pat's Recipe

Frank Stitts Shrimp and Stone-Ground Fontina Grits

Category: Seafood

2 tablespoons butter
1 shallot, minced
1/4 cup minced green onion
1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
3/4 cup halved grape tomatoes
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon minced fresh chives
1 pound peeled and deveined medium fresh
shrimp
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup butter, softened
stone-ground fontina grits (recipe follows)
Garnish: fresh dill, fresh thyme, chopped
fresh chives, sliced green onion

In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add shallot, green onion, and red bell pepper; cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add tomatoes, thyme and chives; cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
Add shrimp, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until shrimp begin to turn pink. Remove pan from heat, and spoon mixture into a large bowl. Cover and keep warm.
Add wine and lemon juice to skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture is reduced by half. Remove skillet from heat.
Whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking until butter is melted after each addition. Return shrimp mixture to skillet, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until shrimp are pink and firm.
Divide shrimp mixture evenly among serving bowls. Using a small knife, unmold grits on top of each serving. Garnish with dill, thyme, chives, and green onion, if desired.

makes 4 to 6 servings

Stone-Ground Fontina Grits

5 cups chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup stone-ground yellow grits*
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups shredded fontina cheese

In a medium Dutch oven, bring broth and salt to a boil. Slowly add grits, stirring constantly. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring frequently, for 30 minutes. Add cream, and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 to 20 minutes or until grits are very thick. Stir in cheese. Spoon grits mixture evenly into buttered ramekins; let stand 30 minutes or until set.
*used Charleston Stone-Ground Yellow Grits

makes 4 to 6 servings