Best 9 Tomato Grits Recipes

PAULA DEEN'S TOMATO GRITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a saucepan, bring the water and milk to a boil. Add the salt and slowly add the grits and return to a boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Reduce the heat, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. While stirring the grits add the 1/2 cup of butter and stir until butter is melted. Cover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the grits are thick and creamy. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Using a skillet, sauté the onions in the remaining tablespoon of butter for 1 minute. Add the processed cheese, garlic powder, 1 1/2 cups Cheddar, and onions to grits, and stir until the cheese is melted. Add the tomatoes and mix well. Pour the grits into a greased 8 by 11 by 2-inch casserole and bake for 40 minutes.
• Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese over the casserole for the last 5 minutes of cooking time.

CREAMY GRITS WITH TOMATO GRAVY AND GREENS

Steps:

• For the grits: Bring the milk and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the grits, stirring with a fork to prevent any lumps from forming. Once the grits have started to thicken, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• For the tomato gravy: Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until it shimmers. Add the grape tomatoes, sugar and garlic and cook until the tomatoes start to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter; let melt. Stir in flour and cook until starting to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the broth, tomato paste, salt and pepper until smooth. Continue cooking until the mixture comes to a boil; it will thicken as it heats. When thick like a gravy, remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• Serve the warm grits in shallow bowls, topped with tomato gravy and collard greens.
• Prepare the collards for cooking by cutting the large stems from the center of the leaves. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips
• Put 2 inches of water in a saucepan large enough to hold the raw collards (the leaves can be pushed down tightly and will wilt to about one-quarter volume as they cook). Add the ham hock or pork and bring the water to a boil. Add the collards and toss with tongs until the water returns to a boil and the leaves wilt down into the pan. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, or until tender. Stir occasionally, checking to be sure there is enough liquid to prevent scorching. Taste the liquid and add salt if needed. Serve with buttermilk cornbread and hot sauce.

SHRIMP AND GRITS WITH CREAMED SPINACH, TOMATO CONFIT AND SMOKED BACON GASTRIQUE

Steps:

• For the tomato confit: Preheat the oven to 220 degrees F. Combine the grape tomatoes, green tomato, red onion, garlic, bacon fat, olive oil, thyme, bay leaves, rosemary, sage and a pinch each of salt, pepper and sugar in a small casserole dish. Cover the casserole with foil and place it in the center oven rack. Let cook for at least 2 hours. Carefully remove the foil and inspect the confit: The grape tomatoes should be wilted, but not popped, and the red onions should be nice and brightly translucent. Discard the herb sprigs and bay leaves and keep the confit covered near the stove until ready to plate.
• For the shrimp: Heat an 11-inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and keep dry. Warm the butter in the pan. In batches, sear the shrimp on both sides for 2 minutes in butter. Transfer the shrimp to a plate and keep warm. Reserve the pan and drippings for the spinach.
• For the grits: Combine the cream, chicken broth, corn stock, butter, thyme and garlic in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat and cook until boiling. Season the liquid lightly with salt. Slowly stir the grits into the liquid. Once all the grits are incorporated, turn the heat down to low and cook, stirring every minute or so, until cooked, about 10 minutes. You will know the grits are done when there's still a little texture, but the grains don't stick to your teeth. Finish with some cracked black pepper and cover until plating. If the grits become thick after standing, adding warm chicken stock will help to thin them.
• For the shrimp creamed spinach: Heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 2 cups of the reserved shrimp shells and sear until the shells are bright and release a nice shellfish aroma, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the Vidalia onion, bay leaf and 1 tablespoon of the garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes. Reduce the heat, add the cream and simmer until thickened and reduced slightly, 10 to 12 minutes. Strain through a mesh strainer and reserve.
• Bring a medium pot half full of salted water to a boil. In the meantime, place a large bowl of ice water nearby. When the water is boiling, add the spinach and blanch for about 30 seconds. Use tongs and carefully remove the spinach to the ice water. Drain with a colander and set aside to let dry for a few minutes.
• In the same pan used to sear the shrimp, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook until just beginning to wilt, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon garlic and the shrimp cream and cook until the cream thickens.
• For the bacon gastrique: Cook the bacon in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat until almost crispy, about 10 minutes.
• Add the onion and garlic and sweat lightly over medium heat until translucent. Add the brown sugar, Marsala, sherry wine and vinegar and cook until reduced, about 15 minutes, then taste. The gastrique should be rather on the thin side--chunky and sweet with a nice acidity and dark in color. Cover and keep warm until ready to plate.
• To serve: Scoop about 1 cup grits each in the center of 4 entree bowls. Divide the cream spinach among the bowls, placing it in the middle, standing tall on the grits. Arrange 6 to 8 shrimp around the spinach in each bowl. Next, spoon the warm confit tomato on top of the cream spinach. Finish with a spoon of the smoked bacon gastrique around the edge of the bowl.

TOMATO GRITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Lightly grease a 9"x11" casserole dish.
• Bring water and milk to boil in medium saucepan.
• Add salt and slowly STIR in grits; return to boil.
• Stir grits for one full minute.
• Reduce heat, cover and cook for three minutes.
• Stir and add the stick of butter, stirring until it melts.
• Cover and cook 3-5 minutes more or until grits are thick and creamy.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Saute onions in remaining butter; add garlic cheese, 1 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese and the sauteed onions to grits and stir until cheese is melted.
• Add tomatoes and mix well.
• Stirring constantly, add small amount of hot grits mixture to beaten eggs before adding the eggs to the full mixture.
• Pour into prepared casserole dish and bake for 40 minutes.
• Sprinkle with remaining cup of cheddar cheese and cook an additional 5 minutes to allow cheese to melt.

CREAMY RICE GRITS WITH TOMATO RELISH

Steps:

• HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN RICE GRITS: Although you can order Carolina Gold Rice Grits online you can also make your own. "To do so, freeze your favorite good-quality long-grain rice (I bought organic standard long grain white rice) for 30 minutes to make it brittle. Then, working in batches, grind it a few times in a spice mill until the grains are very coarsely ground into rough, uneven pieces about a third of the original grain's size. Transfer the mixture to a medium strainer set over a bowl to sift out the "dust," then use the remaining pieces in any recipe that calls for rice grits." CG says ^^this step was easier said than done. My version was much easier: after removing the rice from the freezer I ground the rice to the same consistency as regular (corn) grits that they were virtually identical in appearance except for those little black specks in corn grits. If you don't know what traditional grits look like, go to Google and search for an image to guide you. I skipped the strainer part, too. (Uh, CG -- I must ask -- Isn't this in essence Cream of Rice™? Yes, but it's glorified Cream of Rice™, I answer!).
• Mix tomatoes and shallot in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
• Bring 12 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan.
• Stir in grits and season with salt. Reduce heat to medium; simmer grits until almost tender, about 15 minutes.
• Drain, reserving 2 cups cooking liquid; return liquid and grits to saucepan. Another Note: because of the manner in which I ground the rice there was no liquid left to drain. I cooked the rice as indicated in Step # above, then another 5-6 minutes as directed in the following Step.
• Stir over medium heat until creamy, 5-6 minutes.
• Add cheese and butter; stir to melt. Stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to a large wide bowl, forming a well in center.
• Stir olive oil into tomato mixture; pour into well.

SHRIMP AND GRITS WITH ROASTED TOMATO, FENNEL AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• For the roasted tomato: heat oven to 450 degrees. Toss tomato halves in a bowl with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Transfer, cut side up, to a baking sheet. Roast until collapsed and lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes, and set aside.
• For the fennel: In a small saucepan, combine the fennel, half of the reserved fronds, and just enough broth or water to cover. Add butter and season with salt and white pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to very low, and simmer until tender when pierced by a fork, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer fennel to a plate, discard cooked fronds and reserve cooking liquid.
• For the grits: Follow package instructions for cooking the grits, seasoning with salt to taste, and adding the bay leaf halfway through cooking. At the end of cooking, mix grits with butter, cream cheese, white pepper, lemon juice and hot sauce. Adjust salt as needed. About 15 minutes before the grits are finished cooking, prepare the shrimp and assemble the dish.
• For shrimp and assembly: Place a large sauté pan over medium heat, and add the oil. When the oil is shimmering, add the shrimp in a single layer. When they are seared on one side, about 1 minute, turn them to sear on the other side. Add fennel, sausage, roasted tomatoes and 1 1/2 cups of the reserved fennel cooking liquid. Bring to a simmer and season with lemon juice, hot sauce and salt. If the mixture seems dry, add more fennel cooking liquid as desired. Add chopped parsley, and toss to mix.
• To serve, place equal portions of grits on four rimmed plates or shallow soup plates. Divide the shrimp stew among the plates, garnish with remaining fennel fronds and serve.

BAKED TOMATO GRITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch cast iron skillet.
• Add the 2 tablespoons of butter to a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter foams, add the shallots and garlic and saute until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, then add the chicken broth, and whipping cream and bring to a simmer.
• Once simmering, slowly and gradually whisk in the grits. Keep stirring until the grits become thick, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and stir until thoroughly mixed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Add the grits to the prepared skillet and top with the crumbled goat cheese. Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the skillet from the oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Slice into triangles and serve.

SRIRACHA TOMATO SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• Grits: Heat olive oil in a large pot on high heat; add the onions and brown. Add water and bring to a boil. Slowly stir in grits and cook on medium heat until they are cooked, about 45 minutes. Finish with butter, cheese, salt and pepper; keep warm.
• Shrimp: Heat olive oil in a large saute pan on high heat. Add onions, peppers and sausage and saute for 5 to 6 minutes. Next, add shrimp and cook until they are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Finish by stirring in diced tomatoes, Sriracha, salt and pepper and simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.
• Serve the shrimp over the cheesy grits.

HOT TOMATO GRITS

Steps:

• Cook chopped bacon in large heavy saucepan until crisp. Gradually add chicken broth and salt, bring to a boil. Stir in grits, tomatoes and chilies and return to a boil stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer 15 - 20 minutes. Stir in cheese, cover and let stand 5 minutes or until cheese melts.