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Smoky Shrimp and Cheesy Grits

When a cook from Savannah named Martha Nesbit prepared this dish on FoodNation, she made enough to feed four people—and Bobby Flay ate the whole thing himself. The steaming hot grits are mixed with plenty of cheddar cheese, then topped with shrimp cooked with garlic and smoky bacon. "This is, hands down, the best dish anybody ever made for me during my travels in the U.S.," Flay says.

Course: Main Course, Seafood

Keyword: grits, shrimp

Servings:

Author: Bobby Flay

Ingredients

3 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
3/4 cup quick grits
1/4 lb. white cheddar cheese shredded (1 cup)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 lbs. slab bacon cut into 1/4-inch matchsticks
4 garlic cloves minced
1 lb. shelled and deveined large shrimp
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a boil. Whisk in the grits and cook over moderately high heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and the grains are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese and butter, season with salt and pepper and whisk just until the cheese is melted. Cover and remove from the heat.
In a large, deep skillet, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the bacon and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is golden, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Pour off all but 4 tablespoons of the fat in the skillet. Add the garlic and cook over moderately high heat just until fragrant. Add the shrimp and cook until curled and pink, about 3 minutes. Stir in the parsley and bacon; season with salt and pepper.
Spoon the warm, cheesy grits into shallow bowls and top with the shrimp and bacon. Serve right away.