Description
Southern Comfort Red Snapper Shrimp and Grits brings pure coastal magic straight to my kitchen table. Creamy stone-ground grits cradle perfectly seared seafood in a rich, spicy sauce that makes dinner feel like a warm embrace from Charleston.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 red snapper fillets
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled & deveined
Base:
- 1 cup grits
- 2 cups water
- 12 cup chicken broth
Seasonings and Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream, divided
- 12 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups water and ½ cup heavy cream in a saucepan, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil at high heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir 1 cup grits into the boiling liquid, reducing heat to low and simmering for 10-12 minutes until the texture becomes thick and creamy.
- Fold ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese into the grits, seasoning with salt and pepper to your taste. Keep the grits warm by covering the pot.
- Thoroughly pat 4 red snapper fillets dry with paper towels, then generously coat both sides with 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F for 2 minutes until the oil shimmers and appears glossy.
- Carefully place seasoned red snapper fillets into the hot skillet, cooking 3-4 minutes per side until a golden-brown crust forms and fish reaches 145°F internal temperature.
- Transfer cooked snapper to a clean plate, then add 4 tablespoons butter to the same skillet.
- Add 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet, cooking 2-3 minutes per side until they turn completely pink and curl slightly.
- Mince 2 garlic cloves and toss into the skillet, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour ½ cup heavy cream and ½ cup chicken broth into the pan, simmering 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and reduces slightly.
- Spoon warm, cheesy grits onto serving plates, arranging cooked snapper and shrimp on top.
- Drizzle the Cajun cream sauce generously over the seafood, seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
Notes
- Always pat the fish and shrimp dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect golden sear and prevent steaming in the pan.
- Use fresh seafood for the best flavor, and check that red snapper and shrimp are firm and have a clean ocean scent.
- When cooking seafood, watch carefully to avoid overcooking – snapper and shrimp cook quickly and can become tough if left too long.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, and use less butter to reduce calories without sacrificing taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg