Name: Spicy summer grits
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1/2 white onion, minced; 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced; 1/2 cup grits; 1 cup water; 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup half and half; 1/4 cup cream cheese; 1 ear corn, (about 3/4 cup); salt and pepper, to taste

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Spicy summer grits – creamy grits with jalapeno and fresh corn. This is a hit with people who don’t even normally love grits!

Perhaps it’s a bit presumptuous for me to say this dish will change how you feel about grits – maybe you already love grits?

I, for one, was not a fan until I had grits served up with jalapeno and fresh corn.

Recently, a work group had a dinner party outing where I had it with these ingredients for the first time. I was so surprised how much I liked it that I set out to experiment with the recipe.

summer grits in brown bowl in front of serving pot

If you’re not a fan of spicy, you can totally leave the jalapeno out! It’s okay if it’s not your thing, you can add only a tiny amount or exclude it all together.

Alternatively, you can leave in the seeds and for an extra spicy version, or just use the whole jalapeno!

This is a good article on how to seed and cut a jalapeno if you don’t know how.

overlook view of cooked grits dish in serving pot and single bowl on blue napkin

I hesitate to call this summer grits because it’s closing in on the end of the season, and I really want you to eat this all year long. K?

The “summer” comes from the fresh corn, which is added just a few minutes before the grits are finished cooking so that they stay crisp and crunchy. Though if you don’t have a fresh cob, you could use frozen!

brown bowl with spicy grits on top of blue folded napkin

Tell me – how do you feel about grits?

Yield: 4

Spicy summer grits

Spicy summer grits - creamy grits with jalapeno and fresh corn. This is a hit with people who don't even normally love grits!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 white onion, minced
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1/2 cup grits
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1/2 cup half and half
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 ear corn, (about 3/4 cup)
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a large pot, saute the butter and onion over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add jalapeno and saute another minute.
Reduce heat to medium. Add grits, water, half and half and milk and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add cream cheese and fresh corn, stirring for another couple minutes until the cream cheese melts.
Remove from heat. Add salt and pepper and serve.

Notes

See this article about seeding jalapenos.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 194Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 239mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 5g

Nutrition information is calculated automatically by an online tool at Nutritionix. It is not always accurate. Please use your own tools to check if you rely on this information.

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Sandra

Saturday 22nd of September 2018

I wanted this recipe to come out awesome but 45 minutes later and they still were thin. All that liquid for just a 1/2 cup of grits seems too much. I used stoned ground grits from Charleston. Will try again.

Kelly

Sunday 23rd of September 2018

Hi Sandra! The normal liquid to stone ground grits ratio is 4:1, so this recipe only has slightly more than that (1/2 cup) because it includes cream. If you like your grits thicker you can try less and only add in the water if you think you need it, but I think this turns out pretty thick and creamy compared to some grits I've had before. Hope it turns out better the next time!

Do you cover them when cooking?

Annie @Maebells

Wednesday 17th of September 2014

Now this is my kind of meal!! I LOVE grits! They are my favorite! And that added jalapeno?! Genius!

Thanks so much Annie! I love the spicy version :)

Anne

Friday 12th of September 2014

This is how you make grits?!! After staring at grits in the grocery store, I was very lost for what in the world one would do with them! I thought grit was for chickens to help grind up their food in their little gizzards... :P

Hahaha you're too funny Anne!

Laura

Thursday 11th of September 2014

My only experience with grits is at Cracker Barrel and it wasn't a good one. But I'm totally willing to gives yours a whirl, I even have my own (ok, only 1) jalepeno pepper growing in the garden right now.....excited to use it in my new spice grits. And summer corn, who doesn't love that little on-on? Wonderful =)

I'd love to hear about it if you try it, Laura! I think this will turn you into a fan :) And I'm so jealous you grow your own jalapeno peppers! Send me some??