Maverick Shrimp & Grits

Maverick Grits melds two South Carolina favorites, shrimp and grits and lowcountry boil, combining shrimp, sausage, and other “Southern” ingredients. In 1994, this recipe was selected for GQ Magazine's Golden Dish award.

Recipe makes 4 servings

Whatcha Do:

For Grits

• 4 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup old-fashioned stone-ground grits
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

For Topping

• 1 1/2 hot Italian sausage links, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 4 ounces country ham, cut into julienne strips
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 8 medium sea scallops
• 12 medium shrimp, peeled, and deveined
• 2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1/4 cup sliced scallion
• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
• Pinch of Cajun seasoning
• 1/4 cup dry white wine (or water)

Watcha Do

1. FOR THE GRITS: Bring water, salt, and 1 tablespoon butter to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan. Whisk in grits and cook at a bare simmer, covered, stirring frequently, until grits are tender and thick, about 1 hour. Stir in cream and remaining tablespoon butter and remove from heat.

2. FOR THE TOPPING: 15 minutes before grits are done, cook sausage and ham in 1/2 tablespoon butter in a heavy cast-iron skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until ham is golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer sausage and ham to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add 1/2 tablespoon butter to skillet and heat until foam subsides. Cook scallops until golden on both sides and just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer scallops to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add another 1/2 tablespoon butter to skillet and cook shrimp, turning, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in chorizo, ham, scallops, remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter, and remaining ingredients. Cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits in skillet, until heated through, then season with salt and pepper.

3. Serve topping over grits.

• Recipe adapted from Slightly North of Broad, Charleston, South Carolina