The thing about grits is that they will basically taste like whatever you put in them. So to me, saying you don’t like grits says you don’t like what you put in them.
You ever had hominy grits? Some people think that cornmeal is grits, and you’re dead right about them having a very flat taste. But hominy grits? There’s a bit more to them. Yeah, you gotta salt and pepper them, maybe some butter, but they have this earthy, kind of bread like taste.
The process that turns corn into hominy changes it a lot.
Mind you, cornmeal mush is pretty tasty by itself, but it’s a flat, one note taste.
I’ve always been a little befuddled by folks saying grits only taste like what you put in them. I mean, I know not everyone tastes things the same way because our tongues, noses, and brains process things differently. It just kinda amazes me how many people can’t taste the richness in grits. Makes me sad for them too, the way I’m sad cilantro tastes like soap for me lol.
Legit, if anyone comes across this, try picking up hominy grits, and not the instant kind. Cook them up with just salt and pepper, with butter at the end. Give that a try and see if it can taste that earthy depth or not. I know the instant grits aren’t as good for sure, and I’d hate to think of anyone missing out on that yummy goodness.
Fwiw, hominy itself is also worth trying at least once.
I mean, salt and pepper go on everything. Butter too for most things.
But there’s
flavor in there, that’s just the grits. And that’s true of both real grits, aka hominy grits, and cornmeal mush that some folks call grits.
Man, this is one of those times I wish I could cook online. I responded to another comment about what I taste in grits, and that it could be the kind of grits that is messing things up for folks. I’ve never had anyone turn down seconds of grits, and I do them up just with salt, pepper, and butter. And that includes damn yankees ;)
I just want everyone to be able to enjoy that flavor I taste because it’s just so fulfilling. All earthy and bready. I love me some potatoes too, but grits have way more taste for me.
I’ve had Cracker Barrel et al ‘grits’ that taste like warmed gruel that Chef Mike worked over, and authentic “momma opened a breakfast spot” grits that were definitely miles better, but still just… cracked corn - I didn’t find that much depth in the taste palette. It’s legacy peasant food meant to fill your belly from cheap ingredients - every culture has them, the Brits straight up pan fry cabbage and potatoes ffs
I also really do not care for white gravy, but will power through an unhealthy amount of biscuits, fried okra, and Brunswick stew… There’s a lot southern food I like but grits bewilder me
You take that back, you dirty thing!
The thing about grits is that they will basically taste like whatever you put in them. So to me, saying you don’t like grits says you don’t like what you put in them.
You ever had hominy grits? Some people think that cornmeal is grits, and you’re dead right about them having a very flat taste. But hominy grits? There’s a bit more to them. Yeah, you gotta salt and pepper them, maybe some butter, but they have this earthy, kind of bread like taste.
The process that turns corn into hominy changes it a lot.
Mind you, cornmeal mush is pretty tasty by itself, but it’s a flat, one note taste.
I’ve always been a little befuddled by folks saying grits only taste like what you put in them. I mean, I know not everyone tastes things the same way because our tongues, noses, and brains process things differently. It just kinda amazes me how many people can’t taste the richness in grits. Makes me sad for them too, the way I’m sad cilantro tastes like soap for me lol.
Legit, if anyone comes across this, try picking up hominy grits, and not the instant kind. Cook them up with just salt and pepper, with butter at the end. Give that a try and see if it can taste that earthy depth or not. I know the instant grits aren’t as good for sure, and I’d hate to think of anyone missing out on that yummy goodness.
Fwiw, hominy itself is also worth trying at least once.
Same with potatos. If you don’t like potatoes you’re simply wrong.
Cheese grits are good. Plain grits are a blank canvas for butter and pepper, and I’d rather have mashed potatoes or veg for that tbh
I mean, salt and pepper go on everything. Butter too for most things.
But there’s flavor in there, that’s just the grits. And that’s true of both real grits, aka hominy grits, and cornmeal mush that some folks call grits.
Man, this is one of those times I wish I could cook online. I responded to another comment about what I taste in grits, and that it could be the kind of grits that is messing things up for folks. I’ve never had anyone turn down seconds of grits, and I do them up just with salt, pepper, and butter. And that includes damn yankees ;)
I just want everyone to be able to enjoy that flavor I taste because it’s just so fulfilling. All earthy and bready. I love me some potatoes too, but grits have way more taste for me.
I’ve had Cracker Barrel et al ‘grits’ that taste like warmed gruel that Chef Mike worked over, and authentic “momma opened a breakfast spot” grits that were definitely miles better, but still just… cracked corn - I didn’t find that much depth in the taste palette. It’s legacy peasant food meant to fill your belly from cheap ingredients - every culture has them, the Brits straight up pan fry cabbage and potatoes ffs
I also really do not care for white gravy, but will power through an unhealthy amount of biscuits, fried okra, and Brunswick stew… There’s a lot southern food I like but grits bewilder me