Shrimp and Grits

Ingredients for grits:
2 cups uncooked white coarse-ground grits
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 cup unsalted butter

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Ingredients for the shrimp sauce:
1 pound unpeeled, medium-size raw shrimp (2 8/31 count)
4 thick hickory-smoked bacon slices, diced
6 T unsalted butter
1 medium-sized Vidalia onion, diced
1/2 poblano pepper, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 T all purpose flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup Madeira
2 T fresh lemon juice
1 T chopped fresh parsley
1 green onion, chopped

Preparing the grits:
Bring 7 cups water to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Slowly whisk in grits; reduce heat to medium, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, 1 hour or until tender. Fold in cheese and 1/4 cup butter.

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Preparing the shrimp sauce:
Peel shrimp; devein, if desired.

Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 4 to 5 minutes or until crisp; remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons of drippings in skillet.

Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in hot drippings in skillet. Reduce heat. Add onion, poblano pepper, and garlic; sauté 2 minutes or until onion is translucent. Add shrimp; cook, stirring often, 1 to 2 minutes. Add salt and next 2 ingredients; toss to coat.

Sprinkle flour over shrimp mixture; toss. Add broth and next 2 ingredients. Cook just until shrimp turn pink, stirring to loosen particles from skillet. Stir in bacon and parsley. Serve over grits with green onion.

Serves 6