Scallops and Parmesan Thyme Grits
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It’s been a busy couple of weeks around here and work has been all over the place because we have had family in town and that always takes priority! Plus I had my first ever local live TV appearance (woohoo)!! Today life is getting back to normal and I am realizing that the holidays are literally right around the corner and I’m freaking out a little bit! I feel like after Halloween comes, the rest of the year quickly disappears also! So needless to say, I am currently in full holiday recipe mode so that I can get you some fresh new recipes for all of your holiday gatherings! BUT first I have the most epic brunch recipe that you are going to want to make whether its the holidays or not! My scallops and parmesan thyme grits are a restaurant quality dish that anyone can make right in their own kitchen no matter what level of cooking skills you have!
I love seafood in general and shrimp and grits happens to be one of my favorite brunch items, so I put a little spin on it and used some gorgeous scallops from a company called Fish Fixe that delivers fresh seafood right to your door! I realize that not everyone lives in a place where fresh seafood is easily available so that is where Fish Fixe comes into play! Sign up and you can receive a box full of a variety of seafood that is sustainably sourced and so fresh! If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, simply use code MYDIARYOFUS to get $10 off your first order! You can also head over to my Instagram page and enter to win a box valued at $129 this week!
But listen, any way you can get your hands on some scallops is fine by me, just tell me you will find some! This dish is not one you are going to want to pass up! The grits are infused with fresh thyme and then finished off with parmesan and butter to make them so creamy AND then they get topped with tender scallops, crispy bacon, and delicious sauce!
Oh my gosh y’all, this recipe is to die for!
If you want to make a special meal for your family or entertain for the holidays, this recipe is going to wow your guests in presentation and in taste! Layers of flavor will delight your tastebuds, I can promise you that!
If I haven’t gotten my point across yet, what I am trying to tell you is that you HAVE to make this recipe ASAP! Obviously I feel pretty strongly about it…but only because this recipe is a special one!
Ingredients:
12 Scallops (can sub shrimp)
4 Slices of Bacon
1/2 Cup Diced Onion
4 Finely Minced Cloves of Garlic
1/4 Cup Chicken Stock
1 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Tsp. Pepper
Pinch Red Pepper Flake
For the Grits-
1 Cup Quick Cooking Grits (old fashioned slow cook grits can work also)
3 3/4 Cups Chicken Stock or Water
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbsp. Butter
1 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Tsp. Pepper
4 Fresh Thyme Sprigs
Directions:
Bring 4 cups of stock or water along with the fresh thyme to a boil and salt the water.
Whisk in grits and reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes until grits have thickened.
Whisk in parmesan cheese and butter and then adjust salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm while you cook scallops.
Pat scallops dry with a paper towel and salt and pepper each side.
Heat a large, heavy bottomed skillet (cast iron is best here) to medium heat and add bacon and cook until crispy. Remove onto a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
Bring skillet to medium high heat, leaving the remaining bacon grease in the pan.
Add scallops and sear on each side in bacon grease for 2-3 minutes until just cooked through. Remove from pan.
Reduce heat slightly and add onion, garlic, red pepper flake, and season with salt and pepper.
Sauté until onion is translucent about 3 minutes and then add 1/4 cup chicken stock to deglaze the pan scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan.
Simmer sauce for another 5 minutes, reducing the liquid slightly and then add scallops back into the pan coating with the sauce.
To serve spoon grits into a bowl and then top with scallops, the sauce, and crispy bacon.
Serve immediately.