# Grits

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Porridge of boiled cornmeal

For the Canadian political party colloquially known as the Grits, see [Liberal Party of Canada](/source/Liberal_Party_of_Canada). For other uses, see [Grit (disambiguation)](/source/Grit_(disambiguation)).

Grits Grits, as a breakfast side-dish with bacon, scrambled eggs and toast Type Porridge Place of origin United States Main ingredients Ground corn Variations Hominy grits Yellow speckled grits Cheese grits Fried grits Media: Grits

Grits with cheese, bacon, green onion and a basted egg

**Grits** is a type of [porridge](/source/Porridge) made from coarsely ground dried *corn* ([maize](/source/Maize)) or [hominy](/source/Hominy),[1] the latter being maize that has been treated with an [alkali](/source/Alkali) in a process called [nixtamalization](/source/Nixtamalization), with the [pericarp](/source/Pericarp) (ovary wall) removed. It is eaten primarily in the United States. Grits are cooked in warm salted water or milk. They are often served with flavorings[2] as a breakfast dish, though it is also served as a lunch or supper dish, particularly with meat. Grits can be savory or sweet, with savory seasonings being more common. Grits are similar to other thick maize-based [porridges](/source/Porridge) from around the world, such as [polenta](/source/Polenta), *[mieliepap](/source/Pap_(food))*, and [mămăligă](/source/M%C4%83m%C4%83lig%C4%83). Italian-Americans living in the delta of Arkansas and Mississippi recognized this and have substituted grits for traditional polenta dishes. The dish originated in the [Southern United States](/source/Southern_United_States) but is now available nationwide. Grits are part of the dinner main dish *shrimp and grits*, served primarily in the Southern United States.[2]

The word *grits* is derived from the [Old English](/source/Old_English) word *[grytt](/source/Grit_(grain))*, meaning "coarse meal".[3] In the [Charleston, South Carolina](/source/Charleston%2C_South_Carolina) area, cooked hominy grits were primarily referred to as "hominy" until the 1980s.[4][5]

## Origin

The dish originated with the Native American [Muscogee](/source/Muscogee) tribe using maize.[6] American colonists learned to make the dish from the Native Americans, and it quickly became an American staple.[7]

At that time, maize or hominy for grits was ground on a stone [mill](/source/Mill_(grinding)). The ground material was passed through screens, the finer sifted material used as grit meal, and the coarser as grits.[8]

Three-quarters of the grits sold in the U.S. are bought in the South, in an area stretching from Lower Texas to [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), which is sometimes called the "grits belt".[9] The state of [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)) declared grits to be its official prepared food in 2002.[10] A similar bill was introduced in South Carolina to name it the official state food,[11] but it did not advance.[12] Nevertheless, South Carolina still has an entire chapter of legislation dealing exclusively with corn meal and grits.[13] State law in [South Carolina](/source/South_Carolina) requires grits and rice meal to be [enriched](/source/Food_fortification), similar to the requirement for flour.[13]

Grits may be either yellow or white, depending on the color of the maize used. The most common version in supermarkets is "quick" grits, which are made from non-hominy maize and have the germ and hull removed. Whole kernel grits are sometimes called "speckled".[14] Whole kernel grits are often marketed as "stone ground grits".

## Preparation

Prepared grits

Grits are prepared by mixing water or milk and the dry grits and stirring them over heat. If one uses [cornmeal](/source/Cornmeal), the food is called [mush](/source/Mush_(cornmeal)).[15][16] Whole-grain grits require much longer to become soft than "quick grits".

## Dishes

Creamy bowl of grits

Grits and grunts Grits and grunts with dandelion greens and Swiss chard Type Fried fish and porridge Course Main course Place of origin Key West, Florida Associated cuisine American cuisine Serving temperature Hot Main ingredients Grits, white grunts or other fish Media: Grits and grunts

Grits are eaten with a wide variety of foods, such as eggs and bacon, fried [catfish](/source/Catfish), [shrimp](/source/Shrimp_and_prawn_as_food), [salmon](/source/Salmon_as_food) [croquettes](/source/Croquette), or [country ham](/source/Country_ham).[17]

Shrimp and grits is a traditional dish in the coastal communities in the [South Carolina Lowcountry](/source/South_Carolina_Lowcountry) and [Georgia's](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)) [Lower Coastal Plain](/source/Lower_Coastal_Plain_(Georgia)).[18][19]

Grits and grunts is a breakfast dish considered to be a staple of Floridian cuisine.[20][21] The dish is prepared by serving small fried fish fillets, typically [white grunts](/source/Haemulon_plumierii), over cooked grits.[22][23] It was invented during the colonial period and became popular in [Key West](/source/Key_West) during the early 20th century.[24] [Barry Popik](/source/Barry_Popik) stated that this popularization occurred around 1900.[25] [Stetson Kennedy](/source/Stetson_Kennedy)'s book *Grits and Grunts: Folkloric Key West* was named after the dish.[26]

Solidified cooked grits can be sliced and fried in [vegetable oil](/source/Vegetable_oil), butter, or bacon grease to make fried grits, or they can first be breaded in beaten egg and [bread crumbs](/source/Bread_crumbs).[27]

## Gallery

		- Shrimp and grits from Cochon Butcher in [New Orleans](/source/New_Orleans)

		- A lunch of [mirliton](/source/Chayote), shrimp and grits from Karma Kitchen

		- Shrimp and grits with [cheddar cheese](/source/Cheddar_cheese), [chili peppers](/source/Chili_peppers) and [jalapeños](/source/Jalape%C3%B1os)

		- Shrimp and grits along with [blackened](/source/Blackening_(cooking)) fish and tomato mozzarella and basil ([insalata Caprese](/source/Insalata_Caprese))

		- Shrimp and grits from Boudro's in [San Antonio](/source/San_Antonio)

## See also

- [United States portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:United_States)
- [Food portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Food)

- [Bugas mais](/source/Bugas_mais)

- [Creamed corn](/source/Creamed_corn)

- [Cuisine of the Southern United States](/source/Cuisine_of_the_Southern_United_States)

- [Cuisine of the United States](/source/Cuisine_of_the_United_States)

- [Farina (food)](/source/Farina_(food))

- [Groats](/source/Groats)

- [Hasty pudding](/source/Hasty_pudding)

- [List of porridges](/source/List_of_porridges)

- [Mush (cornmeal)](/source/Mush_(cornmeal))

- [Polenta](/source/Polenta)

- [Mămăligă](/source/M%C4%83m%C4%83lig%C4%83)

- [Semolina](/source/Semolina)

- [Three Sisters (agriculture)](/source/Three_Sisters_(agriculture))

## References

Look up ***[grits](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/grits)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Grits](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Grits).

Wikibooks [Cookbook](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook) has a recipe/module on

- ***[Hominy Grits](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Hominy_Grits)***

1. **[^](#cite_ref-USDA_1-0)** ["Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs: Chapter 4 Grains"](https://foodbuyingguide.fns.usda.gov/Content/TablesFBG/USDA_FBG_Section4_Grains.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_2-1) Moss, Robert. ["The Surprisingly Recent Story of How Shrimp and Grits Won Over the South"](https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/08/shrimp-and-grits-southern-food-history.html). *[Serious Eats](/source/Serious_Eats)*. Retrieved March 21, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Harper, Douglas. ["grits"](https://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=grits). *Online Etymology Dictionary*. Retrieved August 27, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Lee, Matt; Lee, Ted. ["Iconic Southern Plates: Lowcountry Shrimp and Grits"](https://www.southernliving.com/food/grains/grits/low-country-shrimp-and-grits). *[Southern Living](/source/Southern_Living)*. Retrieved September 3, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Huguenin, Mary Vereen; Stoney, Anne Montague, eds. (1950). *Charleston Receipts*. [Junior League](/source/Junior_League) of Charleston. p. 153.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-deepsouth_6-0)** ["Shrimp and Grits: A History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160307231435/http://deepsouthmag.com/2014/10/01/shrimp-and-grits-a-history/). *Deep South Magazine*. Deep South Media, LLC. October 1, 2014. Archived from [the original](http://deepsouthmag.com/2014/10/01/shrimp-and-grits-a-history/) on March 7, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Wulff, Alexia (November 7, 2016). ["A Brief History Of Grits"](https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/a-brief-history-of-grits/). *Culture Trip*. Retrieved July 31, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Marcus, Erica (May 3, 2006). "Burning Questions: Kernels of Truth on Ground Corn". *Newsday*. Melville, New York: Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. p. 1.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Cutler, Charles L. (2002). [*Tracks that Speak: The Legacy of Native American Words in North American Culture*](https://books.google.com/books?id=CfekuKBLfpIC&q=grits+belt+map&pg=PA28). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 28. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-618-06510-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-618-06510-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["State Prepared Food"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080829193358/http://sos.georgia.gov/state_symbols/state_prepared_food.html). *sos.georgia.gov*. Georgia Secretary of State. Archived from [the original](http://sos.georgia.gov/state_symbols/state_prepared_food.html) on August 29, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["South Carolina General Assembly 113th Session, 1999–2000, Bill Number: 4806"](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess113_1999-2000/bills/4806.htm). *scstatehouse.gov*. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved February 12, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["A Bill And the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, By Adding Section 1-1-703 So As To Recognize Grits As the Official Food of the State. Session 113 – (1999–2000). 4806 General Bill, By Altman"](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4806&session=113&summary=B). *scstatehouse.gov*. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved June 22, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sclaaw_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sclaaw_13-1) ["Code of Laws. Title 39. Trade and Commerce. Chapter 29. "Corn Meal and Grits""](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/query.php?search=DOC&searchtext=grits&category=CODEOFLAWS&conid=25854106&result_pos=0&keyval=18965&numrows=10). *scstatehouse.gov*. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved July 8, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Lee, Matt; Lee, Ted (April 26, 2000). ["A Taste of Charleston; Corn's Highest Calling: Grits"](https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/26/dining/a-taste-of-charleston-corn-s-higher-calling-grits.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved March 17, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["How to Make Grits"](https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-make-grits/). *[Better Homes and Gardens](/source/Better_Homes_and_Gardens_(magazine))*. Retrieved February 10, 2020 – via bhg.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Cornmeal vs. Grits vs. Polenta"](https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-are-grits-p2-995707). *The Spruce Eats*. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["How To Cook Grits Like A Southerner"](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/southern-grits-how-to_n_6043290). *HuffPost*. October 29, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Moss, Robert (May 13, 2020). ["The Surprisingly Recent Story of How Shrimp and Grits Won Over the South"](https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/08/shrimp-and-grits-southern-food-history.html). *seriouseats.com*. Retrieved March 15, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Shrimp and Grits"](http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/shrimp-and-grits.html), Williams-Sonoma. Retrieved October 31, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Trash to Treasure - Florida Sport Fishing"](https://floridasportfishing.com/grunt-treasure/). *Florida Sportfishing*. December 23, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Haemulon plumieri"](https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/haemulon-plumieri/). *Discover Fishes*. Retrieved June 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Creole Grits and Grillades from The Glory of Southern Cooking by James Villas"](https://app.ckbk.com/recipe/glor76010c11s001r017/creole-grits-and-grillades). *app.ckbk.com*. Retrieved June 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Spicy Fish and Grits"](https://www.floridasportsman.com/editorial/spicy-fish-grits/399899). *Florida Sportsman*. March 3, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Gibson, Terry (June 10, 2016). ["Brain Food: Tasty Grunts Open Windows Into How Coastal Ecosystems Operate"](https://conservefish.org/2016/06/10/brain-food-tasty-grunts-open-windows-into-how-coastal-ecosystems-operate/). *Marine Fish Conservation Network*. Retrieved June 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Popik, Barry. ["Double-Tongued Word Wrester Dictionary"](https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/florida/entry/grits_and_grunts/). *www.barrypopik.com*. Retrieved June 19, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Stein, Alan Harris (January 1, 2010). ["Grits and Grunts: Folkloric Key West"](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1093/ohr/ohq020). *The Oral History Review*. **37** (1): 150–152. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ohr/ohq020](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fohr%2Fohq020). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0094-0798](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0094-0798).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Stacey, Leah. ["Southern Fried Grit Patties"](https://www.justapinch.com/recipe/leah-stacey/southern-fried-grit-patties/other-breakfast). *justapinch.com*. Just A Pinch Recipe Club. Retrieved March 15, 2022.

v t e Maize and corn Varieties Amylomaize Baby Blue Dent Field Flint Flour Genetically modified List MON 810 MON 863 Purple Quality Protein Maize Shoepeg Sweet Varieties Visayan white Waxy Lagkitan By origin Bolivia Ecuador Italy Peru Parts Cob Kernel Stover Processing Corn construction Maize milling Nixtamalization Wet-milling Popcorn maker Pathology BBCH-scale Corn allergy Corn smut Maize streak virus Production Biofuel Corn crib Cornstalk fiddle By country United States Tanzania International corn production statistics List of popcorn brands Three Sisters (agriculture) Culture Corn Palace Corn School Field of Corn (1994 sculpture) National Cornbread Festival Sweet Corn Festival Zea (film) Maize dishes Ingredients Cornmeal Masa Mielie-meal Oil Samp Starch Steep liquor Syrup Glucose syrup High-fructose Public perception High-maltose Soups, stews, and porridge Banku Binte biluhuta Bulz Cocoloși Corn chowder Corn crab soup Corn pudding Corn soup Corn stew Cou-cou Creamed corn Fufu Ginataang mais Grits Hasty pudding Kačamak Mămăligă Mămăligă în pături Mush Pashofa Polenta Pozole Sagamite Suam na mais Ugali Xarém Tamales Acaçá Tamale Binaki Guanime Hallaca Humita Nacatamal Pamonha Pasteles Breads and cakes Arepa Bollo Broa Cachapa Chipa guasu Cornbread Corn cookie Corn tortilla List of tortilla-based dishes Johnnycake Makki ki roti Pastel de choclo Piki Proja Pupusa Sloosh Sope Sopa paraguaya Spoonbread Talo Tortilla Totopo Wotou Fried dishes Battered sausage Corn chip Corn dog Corn fritter Corn nut Cornick Corn schnitzel Hushpuppy Milho frito Nachos Sorullos Tostada Tortilla chip Other foods Alivenci Binatog Conkies Corn flakes Corn on the cob Corn relish Corn sauce Gofio Hominy Huitlacoche Kenkey Kuymak Maíz con hielo Maja maíz Maque choux Mote Pinole Popcorn Succotash Beverages Atole Bourbon whiskey Cauim Champurrado Chicha Chicha de jora Chicha morada Colada morada Corn beer Corn tea Corn whiskey Mazamorra Pinolillo Pozol Tejate Tejuino Tesgüino

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Grits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grits) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grits?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.