Cajun Style Spicy Shrimp & Andouille Sausage with Creamy Grits
This Cajun Style Spicy Shrimp and Andouille Sausage over Creamy Grits dish combines the bold flavors of the South with culinary finesse. Succulent, juicy shrimp and smoky andouille sausage are seasoned to perfection with a blend of Cajun spices and fresh vegetables. The dish is harmoniously complemented by a rich and spicy pepper cream sauce, poured generously over a bed of creamy, buttery grits. This robust and comforting southern meal is perfect for gatherings, making it a sure crowd-pleaser that you’ll want to share with family and friends.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
22
Ingredients
Ingredients
green hot pepper sauce
1/3 cup (none)
dry white wine
1/4 cup (none)
shallot
1 (chopped)
fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (none)
rice vinegar
1 tablespoon (none)
whipping cream
1 cup (none)
water
5 cups (none)
milk
3 cups (none)
butter
1/4 cup (none)
corn grits or polenta
2 cups (none)
olive oil
1/4 cup (none)
andouille sausage
1/2 lb (sliced)
red bell pepper
1 (chopped)
yellow bell pepper
1 (chopped)
onion
1 cup (chopped)
garlic
4 cloves (minced)
large shrimp
30 (peeled and deveined)
plum tomatoes
4 (chopped)
cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon (none)
Old Bay Seasoning
1 teaspoon (none)
salt
to taste (none)
pepper
to taste (none)
Instructions
1
In a medium saucepan, combine the green hot pepper sauce, dry white wine, shallots, lemon juice, and rice vinegar. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and reduce the mixture until it thickens to about 1/2 cup, approximately 15 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup of whipping cream and set aside.
2
In another medium pot, combine 1/2 cup whipping cream, 5 cups of water, 3 cups of milk, and 1/4 cup butter. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
3
Slowly whisk in the grits, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Simmer the mixture for about 1 hour while stirring frequently, until the grits are soft and creamy. Adjust consistency with additional water or milk if necessary.
4
In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup of olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced andouille sausage, red and yellow bell peppers, onion, and minced garlic. Sauté the mixture for about 8 minutes until the vegetables become tender.
5
Next, add the peeled and deveined shrimp, chopped tomatoes, cajun seasoning, and Old Bay seasoning. Sauté together for about 6-8 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through and opaque in the center.
6
Taste the mixture and season with salt and pepper as desired. Return the hot-pepper cream mixture to a gentle simmer.
7
To serve, spoon a generous portion of creamy grits onto each plate. Top with the spicy shrimp and sausage mixture, then drizzle over the hot-pepper cream sauce. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cajun Style Spicy Shrimp & Andouille Sausage?
It is a robust Southern meal featuring succulent shrimp and smoky andouille sausage seasoned with Cajun spices, served over creamy, buttery grits with a spicy pepper cream sauce.
What ingredients are needed for the hot-pepper cream sauce?
The sauce is made from green hot pepper sauce, dry white wine, chopped shallots, fresh lemon juice, rice vinegar, and whipping cream.
How long does it take to reduce the pepper sauce mixture?
The mixture should be simmered over medium heat for approximately 15 minutes until it thickens to about 1/2 cup.
What is the liquid base for the creamy grits?
The grits are cooked in a combination of 1/2 cup whipping cream, 5 cups of water, and 3 cups of milk.
How much butter is used in the grits?
The recipe calls for 1/4 cup of butter to be added to the grits liquid.
What type of grits should I use?
You can use either 2 cups of corn grits or polenta for this recipe.
How long do the grits need to simmer?
The grits should be simmered and stirred frequently for about 1 hour until they are soft and creamy.
How do I prevent lumps in the grits?
Slowly whisk the grits into the simmering liquid and stir them constantly during the initial phase and frequently thereafter.
What kind of sausage is used in this Cajun dish?
The recipe requires 1/2 lb of sliced andouille sausage.
Which vegetables are sautéed with the sausage?
Red and yellow bell peppers, onion, and minced garlic are sautéed with the sausage.
How long should the sausage and peppers be sautéed?
Sauté the mixture for about 8 minutes until the vegetables become tender.
What kind of shrimp are recommended?
The recipe calls for 30 large shrimp that have been peeled and deveined.
What seasonings are used for the shrimp?
The shrimp are seasoned with 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning and 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning.
What type of tomatoes are added to the skillet?
Four chopped plum tomatoes are added to the shrimp and sausage mixture.
How long do the shrimp take to cook?
The shrimp should be sautéed for about 6-8 minutes until they are cooked through and opaque in the center.
How is the dish assembled for serving?
Spoon a portion of creamy grits onto a plate, top with the shrimp and sausage mixture, and drizzle the hot-pepper cream sauce over the top.
Is there alcohol in this recipe?
Yes, the recipe uses 1/4 cup of dry white wine in the pepper cream sauce reduction.
How much garlic is included?
The recipe uses 4 cloves of minced garlic.
Can I adjust the consistency of the grits?
Yes, you can adjust the consistency with additional water or milk if the grits become too thick during the hour of cooking.
What kind of oil is used for sautéing?
1/4 cup of olive oil is used to sauté the sausage and vegetables.
Is this recipe spicy?
Yes, it is described as spicy, utilizing green hot pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning, and andouille sausage.
How many bell peppers are needed?
You will need one red bell pepper and one yellow bell pepper, both chopped.
How much onion is required?
The recipe calls for 1 cup of chopped onion.
What type of vinegar is used?
1 tablespoon of rice vinegar is used in the sauce reduction.
What is the total amount of whipping cream needed?
A total of 1 cup of whipping cream is used: 1/2 cup for the sauce and 1/2 cup for the grits.
Should the shrimp be peeled?
Yes, the shrimp should be peeled and deveined before cooking.
Can I add extra salt and pepper?
Yes, the recipe suggests tasting the mixture and seasoning with salt and pepper as desired before serving.
What is the role of the shallot?
One chopped shallot is used to provide a delicate onion flavor to the hot-pepper cream sauce reduction.
How much Old Bay Seasoning is used?
The recipe uses 1 teaspoon of Old Bay Seasoning.
What kind of lemon juice is best?
The recipe specifies using 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.