Ingredients
6 cups water
2 1/2 cups quick grits
5 ounces cheddar cheese, grated (2 cups)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
2 bunches scallions, white and pale-green parts only (save greens for garnish), minced to equal 1/2 cup
12 medium shrimp, cooked, peeled, deveined, and cut in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for pan
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
Vegetable oil, for sauteing
1/2 cup Seven Pepper Jelly
Preparation
Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Butter a 13-by-18-inch baking pan. Slowly sprinkle grits into boiling water, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce heat to medium, and stir constantly until the mixture is thick, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, and stir in cheese, cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper, and scallions.
Pour the mixture into prepared baking pan, and smooth out to a 1/2-inch-thick layer. Using a 2 1/2-inch-round cookie cutter, lightly mark out 24 circles in the grits. Press a shrimp half into each circle. Cover with plastic wrap, press down lightly to smooth, and refrigerate until set, 1 to 2 hours.
Combine flour and cornmeal in a small bowl. Using a cookie cutter, cut the grits along the marked lines into rounds, keeping the shrimp centered in each circle. In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon butter and enough oil to cover the bottom over medium-high heat. Dredge the cakes in the flour mixture, and saute, 8 at a time, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Wipe out the skillet, and repeat, adding more butter and oil, until all cakes are cooked. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Top with a scant teaspoon of Seven Pepper Jelly and scallion greens; serve warm.
