Labor Day Cheesy Shrimp & Grits Bites
A perfect Labor Day appetizer featuring crispy cheesy grit cakes topped with seasoned shrimp and a flavorful vegetable medley. These bite-sized treats are sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Equipment
- 2" round cutter
- Small Saucepan
- Large skillet
- 11"x8" baking dish
Ingredients
Grit Base
- 2.5 cups whole milk
- 1 cup quick-cooking grits
- 1.5 cups shredded smoked gouda or sharp cheddar
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 3.5 tsp Cajun seasoning, divided
Shrimp Topping
- 30 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 0.5 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 3 scallions, separated
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
Breading & Frying
- 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 cups neutral oil
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring milk and 1 1/2 cups water to a simmer. Whisk in grits and cook until thickened (7 minutes).
- Stir in cheese, 2 Tbsp. butter, and 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning. Pour into an 11"x8" dish; refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Toss shrimp with salt and 1 1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning.
- Sauté celery and peppers in 2 Tbsp. butter. Add white scallion parts, garlic, and tomato paste; cook for 2 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until opaque.
- Cut 15 cakes from chilled grits, then slice each in half horizontally to create 30 disks.
- Dredge disks in flour (mixed with remaining 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning), dip in egg, and coat with panko. Freeze for 10 minutes.
- Fry disks in oil until golden and crisp. Top with shrimp mixture and green scallion parts.
Notes
Nutritional Information (per bite):
Calories: 120, Total Carbs: 9g, Net Carbs: 8g, Fat: 7g, Protein: 8g.
Calories: 120, Total Carbs: 9g, Net Carbs: 8g, Fat: 7g, Protein: 8g.
