Summer Shrimp & Grits

Every week in the summer I grab zucchini and yellow squash because they are budget friendly vegetables and I like them.  I have found a lot of different ways to incorporate them into meals and tonight was no different.  After yesterdays Shrimp Fra Diavolo, I had left over sliced zucchini, yellow squash and cherry tomatoes in my refrigerator that I had not cooked up yet.  I decided to do a quick Shrimp & Grits meal which was ready in 15 minutes.

Summer Shrimp & Grits: Serves 2-3

1lb Shrimp - Peeled & De-veined
1TB Olive Oil
2-3 Garlic Cloves Minced
1tsp Dried Basil or 1TB Fresh
1/2C Zucchini - Thick Sliced
1/2C Yellow Squash - Thick Sliced
1/2C Cherry Tomatoes - Halved
2C Water
2tsp Butter
1/2C Grits
Salt & Pepper
1/4C Parmesan Cheese - Shredded

First lets get the grits started, in a sauce pot add water, butter and 1/4tsp salt and set to boil. Once boiling slowly whisk in the grits and reduce the heat to low so it is just lightly simmering. Continue to stir/whisk about once a minute. The grits are finished when they have absorbed all of the water and gotten thick.

Once the grits have gotten started you can get started on the vegetables. In a large saute pan over medium heat place 1.5tsp of olive oil and the garlic and cook until it starts to turn fragrant, approximately 30-45 seconds. Add the vegetables with some salt and pepper and cook until no longer raw but allowing them to still have a bit of crunch to them, it took me approximately 5 minutes to get them to my desired level of "done." Remove the veggies to a bowl.

In the same saute pan you cooked the vegetables add remaining oil, shrimp and basil with some salt and pepper and cook in a single layer until the shrimp are just about finished cooking. Add the vegetables back to the pan and finish cooking the shrimp, stirring to incorporate. Remove from the heat and add the Parmesan cheese.

Serve over the grits and enjoy! The zucchini and squash provide a great buttery flavor while the tomatoes give a different pop of tart yet sweet flavor to the meal, and as always the shrimp are delicious and go wonderfully with the grits. This same mix could be served by itself, over pasta or rice.

__________________________
WW: 13 Points Plus / serving @ 2 servings
9 Points Plus / serving @ 3 servings