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Shrimp and Grits Style Risotto

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This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Risotto (Savory)
A&M's Testing Notes: This was delicious. Restaurant quality. Possibly one of the best meals I've ever made. This is one of those recipes where you really need to do all the prep ahead of time. And it is a lot...
This was delicious. Restaurant quality. Possibly one of the best meals I've ever made. This is one of those recipes where you really need to do all the prep ahead of time. And it is a lot of prep. I didn't have fish stock, so I took the shrimp shells, covered them with about 2 cups of water, and let that simmer for about 45 minutes while I got the other stuff together, then strained it and added about 1/2 cup of chicken broth to bring it to 2 cups. The recipe calls for butter to saute the onions and mushrooms, but there's no butter in the ingredients list -- I used about 2 tablespoons. Steps 3 and 4 can really be done together -- you can be turning the shrimp while the onions are sautéing, etc. In Step 4, the mushrooms gave off a bit of liquid and I was concerned that the rice wouldn't get properly coated with butter, so I put the onions and mushrooms aside, and added about a tablespoon of olive oil to the dutch oven and cooked the rice in that before adding the broth. I stirred the mushrooms and onions in with the shrimp and bacon at the end. To sum up, it was wonderful. The pain-in-the-ass factor was high -- lots of prep, lots of clean-up. Was it worth it? Totally. I served it with roasted asparagus and a ciabatta. - drbabs

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ENunn's Notes: I went to Charleston a few years ago with my cousin Toni, to write a piece about the restaurants down there. At almost every restaurant we visited, it seemed, Toni ordered the Shrimp and Grits...
I went to Charleston a few years ago with my cousin Toni, to write a piece about the restaurants down there. At almost every restaurant we visited, it seemed, Toni ordered the Shrimp and Grits and declared them the best Shrimp and Grits she'd ever had. And we did have some really great versions. Rather than gloppy and too rich and downright soul-annihilating, like a lot of Yankee takes on the dish I've had, these were comforting with distinctive personalities from restaurant to restaurant.I decided to try to capture those flavors in a risotto. And my soul is still intact.

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Serves 4

16 large shrimp, about 3/4 pound, peeled and deveined Ask a question about this ingredient

2 lemons, juiced, several slices of peel reserved Ask a question about this ingredient

3 sprigs fresh thyme Ask a question about this ingredient

6 tablespoons olive oil, divided Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Ask a question about this ingredient

4 strips thick cut bacon, chopped Ask a question about this ingredient

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped Ask a question about this ingredient

1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves Ask a question about this ingredient

1 cup dry white wine Ask a question about this ingredient

1 small onion, finely chopped, about 1 cup Ask a question about this ingredient

1 1/2 cup chopped plum tomato, about 3 medium Ask a question about this ingredient

2 cups fish stock Ask a question about this ingredient

1/2 cup half and half, warmed Ask a question about this ingredient

1 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms Ask a question about this ingredient

1 cup long grain arborio superfino Ask a question about this ingredient

dashes or more of tabasco, more at table Ask a question about this ingredient

4 scallions, sliced with some green tops Ask a question about this ingredient

Place shrimp in a bowl with lemon juice, a few strips of lemon peel, thyme, 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, crushed red pepper flakes and toss to coat. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
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In a medium skillet, cook bacon over medium low heat to render fat; remove with a slotted spoon once bacon has cooked to golden but not crisped and drain on paper towel lined plate.
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Add remaining olive oil to bacon fat in pan; cook garlic and parsley together until very fragrant. Add tomatoes to pan and cook 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Add shrimp (with its marinade) and cook one minute per side. Add wine, bring to a simmer, removing shrimp after 1 minute. Set aside in a covered bowl. Add fish stock to remaining liquid and keep at a low simmer.
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In a dutch oven, heat butter and saute onion until golden over medium high heat. Add mushrooms, and cook until golden. Stir in rice and cook until translucent.
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Over a period of 20 minutes, add stock mixture 1/2 cup or so at a time, stirring until all the liquid is absorbed with each addition. When all but a half a cup or so of liquid remains to be added and the rice is al dente stir in bacon and shrimp, and a few dashes of tabasco. Finish the dish with the warm half and half and a squeeze of lemon. Put the lid on the dutch oven and let the risotto rest for 5 minutes before serving topped with scallions and more Tabasco at table if desired.
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9 Comments on Shrimp and Grits Style Risotto

MartyL added 2 months ago

I made this the other night and it's fantastic! I used the shrimp shells to make the stock but I used vegetable stock to bring it up to 2 cups rather than chicken stock. BTW the recipe doesn't say what to do with the last 1/2 cup of stock but I added it with the bacon and shrimp and I stirred it for a minute before I let it rest. The recipe also doesn't say to remove the thyme sprigs and lemon peel but I did that while I was adding the stock to the rice.

coffeefoodwritergirl added over 2 years ago

This looks absolutely delicious - drbabs -- enjoyed your review...

drbabs added over 2 years ago

Thanks CFWG! I had a grand time making it and writing about it!

drbabs added over 2 years ago

I'm a New Orleans native, and am looking forward to testing this recipe this weekend.

ENunn added over 2 years ago

Excellent! You may notice salt is missing--the bacon adds a lot, and I always undersalt, so you might think it needs more! I hope you have fun with it.

smithbites added over 2 years ago

I literally just sucked all the air out of this room!!! Shrimp & Grits and Charleston - all in the same sentence!!! We just returned from our first visit there and I've fallen hard for the place. Had Shrimp & Grits for the first time at 82 Queen Restaurant, BBQ style - just delish! I will be making this recipe pronto!

ENunn added over 2 years ago

Please let me know what you think, Smithbites. Either way, you should get more S and G into your life. I have another recipe I'll post later--with actual grits.

ENunn added over 2 years ago

Dynamo, you have to go to Hominy Grill! Their S and G recipe is so simple and easy, pared down to a simple saute of the basics. Robert Stehling, the great chef there, uses no cream or cheese or extraneous ingredients. I couldn't resist the cream, and I think this recipe would be fine without it and a bit more garlic. And the Peninsula Grill is another favorite. I don't know High Cotton.

dymnyno added over 2 years ago

The shrimp and grits in Charleston are fantastic...I became obsessed with finding the perfect recipe that I could make myself after eating at about 4 or 5 places in the area. I have a file full of them...I had to stop before I gained any more weight! The restaurants are among my favorites to sell wine to. Next week in fact , I will be there again eating and drinking wine at Magnolia, High Cotton, Plantation Inn and many more plus spending time with Sean Brock at McCready's....a young and very talented chef.