Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Grits - Mighty Mrs | Super Easy Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to grits to make them better? ›

The best side dishes to serve with cheese grits are ricotta, green beans with bacon, sausage and potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoked cod, pulled pork, coconut shrimp, egg bites, sauteed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, spinach salad, fried chicken, roasted Brussels sprouts, and collard greens ...

This mouthwatering recipe pairs perfectly with pork roast, baked chicken, or beef tenderloin.

Pork chops are one of our absolute favorite foods to eat with grits. The main reason why we think this is such a perfect combo is because of the fat content of the pork. Grits can be pretty bland on their own, so they need a lot of flavor to make them more interesting.

If you prefer a savory breakfast, try topping your quick-cook grits with a combination of cooked and chopped bacon, cheese, and scallions. Or, make your own creation by combining caramelized onions, tomatoes, scallions, roasted red peppers, herbs, or fried eggs.

More hacks for creamy and flavorful grits

A cracked egg is the simplest way to instill rich texture and flavor into grits without having to swap a portion of the cooking liquid for heavy cream. You could even forgo the standard addition of butter by adding an extra egg yolk to the pot.

Whole milk: You can do all water with just a splash of milk if you like, as long as there is some. It provides a creaminess that you can't get with just water. You can also use anything from whole to skim milk, but for quick grits I don't recommend using anything heavier than half-and-half because it's too thick.

Cooking Instructions

Press grits into bottom and up sides of 2 cup capacity ovenproof ramekins or baking dishes sprayed with nonstick spray. Make indentation in center of grits. Break egg into indentation. Bake 15 minutes or until egg is desired doneness.

For 2 servings: Use 1 cup water, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 cup grits. For 8 servings: Use 4 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup grits. For 24 servings: Use 3 quarts water, 1 tablespoon salt, and 3 cups grits.

"I use mostly water with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cream. The water does the trick to tenderize the grits, and the cream adds an obvious richness and creaminess to the finished product," he says. "Cooking grits in all milk or chicken stock imparts too much of those flavors into the grits."

How are grits served in the South? ›

Serving Southern Grits

We always add cheese to our grits — either Parmesan or sharp cheddar. But you can certainly skip the cheese altogether; some people prefer theirs without. We often eat these grits as-is for breakfast (or topped with a fried egg or crumbled sausage).

If they turn out kind of runny, we put them in a bowl and eat with a spoon. If they're nice and fluffy, we put them on a plate and eat with a fork. That's how. Is it common for Southerners to eat grits and eggs for breakfast?

Health Benefits of Grits

Grits are a good source of complex carbohydrates, providing energy to your body. They are also a good source of fiber, which can help to regulate digestion and promote a healthy gut. Grits are low in fat and cholesterol, making them heart-healthy food choices.

Add the mushrooms, zucchini, corn, onion, bell pepper and jalapeno to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Season the vegetables with the Cajun seasoning. Continue to cook until well browned, an additional minute.

Next up are bland foods. "You can start with what's called the BRAT diet, which stands for: bananas, rice, apples, toast," says Dr. Kalakota. "And if you don't like any of those, just be sure you're choosing something bland — crackers, plain grits, plain oatmeal."

Southern grits are some of the creamiest, dreamiest dishes on the planet. Made from stone-ground grits and slow cooked to perfection, I love them best finished with a generous heap of butter, cheese (mmm, cheesy grits!), and heavy cream.

No matter which variety, yellow or white, the beauty of grits is their versatility and ability to take on most flavors paired with them, although they are always best when cooked with milk instead of water. The flavor and consistency difference is truly amazing.

Corn was dried, boiled, and rinsed so the hominy could be used as a staple or ground into "flour" or grits. Grits served with fried eggs, O.J., coffee (cafe au lait if you use a New Orleans blend), Mimosas or Bloody Marys for a brunch, as we say in south Louisiana: "mais-oui, you'll bring da house down fo' sho!"