Description
Delicious shrimp and scallions served atop creamy grits with a cheesy center, presented in individual cups for a perfect appetizer or small plate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 scallions, sliced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a medium pot. Slowly whisk in grits, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and butter until creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add shrimp, scallions, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook shrimp until pink and opaque, about 3-4 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a muffin tin.
- Fill each muffin cup halfway with grits, add a small dollop of cream cheese in the center, then top with more grits to cover the cheese.
- Bake grits cups for 15 minutes until set and slightly golden on top.
- Top each grits cup with the cooked shrimp and scallion mixture.
- Serve warm as an appetizer or small plate.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen shrimp; thaw before cooking.
- For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne to the shrimp mixture.
- Can prepare grits cups a day ahead and reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Boiling, Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 120mg