4.36 15 Published Jul 29, 2019, Updated Jun 27, 2024 Shrimp and grits is a quintessential southern dish that’s served for dinner. If you go to any southern restaurant, you’ll likely see shrimp and grits on the menu. Obviously, this cheesy and buttery dish can be a pretty indulgent meal so I decided to lighten up the classic recipe and use cauliflower in place of cornmeal to make low-carb shrimp and grits.
What do Cauliflower Grits Taste Like?
The taste of grits, regular or cauliflower, totally depends on the flavors used to season them because they’re quite bland on their own. In these cheesy cauliflower grits, the cauliflower takes on the flavor of the cheese and the spicy shrimp we’re serving on top. I kept this recipe pretty simple with milk, butter, salt and pepper but you can add in any additional flavors you’d like! I think a rosemary and garlic version would also be delicious.
Low Carb Swap
Replacing regular grits with cauliflower grits makes this classic dish significantly lower in calories and carbs. A portion of regular shrimp and grits with just 1 cup of cooked grits has around 30 grams of carbs and 2 grams of fiber, whereas a portion of cauliflower shrimp and grits had 9 grams of carbs and 4 grams of fiber. Whether you’re looking to eat fewer carbs or want to increase your fiber intake, using cauliflower grits instead of regular grits is such a healthy swap! This meal is light enough for a delicious summer dinner but also so comforting! It reminds me of my childhood, but I am not left feeling super heavy or bloated because of the upgraded ingredients.
Ingredients in Cauliflower Grits
cauliflower milk – I used unsweetened almond milk but use whatever milk you have on hand butter sea salt + black pepper Parmesan cheese shrimp blackened seasoning or cajun seasoning – I made my own but you can definitely buy a pre-made seasoning mix fresh parsley
How to Make Shrimp and Grits
The first step is to take cauliflower florets and make them into cauliflower rice! Add the cauliflower into a food processor and pulse until the florets are broken down into small pieces. I prefer to pulse until the pieces are a little smaller than cauliflower rice. After your cauliflower is prepped, it’s time to make grits! Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, cauliflower, milk, butter, salt and black pepper to the pan. Bring to a simmer and stir frequently until the mixture is soft and smooth and looks like grits! Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and keep warm as you make your spicy shrimp. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and blackened seasoning and toss until the shrimp are seasoned and cooked through. The shrimp will be opaque pink when done – it should take only 4-5 minutes. Remove shrimp from the heat and add the parsley, lemon juice, and water and stir to make sure the shrimp is coated with all the yummy seasonings. Time to eat! Divide up the grits among shallow bowls and top with the shrimp. If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!
More Upgraded Comfort Food Recipes
Chicken Casserole Cauliflower Gnocchi Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff Vegetarian Chili Chicken Parmesan
More Shrimp Recipes to Try
Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry Grilled Shrimp Salad Grilled Shrimp Skewers Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas Shrimp Salad Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp Caribbean Jerk Shrimp Bowls Easy Shrimp Cocktail Almond Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp Caesar Salad with Shrimp Shrimp Scampi Sheet Pan Meal
Be sure to check out the full collection of shrimp recipes here on EBF!
