The Best Thick and Creamy Grits Recipe - caramel and cashews (2024)

FAQs

How to make grits thicker? ›

(If your grits are fully cooked but too thin, you can speed up the thickening by cooking them uncovered, which will allow steam to escape more quickly.) Whisk in butter until fully melted and incorporated, then remove from heat. Season with additional salt, if needed. Serve as desired.

Southern Living Test Kitchen Director Robby Melvin prefers to cook grits in a mixture of water and heavy cream. "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.

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.

Even if you buy 5-minute grits, don't cook your grits for only five minutes. Part of what makes the grits all creamy is the time they get to soak in the water. Making them softer and allowing them to merge together to form all the creamy goodness. I repeat creamy grits are not made in five minutes.

Grits are kinda bland in their natural state. Butter, salt, and pepper wakes them up and bring out that wonderful light corn flavor. Adding cheddar cheese, hot sauce, bacon bits, garlic, and other spices is also great!

It doesn't taste like egg, not really, but it makes the grits taste richer, with a more cohesive, rib-sticking texture. It's also an easy way to sneak a little more protein in there—six grams per egg—and I've found it amplifies the cheesiness of cheese grits, without adding any extra dairy.

Grits are often cooked in either milk or water; we prefer a combination of the two for silky grits that aren't too heavy. For additional flavor, substitute water with chicken or vegetable stock. Grits require a 1:4 cup ratio of grain to liquid.

Adding grits to your dietary plans is a great move. They are a versatile food option that's packed with iron, B vitamins, antioxidants, and several other nutrients. As with all other foods though, be mindful of the possible downsides like nutrient loss during production and a high carb count.

Cooking Grits for Yourself or a Crowd

Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you want the grits to cook longer and be more creamy, add a little more water, and return to the heat and simmer, stirring, uncovered, until done.

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).

What is a substitute for butter in grits? ›

Most people associate grits with butter but grits are also delicious and creamy when made with olive oil. Depending on who you ask, grits are similar or identical to Italian polenta. Both are made from ground cornmeal slow cooked over a low flame. Here is a recipe that we adapted from the Courier Journal.

In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil; add salt and coffee creamer. Stir until creamer is dissolved. In a slow, steady stream, whisk in grits. Continue whisking constantly to prevent clumps until they come to a boil.

Quick and regular grits: The only difference between these types is in granulation. Quick grits are ground fine and cook in 5 minutes; regular grits are medium grind and cook in 10 minutes. Instant grits: These fine-textured grits have been precooked and dehydrated.

If grits get too thick (they thicken as they cook further and as they sit), you can stir in more water, milk, or cream to thin them out to your desired consistency. Serve with butter, salt, and pepper; cheese; or shrimp and gravy.

FoodsGuy recommends recooking the grits and bringing them to a medium simmer until the excess liquid evaporates, which might take another half-hour.

Adding an egg is another option. Foodsguy recommends beating an egg in a medium-sized bowl until it's thoroughly combined, then stirring a small portion of cooked grits into the bowl. Be careful — adding too much will cook your eggs.

The key to cooking old-fashioned grits is going low and slow—use a low heat so the grits simmer and slowly release their starches, which creates a decadent, silky texture. Whisking constantly during the first couple of minutes, and frequently throughout the rest of the cooking process, will prevent lumps from forming.

Spoon the leftover grits into the pan, and add a small drizzle of water, milk, or broth to the grits. Allow the dish to heat on low, constantly stirring and breaking up lumps as you stir. If the grits become too thick or clumpy, add more liquid to the mix while stirring.