Start to finish: 1 hour, 5 minutes (10 active)
Servings: 4 to 6
2 1/2 cups water combined with either 2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth or 5 cups water
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup grits (not quick-cooking)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 ounces grated sharp cheddar
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Stir together the water, butter, grits and salt (if using salted vegetable or chicken stock, do not add salt) in a 1-quart ceramic pie plate set on a rimmed sheet pan. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven, uncovered, for 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and preheat the broiler. Stir in three-quarters of the cheese, stirring until melted. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and put the grits on a shelf in the upper third of the oven, under the broiler until nicely browned. Serve right away.
Nutrition information per serving: 196 calories; 114 calories from fat; 13 g fat (7 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 37 mg cholesterol; 708 mg sodium; 11 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 9 g protein.
Sara Moulton, Associated Press
