Author Notes
There are so many tasty ways to make savory grits. This one, which is inspired by Brennan's Restaurant (in New Orleans and Houston), takes grits to a haute level. Basic grits are served with thin veal cutlets and an amazing sauce to marry it all together. —Waverly
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Ingredients
- for the grits
-
5 cups
water
-
1 teaspoon
salt
-
1 cup
grits
-
1/4 cup
butter
-
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- for the grillades:
-
1/2 cup
butter
-
8
(3oz) veal scallops, pounded thin and seasoned with salt and pepper
-
1/2 cup
olive oil
-
1/2 cup
finely chopped yellow onion
-
1
bunch green onions, white and light green parts chopped
-
3
cloves garlic, finely chopped
-
1 1/2 cups
chopped green bell pepper
-
1 1/2 cups
chopped celery
-
4
large tomatoes, chopped
-
2 tablespoons
tomato paste
-
1
bay leaf
-
2 teaspoons
each: chopped fresh basil, chopped fresh oregano, chopped fresh marjoram, and chopped fresh rosemary
-
1 tablespoon
Worcestershire sauce
-
1 quart
beef stock
-
2 tablespoons
corn starch
-
1/4 cup
water
-
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
-
1/4 cup
chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
- for the grits
-
BOIL AND SIMMER: In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt and then gradually stir in the grits. Simmer until thickened, about 5 - 10 minutes. Stir in the butter.
-
SEASON AND SET ASIDE: Season the grits with salt and freshly ground black pepper and set aside.
- for the grillades:
-
SAUTE THE VEAL: In a large skillet, melt the butter over MEDIUM HIGH heat. Add veal scallops to the pan. Don't overcrowd the pan. You want to fit as many veal scallops as you can without them touching. Sauté each side until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. When done, remove them to a plate and set aside and keep warm.
-
MAKE THE SAUCE: In another large skillet, heat the olive oil over MEDIUM HIGH. When the oil is hot, add the yellow onions, green onions, garlic, bell pepper and celery and saute until soft. Add the bay leaf, herbs, tomatoes, tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine. Stir in the beef stock and cook for about 5 minutes. Combine the cornstarch and water and stir it into the pan. This will thicken the mixture just a bit. Still using MEDIUM HIGH heat, cook the sauce until it reduces a bit to get a fuller flavor, about 5-10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and season to taste with salt and pepper.
-
SERVE: Cover each plate with a generous amount of sauce. Place one of the veal scallops on top of the sauce and then a generous spoonful of grits beside the veal. Top with more sauce; sprinkle with chopped parsley; and serve.
Waverly used to be a lawyer and is now a mother 24/7. She has made a commitment to cooking for her family and absolutely loves it even when her family does not. She is teaching them, one meal at a time, to enjoy wholesome homemade food. She abhors processed food but recognizes its insidious nature and accepts the fact that her children will occasionally get some Skittles, Doritos, or the like. Her philosophy and hope is that if she teaches them well at home, they will prefer wholesome healthy foods when they go out into the world without her.
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