Description
Delicious Shrimp and Scallion Grit Cups with a creamy cheese center, combining tender Cajun-seasoned shrimp with sharp cheddar-infused stone-ground grits. Perfect as an elegant appetizer or a hearty main course, these cups blend Southern flavors with a rich, cheesy texture, finished with fresh scallions and parsley for a vibrant touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Grit Cups
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 4 cups chicken broth (or water)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
Shrimp Topping
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 scallions, sliced, divided
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Muffin Tin: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Grits: In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Stir in the stone-ground grits, reduce heat to low, and cook until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid lumps.
- Mix in Butter and Cheese: Once thickened, stir in the unsalted butter, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Assemble the Grit Cups: Spoon the cheese-infused grits evenly into the prepared muffin cups, pressing down slightly to create a small indentation in the center of each cup. Place a cube of cream cheese into each indentation, then cover with a bit more grits to enclose the cream cheese fully.
- Bake the Grit Cups: Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the grits are set and firm to the touch.
- Prepare the Shrimp: While the grits bake, toss the peeled and deveined shrimp with Cajun seasoning. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, then add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the baked grit cups from the oven. Top each cup with cooked Cajun shrimp and sliced scallions. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm for an inviting Southern-style dish.
Notes
- These grit cups can be made ahead of time and reheated before serving for convenience.
- For added richness, incorporate a little Parmesan cheese into the grits mixture.
- To make this dish vegetarian, substitute the Cajun shrimp with sautéed mushrooms seasoned similarly.
