Explain Grits to this Northern Girl!

[DISNEY1975]

To keep this restaurant related, Ill use Olivia's as an example...



But my real question is what exactly is grits? Ive heard of it, and seen it on menus while on vacation. Ive been told its a "southern" thing, but I never really got an answer of what it is. Is it a real food (like can you go to the grocery store and buy grits?) or is it a dish made of a few ingredients and its called "Grits"? (Like lasagna, made of many things to make it "lasagna").

For some reason I imagine its like hashbrowns, but I really have no idea.

I feel dumb even asking, but it just popped into my head and this is a great place to finally find out the answer! (Now that I think of it, I could use google! Duhhhh !!!)

Edit..OK, Google didnt help. Is that even English??
Grits is a food made from a dish of boiled cornmeal. Hominy grits are a type of grits made from hominy – corn that has been treated with an alkali in a process called nixtamalization with the pericarp removed.

 

[rg35]

Grits is boiled cornmeal.

Sure, things like cheese, onions, bacon, etc., can be added to grits. But at its most basic, "grits" is simply boiled cornmeal.

I think I'm unclear about what your confusion about grits is.

 

[Truxi]

It's a little like oatmeal, except that it's not at all like oatmeal.

tbh, I think if you didn't grow up eating grits, you're not likely to ever really like grits.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I think I'm unclear about what your confusion about grits is.

Just never knew it was boiled cornmeal. For some reason I though more like hashbrowns, but wasnt sure.
What I imagined....



So you just boil the cornmeal, drain it and thats it (if you dont want to mix in other stuff) ? Thats "grits" ?

Simple enough!!

 

[KenHutch]

Think of it as a poor man's filler. My mamaw said it takes on the flavor of whatever it put into it and during the depression they would make large pots of it with some meat in it to fill the farm hands bellies for a hard days work. Can't stand them.

 

[TheWitherington's]

I feel like grits are a regional thing for sure. I'm from Georgia and we love grits down here. Typically with breakfast - with bacon and loads of cheese. Grits cannot be runny or soupy. The best grits are the kind you can cut with a fork because they have so much cheese in them. You shouldn't have to drain them as they absorb the water they are cooked in. We also love our shrimp and grits...and for some folks fried fish and grits.

 

[Christine]

It's a little like oatmeal, except that it's not at all like oatmeal.

tbh, I think if you didn't grow up eating grits, you're not likely to ever really like grits.

Au contraire!!

The first time I ever had grits was when I was about 12 years old. It was actually on my first trip to Disney World but we stopped to visit my great aunt and uncle who lived in Daytona. They were definite northerners (New England) but had come to love grits during their snowbirding. They made me some fried eggs and grits and I put a ton of butter on those grits and LOVED them.

I won't specifically order grits but if they are on a buffet at Disney or part of a bigger dish (like shrimp and grits), I'll enjoy them.

It is hard to explain them to someone. They kind of remind me of sturdier Cream of Wheat in texture (not taste). But so good with butter, salt, and pepper.

 

[mckennarose]

......tbh, I think if you didn't grow up eating grits, you're not likely to ever really like grits.

Another Northern gal here.... My family is Italian and we grew up eating polenta, which is another cornmeal dish that can either be served looser.... like grits....or cooled, sliced and fried. It's similar to grits, but definitely not the same, but it's the closest comparison. I actually do like grits a lot, with cheese!

 

[rg35]

My wife loves shrimp and grits and we are NY-ers through and through.
I also like grits (and polenta). I think I will scarf down anything made with corn product lol

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

This reminds me of the scene in My Cousin Vinny:

 

[cmmelzer]

Im a southerner that lived in Michigan for 10 years during grade school. We lived in a small town and my mom used to either A load up on grits when we went down south to see family or have family ship it up to us/bring it to us. Every sunday morning my mom would make grits and my buddies that stayed the night would crush them. Grits and Sweet Tea.

I like my "plain" grits with a egg over easy mixed in with it then put on toast. Now i enjoy a good Gouda Cheese grits. But really any grits will do.

 

[CraigInPA]

For my fellow northerners:
Imagine cream of wheat made with corn meal instead of wheat meal. Add butter or cheese to give it some flavor. Like cream of wheat, it shouldn't be runny, or so hard that it would hold its shape when cut with a knife.

 

[DISNEY1975]

This reminds me of the scene in My Cousin Vinny:

HAHAHA...that would be me for sure!!!

For my fellow northerners:
Imagine cream of wheat made with corn meal instead of wheat meal. Add butter or cheese to give it some flavor. Like cream of wheat, it shouldn't be runny, or so hard that it would hold its shape when cut with a knife.

Im starting to get it! I will surely be on the lookout for grits when I go to Disney in a couple of weeks. Time to give this a try!

 

[Jennasis]

It's mush. Flavorless mush. Unless you add a ton of other stuff to it (butter, cheese, bacon etc)...in which case it becomes "stuff" flavored mush.

 

[BrianL]

Also, OP, if you are eating at Animal Kingdom and some other places at WDW you may see a dish called "Mealie Pap" or just Pap, which is very similar grits. Grits are also similar to Polenta, if you have seen that in Italian restaurants.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Although more common in the south, you can absolutely buy grits up north... look in any decent grocery store by the oatmeal.

BTW, breakfast at Olivia's is worth the trip for the grits alone!

 

[e_yerger]

replying as another Northern Girl - grits are great. I love them and enjoy them so much and they're one of my favorite things to get when visiting the south. but only savory grits, not sweet blegh

 

[Pappy Tom]

I never ate grits until I lived in Virginia; I sort of likened them to CoCo Wheats, except without the cocoa. To me, they have the same texture.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I feel like grits are a regional thing for sure. I'm from Georgia and we love grits down here. Typically with breakfast - with bacon and loads of cheese. Grits cannot be runny or soupy. The best grits are the kind you can cut with a fork because they have so much cheese in them. You shouldn't have to drain them as they absorb the water they are cooked in. We also love our shrimp and grits...and for some folks fried fish and grits.

Doesn't sound like you really like grits all that much. You do like cheese, however.

 

[DisBuckMan]

it shouldn't be runny, or so hard that it would hold its shape when cut with a knife.

Correct