White Quinoa Grits with Shrimp and Mexican Grilled Corn

By DreiFromBK

Ingredients

• QUINOA GRITS
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 small leeks, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
• 1 cup white quinoa, rinsed and drained
• Kosher salt
• Pepper
• SHRIMP AND CORN
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 3 ears of corn, shucked
• 6 basil leaves, torn
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup sliced scallions
• Kosher salt
• Pepper
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 8 extra-large shrimp (1 pound), peeled and deveined, heads left on
• Chile powder and crumbled cotija cheese, for garnish
• Lime wedges, for serving

Details

Servings 4
Cooking time 75mins
Adapted from foodandwine.com

Preparation

Step 1

Make the grits
In a medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the leeks and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Whisk in the quinoa and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and porridge-like, about 
25 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and season with salt and pepper; keep warm.

Make the shrimp and corn
In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the pumpkin seeds and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate; let cool.

Wipe out the skillet. Add the corn and cook over moderately high heat, turning, until charred, 10 to 12 minutes. Cut the kernels off of the cobs and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the basil, cilantro and scallions and season with salt and pepper.

Wipe out the skillet and melt the butter in the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes.

Spoon the quinoa grits into shallow bowls and top with the grilled corn, shrimp and pumpkin seeds. Garnish with chile powder and cotija cheese and serve with lime wedges.