Corn and Crab Cake over Cheese Grits

Plowing through post-holiday depression is like overcoming inertia: the longer you let things lie, the harder it is to get off that couch, or out of the cozy confines of your bed and move. Part of it is no doubt the result of being bogged down by the excesses of rich food from Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve. To that end, as a sort of detox program, I often dive into vegan recipes in the beginning of January, only to find myself with an insane craving for bloody meat and creamy cheese after about 10 days. I imagine a Paleolithic Me hunkered over a fresh kill by the light of some fire, hands and mouth dripping with blood as I howl to the moon.

Yeah ok, I know. Over the top.

So, the vegan interlude over, I am back to my normal routine of cooking anything I like from scratch, and trying to delve back into the realm of Cooking As Therapy. The girls wanted a little plate of "something fancy," so I thought what better way to use the crab and  leftover corn than as a crab cake. I have been attempting to broaden their horizons when it comes to starches and grains, and figured that cheesy polenta would provide a nice counterpoint to the crab. A dollop of sweet red pepper relish (bought, I'm afraid, and no doubt including that evil of all evils, high-fructose corn syrup) rounded it out.

Corn and Crab Cake over Cheese Grits

Makes 8 small or 4 large servings 

Ingredients:

For the corn and crab cakes:

• 8 oz. lump crabmeat, precooked
• 1/2 cup corn kernels
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 - 3 heaping tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Old Bay
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
• panko
• peanut oil for frying

For the cheese grits:

• 1/2 cup corn grits or polenta - I like Bob's Red Mill Corn Grits
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup shredded white cheddar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon cream
• sweet red pepper relish (optional)

Directions:

For the cheese grits:

1. Place the corn grits, water and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and stir occasionally to be sure that it isn't going to stick and burn on the bottom. After 10 minutes, give a little taste to check for seasoning and add more salt if needed. I like to use homemade chicken stock which has no salt in it, so I usually add a bit more salt. If you are using chicken broth from a base, granules or a carton, you may be all set for salt. The gits will thicken up as you go. If you really prefer looser, more runny grits, add more stock or water as you go.
2. After another 15 minutes, stir in the shredded cheese until it has melted, then add the butter and cream to taste. Set aside as you make the corn and crab cakes. You can quickly reheat them once you are ready to serve, or you can keep them over a very low heat as long as you check it frequently to make sure that it isn't scorching on the bottom. If you are really talented, you can make the corn and crab cakes as the grits are cooking. :)

For the corn and crab cakes:

1. Saute the minced onion in olive oil over medium-high heat until translucent. Add the red onion and corn and saute for another 5 minutes or until the pepper is soft. Set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix together the lump crab meat and sauteed veggies. Fold in the mayo, Old Bay and granulated garlic until everything is nicely mixed. Feel free to taste a little bit to check that you like the amount of seasoning and adjust as needed.
3. Crack the egg into a small bowl and beat slightly and then add to the crab mixture, stirring well. Gradually add the soft breadcrumbs and mix well. 
4. Pour panko crumbs into a pie tin or a large shallow bowl.
5. Shape the mixture into 8 patties and dredge in the panko crumbs, slightly pressing them into the surface. Set each crab cake aside on another plate to rest while you make the rest. Once they're done, you can cover them with plastic wrap and let them sit in the fridge or you can fry them right away. I've done it both ways with good results.
6. Heat some peanut oil in a large skillet and fry the crab cakes in batches until golden brown on both sides.
7. Serve on a bed  of the cheese grits and top with a dollop of sweet red pepper relish.

Tweet

Pan-Fried Cheese Grits Cakes with Lemon and Olive Oil Marinated Shrimp

I have been having fun pan-frying lately what with the Schnitzel, goat cheese rounds and catfish. With the right sized item, it really is a pretty quick and easy method of cooking. Plus, there is a real satisfying crunch and texture to something that has been breaded with Panko crumbs and then fried in really hot oil.

The catfish strips from the other day inspired me to make another southern-inspired dish. I had entered an idea for a different take on shrimp and grits in that contest using California Olive Ranch and Bob's Red Mill products. I had come across this delicious-looking recipe from Food & Wine for shrimp marinated in lemon and olive oil that I thought would be nice with cheese grits cakes.

Pan-Fried Cheese Grits Cakes with Lemon and Olive Oil Marinated Shrimp

Serves 2 as an appetizer

Ingredients:

• 4 large cooked shrimp
• lemon from half a lemon
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup stone ground corn grits
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay
• 1/2 - 1 cup extra sharp cheddar, shredded
• flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• Panko breadcrumbs
• soft breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Directions:

1. Make the cheese grits by bringing 1 cup of lightly salted water to boil and add the corn grits, lowering the heat to low. Stir frequently to be sure that it doesn't stick. Careful, like oatmeal, bubbles might burst out and splatter you with wicked-hot starchy grain. 
2. After about 10 minutes, add 1/2 teaspoon of Old Bay. Stir well and let cook another 15 - 20 minutes.
3. Once it has cooked through and is the thickness you like, add the shredded extra-sharp cheddar, starting with 1/2 cup and adding up to 1 cup to suit your taste - I used about 3/4 cup. Stir well to let the cheese melt, then remove from heat. 
4. Place a long piece of waxed paper in a plastic container so that the ends hang out of the sides - this will let you remove the grits easily when they've set up - pour the grits into the container and out in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
5. Mix together the cooked shrimp in the olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, basil and salt and pepper. Let marinate in the fridge for at least an hour.
6. When you are ready to make the grits cakes, set up 4 bowls, one with flour, one with a beaten egg, one with panko mixed with thyme and basil, and one with soft breadcrumbs.
7. Take the grits out of the fridge and lift them out of the container and set them on a cutting board. Cut out rounds using a a biscuit cutter and dredge them in flour, dip in beaten egg, and then passing through the breadcrumbs, first the panko and then the soft crumbs, to fill in the gaps that the panko crumbs missed.
8. Fry in hot peanut oil until golden brown on both sides, drain on a paper towel and then serve with the marinated shrimp.

A closer look...

Tweet

Shrimp and Grits with Roasted Corn

I had grits once when I was younger. They were gray, lumpy, gluey and looked totally unappetizing. I was unimpressed.

Then I actually tasted them.

Color me even more unimpressed.

Over the years I've heard people talk longingly of shrimp and grits and cheese grits and I would shudder and think, "How can anyone possibly EAT that?"

Then Renée set me straight about grits and corn grits.  She gave me her favorite recipe for corn grits with roasted corn, told me exactly what type of corn grits to buy, what to serve it with, and I was very interested. It sounded good, for sure- what's not to love about roasted corn, butter and heavy cream? So I filed it away for future reference.

For some reason, when I woke up today, I said to myself, "Now is the day for those grits, and I feel the need for spicy shrimp to go with it." Maybe it's the cold and dreary weather making me yearn for something hot. Maybe it was the fact that I caught sight of the bag of corn grits yesterday when I was hunting around for the bag of tapioca pearls. Who knows? Long story short, the recipe is fantastic and I am a grits convert.

The spicy and still sweetish shrimp contrast perfectly with the creaminess of the grits. It's insane.

I can't wait to try out cheese grits next. :)

Shrimp and Grits with Roasted Corn

Serves 3

For the grits:

• 3/4 cup stone-ground corn grits
• 3 cups water
• salt
• 1 t Creole seasoning or Old Bay
• 2 T chives 
• 2 T butter
• heavy cream

For the corn:

• corn from 2 ears of fresh corn (about 1-1/2 cups kernels)
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1 T butter, melted
• 1/8 t granulated garlic
• 1/8 t smoked paprika
• salt and pepper

For the shrimp

• 9 medium cleaned shrimp, raw
• Old Bay or Creole seasoning

• chopped green onion

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil.
2. Toss the kernels of corn and onion in a bowl with salt, pepper, granulated garlic and smoked paprika.
3. Add the melted butter and toss well.
4. Spread in the foil-lined pan and roast for 25 minutes, stirring them once half-way through.
5. While the corn is roasting, bring 3 cups of lightly salted water to boil and add the corn grits, lowering the heat to low. Stir frequently to be sure that it doesn't stick. Careful, like oatmeal, bubbles might burst out and splatter you with wicked-hot starchy grain. Ouch.
6. After about 10 minutes, add 1/2 teaspoon of Creole seasoning or Old Bay and fresh chives. Stir well and let cook another 15 - 20 minutes.
7. Once it has cooked through and is the thickness you like, add about 1/2 of the roasted corn and onion to the grits and stir well. Set aside the remaining corn and onions. 
8. Add the butter and stir well to let it melt. Then add heavy cream to achieve the consistency you like. I only used a few tablespoons. Taste to check and adjust seasoning. You may want more spice or more cream.
9. Season the shrimp with Creole seasoning or Old Bay. Heat a heavy skillet over high heat and sear the shrimp for 2 minutes on the first side, then flip them, cover the skillet and let them cook another minute or two until done, but be careful not to overcook them.
10. Divide the corn grits between 3 bowls and top with the remaining roasted corn and onion. Sprinkle with chopped green onion and top with seared shrimp.

Tweet