Chef’s Corner

Chef Simon Young

Chef Simon Young

“This classic recipe is a great choice for a weekend meal.


Shrimp and Geechie Boy Grits with Smoked Tomato Gravy

Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Southern
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Gravy (yield 1 qt.):

  • ¼ pound butter
  • ¼ pound yellow onion, chopped
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 tsp paprika, smoked
  • 2 tsp Old Bay
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 stem thyme, stripped and minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tbsp. Texas Pete
  • 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 6 cups blonde chicken stock
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes (28 oz. approx.)
  • 2 lemons (juice only)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Proportions per person:

  1. ½ pound of shrimp per person, peeled and deveined
  2. 2 oz. of tasso ham per person, diced small
  3. 1 clove of garlic per person, chopped
  4. 2 tbsp. poblano chilies per person, chopped
  5. 4 ounces of gravy per person
  6. 1 tsp. of butter per person
  7. Salt and pepper to taste

Gravy:

  1. Pour the tomatoes, juice and all, in a square cake pan. Cold smoke in the smoker for about 45 minutes. If you don’t have a smoker, omit this step.
  2. Melt butter in saucepot. Sweat onions, garlic, and thyme.
  3. Add spices and cook for 1 minute.
  4. Add flour to make roux, cook out for a few minutes.
  5. Add stock, hot sauce, Worcestershire, and tomatoes.
  6. Simmer for about 30 mins.
  7. Add salt and pepper to taste, and lemon juice.
  8. Roughly puree with burr mixer, add bay leaf and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes.
  9. Label, date, cool, store until ready to use.

Shrimp:

  1. Start by heating a sauté pan large enough to hold everything. Add a little cooking oil to the pan and make sure the surface is hot (oil will be shimmering but not smoking).
  2. Add ham and chilies, stir sautéing to add color, add shrimp and continue to sauté for a few minutes.
  3. Add sauce and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until shrimp is done.
  4. Add butter and adjust seasoning to taste.
  5. Serve over cooked grits.

Restaurant Information: Located on Peachtree Road in the heart of Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood, South City Kitchen Buckhead (located at 3350 Peachtree Road, Suite 175 Atlanta, GA 30326) is the third location of the iconic South City Kitchen concept. South City Kitchen Buckhead remains true to the concept’s tradition of authentic yet sophisticated southern cuisine and genuine hospitality while offering guests a more contemporary environment within the multi-level, urban space.