OMG.  This dish is perfect for a fall or winter dinner!  It’s hearty and filling but healthy, and SO good.  You don’t need much to fill up!

A client and friend posted a version of shrimp and “grits” on her Instagram, and I just had to know more…GRITS?!!  Healthy grits??! She explained that the “grits” were actually quinoa… Brilliant!!   I then went on a mission to find a recipe and create this amazing dish. ..

It just so happens that my friend Kim Hughes and I needed a proper catch up annnnnd she asked me to make her dinner, which I jumped on, because I love to cook for people!!!  I found a recipe on From the Little Yellow Kitchen and it was perfection.  I used a mix of 3 blend cheese from Trader Joes and just added as much as needed to make the consistency right.

Ingredients

• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 3 small/medium clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups broth or water
• ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar (Dubliner was excellent)
• 1/4 cup milk
• spinach or chard

Directions

Add water or broth and quinoa to a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese and milk.  Add a little salt and pepper to taste if wanted.

Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add olive oil and shrimp to a pan and cook until shrimp for 3-4 minutes, until shrimp are just slightly pink. Add lemon juice, parsley, and garlic and sauté for 3  more minutes. Put shrimp mixture onto a separate plate.

Add chopped spinach and chard leaves to the pan and sauté 3-4 minutes, or until wilted.

Serve chard and shrimp mixture on top of the cheesy quinoa. Enjoy!