American Cajun Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients

• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth, low sodium
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Method

1. 01
   In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Slowly whisk in the grits and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes.
2. 02
   Stir in the cheddar cheese, butter, salt, and black pepper into the grits until the cheese has melted and the mixture is creamy. Keep warm.
3. 03
   In a large bowl, toss the shrimp with the Cajun seasoning until well coated.
4. 04
   Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
5. 05
   Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
6. 06
   Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook until they are pink and opaque, about 3-4 minutes per side.
7. 07
   Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice, and cook for an additional 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
8. 08
   Serve the shrimp over a bed of grits, drizzling the pan sauce over the top. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.