Vegan Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients:

Grits:

-1/4 cup Quick Grits (or the equivalent of one serving according to your package’s directions

-1 cup Water (for the grits; follow the directions on the package)

-1 tablespoon Vegan Butter

-1/4 cup Plant Milk (I used oat)

-1 slice Vegan Cheese of choice (I used the Violife Mature Cheddar Slices)

The Following Seasonings to Taste:

-Salt

-Black Pepper

-Garlic Powder

Vegan Shrimp:

-6 Vegan Shrimp (I used THIS one)

-1 tablespoon Vegan Butter

-1 tablespoon Garlic, minced (jarred garlic works really well here but is not required)

-1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

-3 tablespoons water

The Following Seasonings to Taste:

-Black Pepper

-Paprika

-Garlic Powder

-Onion Salt (I used the one from Trader Joe’s)

-Dried Thyme

-Green Onions, sliced (optional)

Directions:

Season the vegan shrimp: in a small bowl, add the seasonings to the vegan shrimp and mix to combine. Set aside
Prepare grits according to the package’s instructions. I used a whisk during preparation to ensure the grits would not clump together
When the grits are about a minute from being done, add butter, vegan cheese and most of the milk. Whisk the grits to incorporate the ingredients and to make sure the grits stay smooth. Add more milk if the grits get too pasty. Set aside
Prepare the vegan shrimp: on medium-high heat, melt the butter in a small frying pan. Add the seasoned shrimp to the pan. Using a spoon, coat the shrimp in the butter and begin to fry.
Add the lemon juice and the garlic to the pan. If you are using jarred garlic, you can also add a small amount of the brine, but this is completely optional
Continue to fry until butter disappears from the pan. When the shrimp begins to stick to the pan, add the water to deglaze the bottom of the pan.
Plate the shrimp and grits by placing the grits in a bowl and topping with shrimp. Garnish with the green onions (optional)