Andouille cheese grits w/ crawfish grits

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
½poundsChopped andouille sausage
cupWhole milk
teaspoonSalt
¼teaspoonCayenne
1tablespoonButter
2cupsQuick white grits
1cupGrated white cheddar cheese
1cupFlour
1cupBread crumbs
Essence
2Eggs, beaten with 1
TB milk
¼cupPlus 1 tablespoon olive oil
12cupsMinced yellow onions
1tablespoonChopped garlic
1poundsLouisiana crawfish tails (NO
CHINESE CRAWFISH)
1cupHeavy cream
dashCrystal hot sauce
dashWorcestershire sauce
¼cupChopped green onions, green
Part only
2ouncesGrated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Cheese

Directions

Render the sausage in a saucepan, over medium high heat, cooking about 4 minutes. Add the milk, salt, cayenne, and butter and bring to a boil. Stir in the grits and reduce the heat to medium. Stir for 30 seconds, then add the cheese and stir until the cheese melts. Cook, uncovered, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the grits are tender and creamy. Pour the grits into a greased square glass pan. Refrigerate the grits until firm. Using a 2-inch round cutter, cut the grits into six rounds. Season the flour and bread crumbs with Essence. Dredge the cakes in the seasoned flour. Dip each cake in the egg wash, letting the excess drip off. Dredge the cakes in the seasoned bread crumbs, coating each cake completely. Heat ¼ cup of the olive oil in a large skillet. When the oil is hot, pan-fry the cakes for 3 minutes on each side. In saute pan, heat the remaining olive oil.

When the oil is hot, add the onions. Season the onions with Essence.

Saute for 1 minute. Add the garlic and crawfish tails. Season with Essence. Saute for 1 minute. Add the cream and bring up to a boil.

Reduce to a simmer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the cream has thickened. Season the sauce with hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Stir in the green onions and cheese. To serve, spoon the Crawfish sauce over the Andouille Grit cakes.

Yield: 6 servings