cajun shrimp with cheese grits

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 1/4 cups 2% low-fat milk
• 2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons chicken soup base (paste)
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked salt
• 1 cup regular grits, uncooked
• 1/2 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup diced green bell pepper
• 3/4 cup diced yellow onion
• 3/4 cup diced celery
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon seasoning
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, with juice
• 1 cup dry
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste (optional)
• 1 pound fresh large shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (optional)

Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Ready Time: 50 mins


• bring milk, water, chicken soup base, and smoked salt to a boil in a saucepan; slowly whisk in grits, reduce heat to low, and cover pan. simmer until grits are tender and thick, about 20 minutes. keep grits warm.
• brown andouille sausage slices with vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat; remove sausage and set aside.
• cook and stir green bell pepper, yellow onion, celery, and jalapeno pepper in the same skillet until onion is tender and translucent, about 10 minutes. stir in garlic and seasoning; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• stir flour into the vegetables until well coated; gradually stir in fire-roasted tomatoes and wine, cooking until the sauce begins to thicken, about 3 minutes. reduce heat to low, stir bay leaf into the sauce, and simmer for 5 minutes; season with salt and black pepper.
• mix cooked andouille sausage and shrimp into the sauce and cook, stirring often, until sausage is hot and shrimp are pink and no longer translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.
• just before serving, stir cheddar and parmesan cheeses into grits until melted.
• to serve, spoon grits a serving plate and top with shrimp, sausage slices, and sauce. garnish with chopped chives.