Hanna’s Shrimp and Grits

A bistro dish from the bayou, from Hanna in Traverse City.

Ingredients

Shrimp
  • 5 shrimp
  • 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon bacon, rendered and roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon scallion, sliced on the bias
  • 1 ounce white wine
  • 1 ounce lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
Grits
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 3 tablespoons grits
  • 1 tablespoon Asiago cheese

Directions

Scald heavy cream and chicken stock. Whisk in grits, moving continuously for 6–7 minutes or until creamy in texture. Add salt and pepper to taste and Asiago cheese. Brown 1 tablespoon of butter and add garlic, shallots and bacon. Sweat through. Deglaze with white wine and lemon juice. Let simmer one minute. Add shrimp and cook 2–3 minutes. Add scallion, spinach, and salt and pepper to taste. Finish with one tablespoon of butter to create a pan sauce. Spoon over grits. Serves 1. Wine pairing: Un-oaked Chardonnay or Dry Riesling