Grits is a traditional U.S. dish that is not widely known in much of the rest of the world. Consisting of a porridge made from coarsely ground corn, it can be transformed into many different dishes depending on the accompaniments. These grits recipes from Reddit users showcase some tasty variations!
Scallops and Smoked Gouda Grits
Reddit user mchammerz revealed that the trick to this dish is making sure your scallops are nice and dry, and getting your pan super hot, and also, a cast iron skillet works best. He also mentioned that the scallops were dry packed because they are better for searing than the wet pack ones. Finally he explained: “I used grapeseed oil, salt, pepper, white wine, lemon juice, a tiny bit of garlic, whole milk, and smoked Gouda for these grits recipes.”
Spiced Shrimp and Duck Fat Grits
Reddit user ChefCdc8000 explained that when preparing these duck fat grits, he not only emulsified the duck fat but also added butter. User WorshipNickOfferman commented: “Sorry, but grits and polenta are the same thing. Only real difference is grits are traditionally white corn while polenta is yellow corn. Polenta corn is also usually a little finer ground, but that’s it.” This is one of several grits recipes featured in the discussion.
Gouda Grits and Scallops, NY Strip and Asparagus
Reddit user dontcallmeunit91 revealed that, a few days earlier, she had seen a post about gouda grits and scallops on social media, which inspired her to make her own version. She explained that she adopted an “old-school Texan” cooking style by using whole milk and chicken stock concentrate in the recipe. Additionally, she mentioned that she used gouda and bacon instead of sharp cheddar to achieve a whiter color for the grits, making it another creative entry among these grits recipes.
Fried Fish, Scrambled Eggs and Grits
According to user Michaela_526, that breakfast consisted of fried fish, scrambled eggs, and grits. She revealed the recipe for making the grits: “I used Quaker 5-minute grits, but cooked them for about 45 minutes. And I also made two servings and used 2 cups of water to half a cup of grits. When the grits were thickened, I added 2 tbsp of butter, salt, pepper, a small dollop of bacon grease, and added boiled water gradually to the mix. Finally, I added shredded Colby Jack cheese.”
Shiro Miso Grits, Poached Eggs, Scallions and Black Peppers
Reddit user Lil-Doomie revealed that he didn’t follow a recipe step-by-step to get to this dish. Instead, the grits were a dish he often prepared, and since he didn’t have cheddar on hand, he had to improvise. He mentioned using miso paste, which added an extra savory kick. Finally, he noted that he could have added more cream, as the miso paste tends to firm things up, showing how flexible grits recipes can be.
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Korean Beef Short Ribs, Kimchi and Grits with Bulgogi Marinade
Reddit user gaara6990 highlighted that the grits tasted excellent and the marinade was practically perfect for the dish. Regarding the grits, he noted: “They were soft and creamy, with almost the same consistency as mashed potatoes not gritty at all.” At the same time, he stated that he was certain the restaurant’s kitchen had cooked the short rib sous-vide, as it was so tender it didn’t even require a knife to cut. This is another example of how grits recipes can accompany rich main dishes.
Tomahawk Bone-in Ribeye with Mac ‘N Cheese and Goat Cheese Grits
Reddit user thredder revealed that the first bite was not great because it was too much goat cheese, but then when he mixed it all in, it gave the grits a very smooth mouthfeel, and a very slight, almost sour note that surprisingly went very well with the richness of the grits. Finally, he admitted: “At first I was skeptical, but it was incredible!” This combination demonstrate the variety found in grits recipes.
Bacon, Eggs, Cheese Grits, Hash Browns and Toast
Reddit user aminorman mentioned using quick grits, specifically the Quaker or Jim Dandy brands, to make this dish, noting that they work wonderfully. He advised: “Just follow the instructions, making sure to salt the water beforehand, because later never works, and keep in mind that one tablespoon of butter equals two servings.” He also mentioned that buying instant grits isn’t a good idea if you are a beginner at cooking grits. His advice adds a practical tip to these grits recipes.
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Yellowtail & Cheesy Grits with Andouille Sausage & Bacon
Reddit user Lost_all_hop3 revealed the recipe for the grits mentioning: “I just followed the package instructions but instead of water I used a mix of chicken broth & heavy cream. At the end, I put in cajun seasoning, butter and shredded cheese in a ratio 1.5 cups of cheese for 1 cup of grits.” The rich combination is another variation among the grits recipes shared on Reddit.
Brisket with Mac, Greens, Spaghetti Squash Casserole and Cheese Grits
In this post shared by Reddit user Dfield118, the Mac and cheese stole the show, rather than the cheese grits or the brisket with chipotle pepper as seasoning. The cook mentioned adding plenty of cheese and heavy cream to the Mac and cheese, but noted that the preparation began with a roux. The dish adds an unexpected twist to this collection of grits recipes.
Fried Grits Cake with Duck Egg Fried in Thyme Butter
The dish is packed with food, from the duck egg fried in thyme butter and the fried grits cake to the scratch-made biscuits and bacon-onion gravy. Reddit user [borrado] revealed: “I used the leftover grits from the night before and spread them onto a flat pan to get the cake shape.” Turning leftovers into a grits cake is particularly creative approach to grits recipes.
Cajun Shrimp and Cheddar Grits
The dish shown in the image was created by Reddit user OhGoodGeek who admitted to following the ‘shrimp and grits’ recipe from the ‘Small Town Woman’ website. It is a Southern-style dish featuring skillet-cooked shrimp seasoned with Cajun spices, red pepper, green onions, crispy bacon, and garlic. This version adds seafood to the wide range of grits recipes featured here.
Duck Sausage, Grits, Kale, Duck Cracklin’ and Muscadine Jus
Reddit user [borrado] commented that this dish of duck sausage, grits, kale, duck crackling, and muscadine jus is very simple to make. A reply from user emdrozz expressed: “That dish shows dedication. I believe it could pair well with wine.” While user ch3fd00d remarked: “I’m a chef and that is dish dreams are made of!” The unusual ingredients make this one of the more distinctive grits recipes in the collection.
Fish & Grits Topped with Shrimp and Crab Sauce
Some of the people who commented on this Reddit post mentioned that, not being American, they are curious about the taste and texture of grits and hope to try them someday, as the user yodelingllama mentioned. A reply from user your_moms_a_clone replied: “It’s very similar to polenta, but grits can have more variation on soupiness.” These comments show why grits recipes can be unfamiliar to people outside the United States.
Fried Chicken Over Jalapeño Cheddar Grits
The dish shared by Reddit user sw10708 comes from the New York City restaurant ‘The Smith,’ just as the user claimed. Furthermore, he revealed: “The grits had the perfect amount of kick to them. Mind you the chicken also has hot honey on it. I highly recommend this dish, it was amazing.”
Shrimps & Grits
The image shows a classic shrimp and grits dish, served in a bowl and sprinkled with fresh chopped chives. The reason shrimp and grits go so well together is the abundance of local ingredients in the Southern United States, where these two flavors have been a combination that emerged over the course of history.
Conclusion
The wide variety of dishes that can be enjoyed with grits makes them a food that can easily appear on the menu several times a week. Whether paired with chicken or fish, or served as part of breakfast, the seasonings you add can significantly alter their flavor. Plus, since grits are an affordable pantry staple, people can easily continue including them in their diets.
