Name: Atlantic Shrimp and Grits
Ingredients: 2 lb unpeeled, large raw shrimp; 4 cups chicken broth; 1 (12-oz.) can evaporated milk; 1 tsp salt; 1 cup uncooked stone-ground grits; 2 Tbsp unsalted butter; 3½ oz. prosciutto, chopped; 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced; 1 cup chopped white onion; 2 garlic cloves, minced; ⅓ cup dry white wine; 1½ cups chopped tomato; ½ tsp chopped fresh thyme, plus sprigs for garnish; ½ tsp lemon zest; ½ tsp salt; ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

I fell in love with shrimp and grits while living in Charleston, South Carolina, where I attended culinary school. On trips back home to Georgia, I’d bring a cooler of fresh shrimp. My grandmother Tom would stand on one side of the stove stirring the grits while I peeled the shrimp on the other side. We were quite a team.

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Atlantic Shrimp and Grits

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 lb unpeeled, large raw shrimp
4 cups chicken broth
1 (12-oz.) can evaporated milk
1 tsp salt
1 cup uncooked stone-ground grits
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
3½ oz. prosciutto, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1 cup chopped white onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
⅓ cup dry white wine
1½ cups chopped tomato
½ tsp chopped fresh thyme, plus sprigs for garnish
½ tsp lemon zest
½ tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Peel shrimp, leaving tails on; devein, if desired. Cover and chill.
Bring broth and next 2 ingredients to a boil over medium heat. Add grits; reduce heat to low. Cook, whisking often, 30 minutes or until creamy and tender. (If grits become too thick, add up to 1⁄4 cup water to thin.) Remove from heat, and keep warm.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add prosciutto, and cook 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add jalapeno and next 2 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in wine. Cook 1 minute, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet.
Add chopped tomato, and cook 3 minutes. Add shrimp, thyme, and remaining ingredients. Cover and cook 7 to 8 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Top each serving of grits with shrimp mixture, and garnish, if desired.