A Little Cajun For Ya!

My husband loves him some Cajun food and so do I! So we have been in search of a good shrimp and grits recipe that the entire family would love. My husband got this recipe from a friend at work and I am sure glad that he did! The other night was the second time that I made it and it turned out just as good as it did the first time. I was afraid that the first time was a fluke, but it wasn't! I have got this recipe down and my husband is already asking when I will make it again.

It is so simple to make!! 

Ingredients:

Shrimp and sausage:

1 lb of beef sausage

1 1/2 lbs shrimp (I used frozen)

2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon basil

1 teaspoon pepper 

Grits:

2 cups of water

1/2 cup of chicken stock

2 tablespoons of butter

1 cup of quick grits

1 tablespoon of tomato paste

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

cheddar cheese to taste

Sauce:

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon minced garlic

3 tablespoons flour

1 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon hot sauce

Directions:

First get your shrimp ready. Put your peeled and deveined shrimp in a bowl and season with Cajun, paprika, basil and pepper. Set aside.

Next, make your grits. Bring water, chicken stock and butter to a boil. Slowly add grits and cook for about 5 minutes. Then add your tomato paste, cream and cheese. Don't be shy on the cream and cheese! The cheesier, the better! Keep whisking until creamy and set aside. Make sure you continue to stir every so often until served. 

Now it is time to sauté the shrimp and sausage. In a large sauté pan melt butter and then add garlic. Cook garlic for about 30 seconds and then add your shrimp and sausage to the pan. Cook your shrimp and sausage until done. Do not over cook! Remove the shrimp and sausage, when done, and place them in a bowl. Make sure you leave the liquid/drippings in the sauté pan. 

The sauce is the final step! With all those wonderful drippings from the shrimp and sausage, add your 3 tablespoons of flour. Cook until roux gets a medium tan color, then slowly add the chicken stock and heavy whipping cream. Cook together for about 3 minutes and then add Worcestershire and hot sauce. 

Now you are done!!!! Serve however you would like. In my family we load our plate down with grits and the top with shrimp and sausage and the add the sauce on top. It is fabulous!!!!

I know the recipe may seem a bit much but it really is a very simple dish to make. I hope that you try it out! I wish that I had a finished product for you but before I realized it, I had cleaned my plate...maybe or maybe not for the second time!