These cheesy faux grits have quickly become a favorite meal in my household. Not only do we eat them for breakfast, but they make an easy lunch or dinner, as well! With only three ingredients, one of them being cheese, how could you go wrong?
Corn-free.
Even though I’ve lived in the south the majority of my life, I’ve actually never made real cheesy grits. Everyone in my family loves them, but unfortunately I don’t handle corn very well. So corn muffins, cornbread, corn on the cob, and tortilla chips are off the table for me! At least they were before the GAPS Diet. Thankfully, healing my gut helped my food intolerances immensely. After 2 years working on consuming only densely nourishing foods (which corn is not), I’m grateful to be able to enjoy corn products in moderation once again.
That being said, I don’t eat them too often, and I try to keep them off my kids’ plates as well, since the majority of corn in the US is GMO, and organic is kinda expensive.
But grits… What’s a southern girl to do?
Cheesy Faux Grits.
One of my kids’ favorite breakfasts happens to be rice cereal, or rice “kasha,” as they call it. (A little leftover Russian there, my kids call pretty much every hot cereal kasha!) Even though I’m not the happiest about serving grains without soaking them first, making anything other than smoothies or chocolate cake for breakfast is the bane of my existence, so I give in.
Usually I just make them plain rice cereal (aka ‘rice kasha’) for breakfast, but one fateful morning, I was craving cheese (like I usually do during pregnancy), and I stirred a few handfuls of freshly grated cheddar into their rice cereal.
Instant win.
“These taste like cheesy grits!” my hubby happily announced.
Mind you, he’s from Montana and has only had cheesy grits twice, but we’ll let him have his happiness.
And I’ll take my corn-free grits over a tummy ache any time. 😉
Cheesy Faux Grits.
These cheesy faux grits are easy to make. So easy that my kids are usually the ones who make them! We usually use jasmine rice, though basmati works great, too. I’ve not tried brown rice, so please note that if you use that variety the cooking time will probably be different.
To make, simply stick the rice in your blender. I use a Blendtec, but any blender will work. Just blend it for a minute or so, until the rice is coarsely ground. Pleeeeease don’t let it go until you get rice flour! That will not taste like grits. 😉
Stick your coarsely ground rice and water in the pot, and bring it to a boil, stirring pretty constantly so it doesn’t burn. When it boils, turn off the heat and stir in the rice.
The end! 🙂
Easy Breakfasts.
If you’re looking for more easy and delicious breakfast, here are a few of my family’s favorites. They’re all perfectly gluten-free and free of refined sugar, too!
- Paleo Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake
- Sourdough Almond Flour Waffles
- Egg & Potato Breakfast Muffins
- Soaked Maple Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Cinnamon Coconut Granola
- Bacon Cheddar Scones
- Easiest Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
In the recipe card I’ve linked to some of the products from my affiliate partners that I like to use. Purchasing through these links won’t cost you anything extra. Thanks!
Cheesy Faux Grits
Gluten-free, corn-free, egg-free, sugar-free.
Ingredients
- 2 cups coarsely ground jasmine rice (basmati works well, too)
- 8 cups filtered water
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- Himalayan salt, to taste
Instructions
In a large pot, whisk together rice, salt, and water.
Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer, stirring consistently to keep the cereal from clumping and/or burning.
Cook for about 20 minutes, or until the rice soaks up the water and desired “grits” consistency is reached.
Stir in cheese and serve.
This looks lovely! ♥ grits & breakfast “kashas” too 😉
It’s funny, my husband and I always have a disagreement over the term “kasha”: for me it’s a breakfast porridge, for him it’s the pasta shells and buchwheat dish {do you know what I’m talking about?}. Both equally iconic for each of us from our childhoods and yet both so different!
Haha! My kids are definitely on your side. 😉 Traditionally kasha is the buckwheat dish, and we always called the breakfast pasta ‘lapsha,’ but I’m sure ‘kasha’ will do for it all. Pretty much everyone in the US looks utterly confused when we call something kasha anyway, so it’s nice to know we’re not the only ones who use the term! 🙂
PINNED. Thanks so much for the recipe. Lovely pics also. Linda @Crafts a la Mode
Thanks so much for stopping by and pinning, Linda! 🙂
I never ate grits since I have always lived on the East coast and have never visited the south to much, but I have heard about them from people I know who grew up in the south. I understand there somewhat like oatmeal. This recipes looks so hearty. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays.
Glad to share, Marla. 🙂 Grits is basically a cornmeal mush. So you eat it hot, like oatmeal, but the texture is very different. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing a new twist on a traditional Southern dish! It looks yummy!
We are so excited to have you at Show Me Saturday! Hope to see next week!
~ Ashley
Thanks, Ashley! 🙂
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays Party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share next time!
-Cindy
Thanks so much, Cindy! 🙂
Would have never thought of ground rice! Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays! Love your new linky party on Saturdays!
It’s amazing how easy the rice sub is! I’m so glad you linked up to Savoring Saturdays, too. I’d never heard of Soup Trifecta before, but I love how easy it sounds. 🙂 I hope you’ll keep sharing with us!
I adore cheesy grits – this looks like a great alternative! Thanks so much for linking up to Awesome Life Friday – I hope we’ll see you again this week.
I plan on being back, Lynda! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I’m liking your version of rice grits. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and sharing this recipe with us – you’re featured this week on Five Friday Finds! I’m looking forward to what you share this week. 🙂
Thanks, CJ! 🙂
Interesting. I bet my SIL would like these but I can’t remember if she eats dairy right now. Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned to the Bloggers Brags Board.
Glad to share, Brandi! Thanks so much for stopping by and pinning! 🙂
Oh man, cheesy grits are one of my favorite things! Add some sausage and it’s just unbeatable!
I can’t wait to share this with my corn-free peeps!
Thanks for sharing at Waste Not Want Not Wednesday!
Oooh! Sausage would be delicious! Thanks for the tip. 😉
This recipe looks absolutely delicious. Can’t wait to try it and see if it is a hit with my boys. Stopping by from the Good Tips Tuesday link up!
Amanda
http://www.queenofthelandoftwigsnberries.com
Thanks for stopping by, Amanda! I hope your boys like the “grits.” 😉
Looks tasty!! Thanks for sharing with us on From The Archives Friday!!
Thanks, Ashley! Glad to share. 🙂