Grits

Grits are a food typical of the Southern United States consisting of coarsely ground corn, traditionally by a stone mill. The results are passed through screens, with the finer part being corn meal, and the coarser being grits. Almost every community in the South had a grits mill until about a generation ago, with families bringing their own corn to be ground, and the miller retaining a portion of the corn for his fee. Grits aficionados still prefer stone ground grits, although modern milling tends to prefer faster methods.

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The word "grits" comes from Old English grytta meaning a coarse meal of any kind. Yellow grits include the entire kernel, while white grits use dehulled kernels. Grits are prepared by simply boiling into a porridge; normally they are boiled until enough water evaporates to leave them semi-solid however. They are traditionally served at breakfast, but can also be used at any meal.

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Hominy grits are ground from Hominy, that is to say, from corn that is first dehulled and treated through nixtamalization and then dried and coarsely ground. This contrasts with European polenta, which is made from cornmeal made by grinding kernels which have not been de-hulled.

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Grits are also similar to farina, which is marketed in the United States by Kraft Foods under the trademark Cream of Wheat.

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Grits can be eaten in a variety of ways:

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• With butter
• With butter, salt and pepper
• With gravy
• With butter, milk, and brown sugar (more typical of the Midwest than the South)
• With cheese cooked in
• With cheese and eggs mixed in
• With sugar
• With bacon or ham
• With livermush
• With shrimp, popularized by Bill Neal at Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See also: grist mill, Sweet Tea, United States Regional Cuisine

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Grits: Other uses ►



 

Food: Food is any substance consumed by living organisms, including liquid drinks. Food is the main source of energy and of nutrition for animals, and is usually of animal or plant origin....

Southern United States: The Southern United States or the South constitute a distinctive region covering a large portion of the United States. Due to the region's unique cultural and historic heritage, the South has developed its own customs, literature, musical styles (such as country music and jazz), and cuisine. The Sou...

Corn: Corn can mean:...