Healthy Mexican Shrimp and Grits

What happens when a southern classic meets Mexican flavors? Healthy Mexican Shrimp and Grits! The flavors and textures of this dish will dance on your tongue… This tasty main dish can be on your table in 45 minutes or less!

Bubba: Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it.

Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried.

There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.

~~ Bubba, Forrest Gump

👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks – Recipe Inspiration

So many ways to use such a wonderful ingredient, but Bubba forgot “shrimp and grits”! Admittedly, I shy away from them when I see them on a restaurant menu because the classic version is typically made with half n half, butter, and andouille sausage – amazing ingredients – but I tend to avoid them for the most part.

Given the abundance and affordable price of Gulf shrimp in south Texas, I am always after new ways to prepare it. I love grits, and I wondered if I couldn’t come up with a Mexican-inspired version that packs all the flavor of the classic shrimp and grits with less of the fat and calories. I believe I hit a home run with my Healthy Mexican Shrimp and Grits…  🙂

You might ask “Tamara, what makes it Mexican?” Flavor profiles drive my culinary creations, and Mexican flavors are among my favorites. Ingredients specific to this recipe include Mexican chorizo, green chile, cilantro, cumin, lime juice, and avocados. You won’t find any of these in classic shrimp and grits, but you’ll find their bold flavors mean you don’t miss the heavy ingredients typically associated with the classic version.

I keep a canister of “5 minute grits” in my pantry. I don’t care for the texture of instant grits. Coarse-ground grits are awesome, but the extra cooking time required would relegate them to the infrequent weekend/entertaining menus.  🙁 A word of warning: I don’t know that my grits have ever finished cooking in 5 minutes. I like them thick and creamy, all liquid absorbed.

Classic shrimp and grits typically includes cured (often fatty) meat such as andouille or ham, and a generous amount of it. I didn’t dispense with that idea entirely; I chose to use a very lean Mexican chorizo bulk sausage made with chicken (available at my local Sprouts  market). I also cut way back on the quantity.

I find the flavor is bold enough to balance the dish with just a couple of ounces. Don’t be discouraged if you cannot find chicken chorizo. Many grocery meat counters/cases carry lean pork or beef chorizo as well. You do want to avoid the Mexican chorizo that comes in a tube or casing that is little more than orange fat. It should look like lean ground meat (mince).

Grits

• 3 cups broth/stock or water (see notes)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup grits
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup green chile chopped (see notes)
• 1/4 cup cotija or queso fresco crumbled or grated (optional)
• sea salt and ground pepper to taste

Shrimp

• 2 ounces chorizo
• 2 shallot minced
• 1 tsp garlic minced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/4 cup sherry or white wine
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
• 1 lime halved

Add broth/stock and salt to a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and whisk in grits. Return to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed. Stir in butter, green chile, and cheese. Cover and remove from heat until ready to serve. Prep garnishes.

Cook the chorizo until crumbled, add the shallot, garlic, and cumin. Cook until fragrant and shallot is soft (about 4 to 5 minutes).

De-glaze with the sherry or white wine; add the broth. Reduce to a low simmer until ready to finish.

Once the grits are ready, garnishes are prepped, and the chorizo mixture is simmering, you can finally add in the shrimp. Shrimp need 2-4 minutes total cooking time. Overcooked shrimp is not good!

💭 Tips and FAQ

Shrimp is easily overcooked! Look for the shrimp to turn from semi-transparent flesh to a mix of white and pink.

Leftover grits? Top with an egg (your favorite style) for breakfast the next day.

🍤 Pairing Suggestions

We love this dish paired with Mexican Fried Green Tomatoes… They’re a bit of a mess, but totally worth it. If you want simple, do a green salad with cilantro ranch dressing. If you live in an area with an abundance of tropical fruit, dragonfruit salad is a lovely option!

As to beverages? A jalapeño cucumber fizz is delicious but requires planning ahead. I would suggest a crisp sauvignon blanc or albariño for wine lovers. If you’re a craft beer lover, my “go to” is a citrusy IPA like Voodoo Ranger Starship IPA.

I’d venture a guess you’re going to love this… Please let me know via the comment box at the bottom of the post if you try it!

Prep the garnishes. When the grits are thickened and liquid is absorbed, add the remaining grits ingredients. Stir well to combine, cover, and turn off the heat.

When the grits are ready and waiting, increase the heat on the chorizo mixture to a soft boil. Stir in the shrimp, and cook until the shrimp are pink and opaque. DO NOT OVERCOOK!  It should only take 4-5 minutes to cook them depending on heat level.

Squeeze the lime juice over the chorizo and shrimp mixture. Stir to combine. To serve, spoon the grits into a deep-rimmed dish. Top with the shrimp, and garnish. Enjoy!

Are you interested in more amazing shrimp dishes? Take a look at my Spring Risotto with Shrimp, Chevre, and English Peas, or Mango, Avocado, and Gulf Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas.

Yield: 4 servings

Healthy Mexican Shrimp and Grits

Print

Bold Mexican flavors replace half n half, cream, and andouille in this healthier version of the classic shrimp and grits! 

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Grits

• 3 cups broth/stock or water, (see notes)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup grits
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup green chile, chopped (see notes)
• 1/4 cup cotija or queso fresco, crumbled or grated (optional)
• sea salt and ground pepper, to taste

Shrimp

• 2 ounces chorizo
• 2 shallot, minced
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/4 cup sherry or white wine
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 lime, halved

Garnishes

• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 2 scallions, chopped
• 1 avocado, sliced thin

Instructions

Grits

1. Add broth/stock and salt to a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat, and whisk in grits. (This helps to avoid lumps). Return to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed. (5 to 15 minutes. Check package instructions).
3. Stir in butter, green chile, and cheese (if using). Cover and remove from heat until ready to serve.

Shrimp

1. Cook the chorizo until crumbled, add the shallot, garlic, and cumin. Cook until fragrant and shallot is soft (about 4 to 5 minutes).
2. De-glaze with the sherry or white wine; add the broth. Reduce to a low simmer until ready to finish.
3. When the grits are resting covered, and the chorizo mixture is simmering, add the shrimp. Cook, stirring regularly, until shrimp are pink and lose their transparency. This process may take 3 to 5 minutes depending on how hot your pan is. Be careful to NOT overcook the shrimp.
4. Squeeze lime halves over the shrimp, and stir gently to combine.

To Serve

1. Spoon a scoop of grits into each deep-rimmed dish. Top with shrimp. Garnish as desired. Enjoy!

Notes

I use seafood or shrimp broth if I have it, chicken if not. The broth/stock "bumps up" the flavor lost by using cream and lots of butter.

I keep Hatch green chile in my freezer, and Hatch canned chile in my pantry. As this is typically a weeknight meal (and I've neglected to thaw anything), I usually use a can of Hatch green chile. The amount is not critical. You can substitute chopped, roasted poblano chile, or even a jalapeño or serrano (or two). The choice is yours, just keep in mind the level of heat.

As I mention in the post, this dish is fantastic with Mexican Fried Green Tomatoes. I will link to the recipe as soon as it is posted!

Macronutrients (approximation from MyFitnessPal): 447 calories; 35 g protein; 39 g carbohydrates; 15 g fat.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 447Unsaturated Fat: 0g

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