Worcestershire and reserved 1 teaspoon shrimp spice. Turn the heat to medium and simmer for 1 minute. Add in the ham and simmer for 1 minute. Turn the heat to low and stir in the fresh parsley.
• For the shrimp: Toss the shrimp and reserved 2 tablespoons shrimp spice together and let sit about a half hour before cooking.
• To finish and assemble the dish: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and olive oil and cook until the butter is bubbling and hot. Add the shrimp and cook, tossing and moving the shrimp, for about 2 minutes. Add the tasso gravy and bring it to a simmer over medium heat.
• In a large bowl, mound the grits in the center. Place the shrimp on top of the grits. Spoon the tasso gravy over the shrimp and around the bowl.

GRITS WITH TASSO

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a 4-quart heavy saucepan and stir in grits and salt. Return to a boil, stirring frequently.
• Reduce heat and simmer grits, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until very thick and most of water is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat further and cook grits at a bare simmer until cooked through, about 1 hour 10 minutes, stirring frequently and adding remaining 1 1/2 cups water (1/4 cup at a time) whenever grits become very thick.
• Add tasso, butter, and salt and pepper to taste, stirring until butter is melted.

CHARLESTON SHRIMP AND GRITS WITH TASSO BLUE CRAB GRAVY

Steps:

• To make the Tasoo Blue Crab Gravy: Preheat a large bottom pot to medium-high heat.
• Add butter to pot and let melt. Add ham, white onion, peppers, Cajun seasoning, salt, brown sugar, onion powder, and minced garlic. Stir in flour and continue to cook while stirring until you achieve a dark brown color, a brown roux. Slowly whisk in 6 cups of fish stock, add slowly to help avoid lumps. Bring to a boil and use remaining 2 cups of stock to adjust for consistency. Remove from heat and add the crabmeat. Set aside for use.
• In a saute pan, over medium-high heat, saute shrimp and sausage. Place shrimp and sausage over grits, if using, and top with crab gravy sauce.

SHRIMP AND GRITS LOUISIANA STYLE

Steps:

• Bring water and 1 pinch of salt to a boil in a saucepan and slowly mix in the grits, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and simmer grits until tender and smooth, about 20 minutes; stir often. Set aside and keep warm.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir tasso ham until crisp. Stir in onion and green bell pepper and cook until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Lightly stir the shrimp with the vegetables and olive oil just until pink, 30 to 45 seconds; remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
• Pour white wine into the skillet and stir, dissolving any browned bits of food in the bottom of the skillet; slowly add the cream, reduce heat to low, and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Divide the grits onto 2 serving plates and line the edge of each plate with 10 shrimp. Pour cream sauce over grits and sprinkle each serving with chopped green onion tops.