You'll love this quick and easy Southern combination of Blackened Shrimp and Gouda Grits!
All-natural ingredients and ready in 10-minutes!
The combination of Shrimp and Grits has been a Southern favorite for years! This recipe adds a little spin on the traditional dish with spicy blackened shrimp and cheesy Gouda grits!
Shrimp and grits are about as Classic Southern as you can get, (thank you South Carolina!) You'll find this combination in just about every restaurant south of the Mason-Dixon line!
You'll love this recipe!
- Quick and easy - blackened shrimp cook lightening-fast...seriously, in about 5-8 minutes! I use quick-cooking grits, so those take about 5-minutes, too.
- Great texture and flavor: the blackened shrimp are somewhat crunchy and pair well with the creamy cheese grits
- Easy to reheat: if you're lucky enough to have any leftover, just re-heat in the mirowave and you're done!
What does "blackened" mean?
The term "blackened" in culinary circles refers to a protein (typically fish or shrimp) that has been seasoned with a mixture of spices.
The term also refers to the method of cooking, which is in a dry, hot cast-iron skillet. No oil or liquid is added; this hot and fast method of cooking most resembles grilling.
You'll find "blackened" seafood in Cajun and Creole recipes, as the dry-heat method was developed by Louisiana's own legendary Chef Paul Prudhomme.
He applied his technique to this combination, which was originally known in South Carolina as "shrimp and hominy."
What are "Blackened seasonings"?
Blackening seasonings typically consist of cayenne pepper, chili powder, onion and garlic powder, salt and pepper. They do have a little heat to them so if you're not a fan of spicy, use cautiously.
Note: this recipe uses Kroger brand Blackened seasonings because the Zatarains' brand contains MSG.
If you're allergic to MSG, be sure and check the ingredient label first.
Here's what you'll need:
The ingredient list is simple: Shrimp, blackening seasoning, quick-cooking grits, cream, and smoked Gouda cheese.
How to make it:
This cooks up really fast, so prep the shrimp first.
Peel, devein and lightly season shrimp; pat dry and sprinkle with blackening seasoning. Meanwhile, make the grits.
Heat a cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat; do not add oil
Place shrimp in searing hot skillet for 2-minutes on each side
Remove and serve over cooked Gouda grits
What is Gouda cheese and where do I find it at the store?
Gouda cheese is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. It's a product of the Netherlands so you'll most likely find it in the "fancy" or "imported cheese" part of your grocer.
Tips:
- Buy the biggest, freshest shrimp you can find; frozen is okay to use as well
- This cooks quickly! Make the grits first
- Use a cast-iron skillet
- Use tongs to flip the hot blackened shrimp
- Do NOT add oil or butter to the cast-iron skillet; you want to sear the shrimp in a dry skillet
Reheating:
If you're lucky enough to have leftovers, reheat the grits separately from the shrimp. The grits will thicken upoon refrigeration, so add a little water to them and reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop.
As for the shrimp, they can be reheated in the microwave but make sure they're covered; if reheated uncovered, they get rubbery.
Serving suggestions:
Blackened shrimp and Gouda grits is a meal in itself, however, if you want to serve it with something else, you can never go wrong with a crisp green salad, a bowl of collard greens or crab puffs.
Related recipes:
- Louisiana Seafood Gumbo
- Smothered Okra and Tomatoes
- Louisiana Shrimp Etouffee
- Natchitoches Meat Pie
- New Orleans Cajun Chicken Gumbo
- Wild Rice and Oyster Dressing
- Easy Coconut Shrimp
If you make this recipe, please scroll down and leave a rating and comment! I love to hear from you!
Blackened Shrimp and Gouda Grits
Equipment
- Cast iron skillet
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp , large; peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons blackened seasoning
- Louisiana Hot Sauce , optional; as garnish
Ingredients for Grits
- 1 cup grits , quick cooking
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1½ cups smoked Gouda cheese , shredded (buy about 8 ounces)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Prep
- Peel and devein shrimp; pat dry and place on paper towel; lightly season with blackened seasonings; set aside
- Shred smoked Gouda cheese; set aside
Prepare the Grits
- Bring 4 cups of water to boil in large stockpot
- Add grits; reduce heat to medium-low; cook 5-minutes
- Add garlic powder, heavy cream and shredded cheese; combine well; taste for salt; turn heat to simmer and make the blackened shrimp
Make the Shrimp
- Heat large cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat
- Once skillet is super hot; add seasoned shrimp in a single layer
- Cook 2-minutes then, use tongs to flip shrimp; cook another 2-minutes; remove shrimp from skillet
- Plate cooked grits in bowl; top with blackened shrimp; garnish with green onion or parsley
Notes
- Prep time:
- Cook the grits first
- Prepare the shrimp:
- Total yield:
Gretchen says
This was delicious!!!
Anecia says
Thank you!! I’m glad you liked the blackened shrimp and grits!!!