Shrimp-and-grits Eggs Benedict

Total Time: 38 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 5 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 lb fresh asparagus
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 8 large eggs, poached
• 1 lb medium shrimp
• 2 1/2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 small shallot, sliced
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can chicken broth
• 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons sherry wine

Recipe

• 1 bring 5 cups water and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan; gradually stir in grits. cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until thickened. whisk in pepper and cheese; spoon into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. cover and chill 8 hours.
• 2 snap off tough ends of asparagus. combine asparagus and water to cover in a saucepan. bring to a boil, and cook 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. drain and plunge asparagus into ice water to stop the cooking process.
• 3 cut grits into 8 (3- x 3-inch) squares. lightly dredge in flour. melt butter with oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. cook grits squares, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden. top each square with asparagus, poached egg, and creamy shrimp sauce. serve immediately. garnish, if desired.
• 4 peel shrimp, reserving shells; devein, if desired.
• 5 melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 3 1/2-quart saucepan over medium heat. add shrimp, and cook 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. chop shrimp, and set aside.
• 6 add shrimp shells, shallot, and chicken broth to saucepan; bring to a boil. remove from heat, cover, and let stand 30 minutes. pour broth mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a bowl, discarding shells and shallot.
• 7 melt remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in saucepan over medium heat. whisk in flour. cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. gradually whisk in broth mixture. bring to a boil; boil 1 minute or until slightly thickened. add cream; reduce heat to low. add chopped shrimp and sherry; stir until thoroughly heated.