Shrimp and Grits Salad is a little twist on the iconic southern classic dish. Grilled cajun shrimp and discs of jalapeno grits on a bed of greens with a spicy vinaigrette.
If enjoy cornmeal in recipes like polenta cake, or cornbread, you really need to give this grits recipe a try.
When bbq season is here, you won’t find me in the kitchen much. It’s all about cooking outside on the grill.
We love eating our meals on the patio during the summer. Easy, stress-free recipes are a must. Lots of great salads for dinner, especially when we add some grilled protein to the dish. Buckwheat and Scallop Salad is a favourite.
I love using grains as the base in salads. Healthy, nutritious and a change from traditional vegetable or pasta salads.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these grilled grits and shrimp can be found at the bottom of this post.
Hot grilled grits and cajun shrimp create a wonderfully spicy dish that is perfect as an appetizer or a main dish. Pour a glass of wine and call it dinner.
How To Make Shrimp And Grits Salad
Creamy grits are the traditional way to enjoy this southern specialty. But have you ever noticed those polenta tubes in the grocery store? Get ready, you are going to make it yourself, and it is so much better than store-bought.
This is the first part of the recipe, and it needs to be made ahead of time. Everything you need to know is in the recipe card below. It is super easy.
- Cook the coarse grits according to package directions.
- Add the cheese and jalapeno.
- Wrap in plastic, forming a tube.
- Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
You need the grits to be cold so you can slice the log into nice thick pieces.
When it’s time to grill, take the log out of the fridge, remove the plastic, and cut it into thick discs (about 1 inch thick).
What Are Grits?
Is there a difference between polenta and grits? Yes, there is. Both are made from corn. Polenta from yellow corn and hominy grits from white corn.
In Canada, we have a hard time finding hominy, so most of the time we substitute (affiliate) coarse polenta instead.
They come in a variety of grinds, so depending on the recipe you are using you will want to match the texture for the perfect results. Similar to using different kinds of oatmeal.
- Stone ground is the most coarse of all. Use it in recipes that will produce less creamy results. They also take the longest to cook since less processing is involved.
- Quick ground is a little finer. They cook up creamy, smooth, and take under 10 minutes to cook.
- Instant is the most processed of all. Just add boiling water. This can be eaten in place of instant oatmeal for breakfast. Not ideal for recipes.
Next, you can make the dressing and have it ready and waiting. This is a simple vinaigrette.
- olive oil
- (affiliate) jalapeno lime white balsamic vinegar
- agave nectar
You can certainly use other flavours of vinegar, or just plain white balsamic and add some spice to the mix. Make this salad dressing the way you like. You can’t go wrong with an oil and vinegar blend.
Next prepare the shrimp. Clean and pat dry. Remember to remove the “poop” sac, no one wants to eat that. Just ask Gordon Ramsay.
Properly clean shrimp by:
- With a small knife make a shallow cut all the way along the top of the shrimp. Look for the black vein so you know you are on the correct side of the shrimp.
- Use the tip of the knife to pull out the vein.
- Rinse under water and pat dry.
- You can leave the shell and the tail on. Makes for a great presentation.
For the marinade I used:
- (affiliate) chipotle olive oil
- (affiliate) smoked paprika
Brush over the shrimp. Marinate the cleaned shrimp for about 30 minutes. They can also marinate overnight. I like to place them in a freezer bag. Always keep them in the fridge.
Again, feel free to experiment with other flavoured oils. We really like things spicy in our house.
Fire Up The Grill
Preheat your grill to medium heat. Hubby used a well-oiled grill basket to cook with.
- Cut your grits into nice thick slices.
- Grill the shrimp and grits, turning halfway through.
- The shrimp (depending on the size you have) cooked in about 2 minutes per side.
- Grits warmed up nicely at 3 minutes per side.
Arrange the salad:
- Take a nice handful of whatever salad greens you want to use.
- Drizzle a bit of oil on the greens.
- Place your fried grits and drizzle a little more dressing.
- Add the grilled shrimp, and dig in!
Great choices of greens would be:
- baby kale
- romaine
- butter lettuce
- mixed greens
- arugula
There you have it, a tasty grilled shrimp and grits recipe. Serve this at your next bbq party. Your guests will love it.
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If you love shrimp recipes, here are a few of our favourites:
- Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp is an easy and delicious dinner ready in minutes. Just in time for all that garden fresh zucchini. Healthy dinner idea.
- Shrimp Endive Cups are the perfect summer appetizer. Sweet and spicy. Great added to the weekend brunch menu.
Looking for more great grilling recipes, try
- Chili Lime Chicken Skewers
- Zucchini Burger with Sriracha & Pancetta
- Grilled Mushroom Stacks
- Grilled Garlic Scapes
Grilled Shrimp and Grits Salad
Ingredients
For the Grits:
- ½ cup yellow grits
- 2 cups water
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoons garlic pepper
- 1 fresh jalapeno (seeded and diced)
- ½ cup smoked cheddar cheese (shredded)
For the Dressing:
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons jalapeno lime white balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar
For the Shrimp:
- 12 fresh shrimp (cleaned)
- 1 tablespoons chipotle olive oil
- ¼ teaspoons sweet smoked paprika
- smoked sea salt (for seasoning)
- greens
Instructions
To make the Grits:
- Add 2 cups of water to a small saucepan, and bring to a oil
- Season with ¼ tsp. salt.
- Slowly add the grits.
- Cook over low heat till done, about 20 minutes (stirring often).
- Remove from heat and add cheese, garlic pepper and diced jalapenos.
- Mix well, and set aside to cool slightly.
- Take a sheet of plastic wrap, and scoop grits onto it.
- Roll into a log and tie the ends of the plastic wrap into a knot.
- Place in fridge overnight (or for at least 4 hours) to chill.
To make the Dressing:
- Combine the olive oil, Jalapeno Lime White Balsamic Vinegar and agave nectar.
- Mix well and set aside till ready to use.
To make the Shrimp:
- Clean shrimp and pat dry.
- Combine the Chipotle Olive Oil and smoked paprika in a bowl.
- Brush over shrimp.
- Marinate shrimp in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Preheat grill to medium heat.
- Get your salad greens ready.
- Remove grits from fridge, take off plastic wrap and slice into 1 inch thick discs.
- Grill shrimp and grits in a well oiled grill basket, turning ½ way through. Ususally about 1-2 minues per side depending on the size of the shrimp.
- Grits about 3 minutes per side.
To Assemble:
- Arrange some greens on a plate.
- Drizzle some dressing over greens.
- Add the grits, and drizzle with more dressing.
- Season with smoked sea salt.
- Add the shrimp and any additional garnish you may like.
Alex
Jalapeno lime white balsamic vinegar? What?! I’m so looking for that tomorrow. Then I need to give this recipe a try!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I love all the flavoured bottles of vinegar and oils on the market these days. Makes for some tasty recipes.
Erin
This is such a great idea! I’ve never had grits and think this is the recipe to try. I love the salad spin!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This is such a fun way to eat grits. Hope you give this recipe a try soon.
Brianna
Love polenta and the jalapeno adds just the right kick. This salad is perfect for those warm summer evenings.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
One of our favourite patio meals during the summer.
Jere
This is genius to create this salad. Grilling the grits as a cut up round just sounds amazing. This is a must-make recipe.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….perfect for summer eating fun. Great for entertaining too.
Ramona
This grilled shrimp and grits salad has me drooling right now! I am craving this and I have all the ingredients so I am going to be making this soon. Thank you for sharing this recipe I can’t wait to make this!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…this is a fun take on traditional shrimp and grits.
Liz
I have to admit I’d never had grits until I moved to Virginia! Now I’m hooked. These are so creamy!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I love this take on shrimp with grits, a fun recipe for sure.
Marie
This looks like such a delicious summer dish! I’ve never made grits before but now I really want to try it. I bet the grits must be great to soak up all those delicious grilled shrimp spices and juices!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This is a fun take on traditional grits ….ENJOY!
veenaazmanov
Looks so yum. This salad is surely a try one. Unique and definitely super delicious, healthy and flavorful. Thanks for your recipe.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. We love this as a nice light and easy meal on the patio.
Natalie
What a lovely summer salad. I love the flavors and spiciness. Love that you used grits as well. I’m making this for sure!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Grits are such an underused ingredient, and the salad is fun and delicious.
Toni
It is so flavorful!! Everyone at my house loved it! I will definitely make it again!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
So glad you enjoyed this take on shrimp and grits.
Lindsay
I LOVE this! I’m from south Carolina where we take our grits very seriously, and I love this take on shrimp and grits for summer!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. Hope you give this super fun grits and shrimp a try soon.
Jessica Formicola
Shrimp and grits is one of my favorite southern meals! This recipe looks incredible and I can’t wait to try it out this week!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
It is the perfect summer recipe…cooked on the grill…eaten on the patio. ENJOY!
Brianna
Shrimp & grits is one of my favs! This salad looks so tasty!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This is a fun take on the iconic shrimp and grits recipe. ENJOY!
Marisa Franca
Well, you had me at polenta! I know, I know you call it grits. But we Italians claim it first. Whether it’s grits or polenta — we love it. And we go nuts at the olive oil and balsamic vinegar stores. Oh I just want to sample everything and then bring it home. Your Southwest Shrimp and Grits Salad is such a perfect summer meal. Will be making it soon.
Homemade & Yummy
I actually don’t call it grits….in Canada we just call it cornmeal!! I really have to make this recipe again…it was so good.
Veena Azmanov
This looks like an amazing recipes Gloria. Love grits and shrimp – always a great combination.. Love the flavors you have going here.. Can’t wait to try.
Homemade & Yummy
I grew up with eating cornmeal so it is a favourite for me.