Cook Grits the Easy Way

Grits
kirin_photo/Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 60 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 4 servings

There are plenty of quick-cooking and instant grits on the market, but the deeper flavor and more developed texture of real grits are worth the bit of extra time it takes to make them. If you can, seek out stone-ground grits for the best flavor and texture. The whole dried corn kernels are ground by real stones, which creates grits that are not overly ground with minimal "dust" and slight variance in shape and size, creating more surface area and superior texture.

Consider using broth instead of water to cook the grits. While this is in no way traditional, and traditionalists would scoff heartily at the very notion of such a thing, the fact remains that grits cooked in broth are crazy delicious. 

If you have an Instant Pot, try making these Instant Pot Grits.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water, or broth

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

  • 1 cup stone-ground grits

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, optional

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Pour the water or broth into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. When the liquid boils, add the salt.

  2. Reduce the heat to maintain a strong, steady simmer. Pour the grits in a thin stream into the boiling water, whisking constantly as you do so (pour with your non-dominant hand and whisk with your dominant hand). 

  3. Once all the grits are incorporated, reduce the heat to low. Let the grits simmer gently until they are thick and very tender, about 1 hour. Stir them frequently—every 5 minutes or so—to keep them from clumping up or sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add 1/4 cup water at a time, if needed to keep them from sticking. 

  4. The tender cooked grits will be fairly creamy in texture if you stirred them to keep them from clumping and cooked them long enough. For truly creamy grits, you can stir in the butter and heavy cream before serving.

Recipe Variations

  • Some people like to add plenty of freshly ground black pepper to grits.
  • A drizzle of chili oil adds a luscious kick.
  • Stir in 1/2 cup grated cheese (your choice) at the end.
  • Give grits some serious oomph with a very small clove of garlic, minced and stirred in about half-way through cooking. Be judicious—a little really goes a long way!
  • Include an herb garnish—like minced chives or finely chopped scallions—for additional color and flavor.

 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
38 Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 38
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 273mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 13mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)