Spicy Shrimp and Grits

If you have never had shrimp and grits, you are missing out. This is one of our go to meals for my husband and I, especially if the kids aren’t at home. It is a beautiful combination of heat from the peppers and creaminess from the grits.

We love seafood and spicy foods so this is a perfect combination for us. The tomato base is spiced up with a habanero while the grits get their own kick of heat from pepper jack cheese. You can tame down the heat by using a jalapeño instead or leaving the pepper out all together. However, we love the spice that this dish brings to our table.

Shrimp and Grits is good for your soul kind of food, and this particular recipe will also warm you up from the inside out.

Great Date Night Dish

My husband and I are always looking for new dishes and began making this dish over three years ago. It quickly became a favorite and began to frequent our date night dinner options. This dish is beautiful and romantic so it makes a great date night or special occasion dish to wow your special someone.

Not only does this recipe check our list of spicy foods we love, but it is also so simple and quick to put together. The dish is also relatively inexpensive to make as well with the biggest expense being the shrimp. From start to finish, you are investing no more than 30 minutes in this meal.

The hot peppers we use are from our garden. Habaneros are one of my favorites. Not only do they give off great heat, but they also have a great pepper flavor. I am not a fan of heat without flavor, so the habanero is a great pepper for me. They are also so beautiful and bring gorgeous color to our dishes.

This past summer our four habanero plants did so well that we will be in peppers all winter long! The great thing about peppers is that they can be frozen for later use! This year we are going to be trying some new varieties and will hopefully have great success with them as well.

The Sauce

For this dish there you will start with the spicy tomato sauce that the shrimp will ultimately cook in. To do this, start by sautéing the onion, garlic and peppers in bacon grease until soft. I always keep bacon grease in the fridge to cook with, but you can also use a little vegetable oil. The bacon grease just adds a little something special in the flavor department.

Once your veggies are soft, add in tomato paste and cook on medium for about five minutes. Cooking the tomato paste like this gives the stew a real depth of flavor that you wouldn’t get by just throwing the paste directly in.

Add in whole tomatoes and break them up with your spoon. I use our home canned tomatoes, but a 30oz. can of store bought will also do. Salt and pepper to taste. Let the tomatoes and veggies simmer together for about 15 to 20 minutes while you start your grits.

If you have leftovers of the sauce, and that is a big if, it is great served over fried eggs and grits or toast the next morning. Yummy!

The Grits

Grits are one of those southern comfort foods that I adore. I would eat grits every day if my husband would allow it. He won’t unfortunately. This grits recipe makes for the most deliciously creamy cheesy grits with just the right amount of heat and bacon flavor. It is delicious paired with the shrimp and tomato sauce, but is equally delicious on its own.

For the grits, start by crisping up four to five pieces of bacon in a sauce pan over medium heat. I use kitchen scissors to cut bacon up in small pieces straight into the sauce pan. Once crispy, add in the milk and bring to a simmer before adding in the five minute grits. Stir well as you add the grits in to avoid clumps and continue to stir while they cook. Once cooked stir in shredded pepper jack cheese and salt and pepper to taste.

With the grits and sauce ready, now its time to cook your shrimp. It only takes a few minutes to cook these perfectly in the sauce. I use jumbo shrimp 15 to 20 count, but you can use whatever size you have on hand. Peel and devein them before nestling them into the sauce. Allow the shrimp to cook until pink and cooked through about 5 minutes. Don’t overcook them though or they will be tough.

Serve and Enjoy

To serve up this lovely dish, place grits into the bowl and spoon the tomato sauce and shrimp over top. Top with more cheese if desired. I mean who doesn’t love more cheese?! Enjoy!

I hope that you give our Shrimp and Grits Recipe a try! If you are looking for a delicious dessert to round out your romantic dinner, try our easy mini cheesecakes.

If you try it out, let me know by leaving a comment below. For more recipes like this check us out on Pinterest

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