Lowcountry Shrimp & Grits in a Smithey Cast Iron Skillet

There's a reason shrimp and grits is the dish that defines coastal South Carolina. It's humble enough to feel like home, refined enough to impress, and deeply rooted in the waters and traditions of the Lowcountry. But when you cook it the way it deserves to be cooked – in a hand-polished Smithey cast iron skillet over an open flame – something shifts. The butter gets richer. The shrimp develop a crust that's impossible to achieve indoors. The grits become creamy, almost luxurious.

Smithey skillets are built for this. American-made, seasoned by hand, and designed to hold heat like nothing else. They're the kind of tool that gets better with use, that becomes part of your outdoor kitchen story. And they're perfect for a dish that deserves to be cooked with intention.

This recipe serves 4 as a main course, or 6 as part of a larger spread. It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish – perfect for an evening when you want to cook outdoors and let your guests watch the magic happen.

Shrimp and grits is a dish that rewards patience and heat. You need a pan that gets screaming hot, holds that heat evenly, and develops the kind of fond – those caramelized bits on the bottom – that makes a sauce sing. Cast iron does all of this better than any other material.

A Smithey skillet adds something extra: the hand-polished surface means your shrimp won't stick, the seasoning builds with every cook, and the pan itself becomes more valuable over time. It's the kind of tool that makes you a better cook simply by using it.

For the sauce, a Made In Cookware stainless saucepan on the side burner is the ideal companion – its 5-ply construction distributes heat evenly, so your butter and wine reduction comes together smoothly without scorching.

SERVES 4

Ingredients — grits

• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup whole milk
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¾ cup sharp white cheddar, grated
• Kosher salt and white pepper

Ingredients — shrimp

• 1½ lb wild-caught South Carolina shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small shallot, minced
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons sliced scallions
• 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
• Kosher salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne

Method

1. 1Bring the water and milk to a simmer in a saucepan on the side burner. Whisk in the grits slowly, drop the heat to low, and cook 35–45 minutes, whisking every few minutes, until creamy and tender.
2. 2Finish the grits with the butter and cheddar, season with salt and white pepper, and hold them covered over the lowest heat.
3. 3Preheat the cast iron skillet on the grill over medium-high until a drop of water dances, about 8 minutes.
4. 4Render the bacon in the dry skillet until crisp, 5–6 minutes. Move it to a paper towel, leaving the fat in the pan.
5. 5Pat the shrimp completely dry and season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add them to the hot fat in a single layer and cook 90 seconds per side, until just opaque. Move them to a plate — they will finish in the sauce.
6. 6Add the shallot and garlic to the pan and cook 45 seconds. Deglaze with the wine, scraping up the fond, and reduce by half.
7. 7Kill the heat and swirl in the cold butter and lemon juice until the sauce is glossy. Return the shrimp and bacon and toss to coat.
8. 8Spoon the grits into warm bowls, top with the shrimp and pan sauce, and finish with scallions and parsley. Serve straight away.

If you can source wild-caught South Carolina shrimp – and on Hilton Head, you can – use them. The flavor difference between local wild shrimp and farmed imported shrimp is significant. Ask at the dock or your local seafood market for what came in that morning.

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 45–50 minutes, including the grits
• Serves: 4
• Difficulty: Easy to intermediate

Visit our showroom to see Smithey Ironware, Made In Cookware, and our full selection of outdoor cooking tools – and find the perfect pieces for your kitchen.