Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn

This post is part of the #SamsSalsaRecipeChallenge hosted by Sam’s Fresh Salsa (on IG, on FB)

Well, Kiss my grits! Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn is an unbelievably fresh, fit, flavorful and fast recipe! Like 15-minute fast! Plus, only 261 calories per serving, 20g protein, 36g carb and 3g fat!

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn is an unbelievably fresh, fit, flavorful and fast recipe! Like 15-minute fast! Plus, only 261 calories per serving, 20g protein, 36g carb and 3g fat!

Some of my friends think making amazing-tasting meals, with wholesome ingredients, and on-point macros is an all-day affair. I say nope, nada, and now way to that! Bring a “wow” recipe to the table and impress your family with this easy shrimp recipe that uses a few quality convenience products to make life easier — like salsa like mom would have made from the garden, but prepped and packaged up at peak flavor from Sam’s Fresh Salsa.

Get hyped with this 15 second tutorial!

Sam’s Fresh Salsa crafts crave-worthy salsas that are made with real ingredients with zero preservative, zero additives, and zero yucky stuff. You can feel confident you are eating the best salsa around, and the quality is guaranteed.

SAm's Fresh Salsa
Sam’s Fresh Salsa, lots of delicious flavors!

To get this salsa shrimp and girts recipe in just 15 minutes, it’s broken up into two main tasks. You can’t beat a 15 minute shrimp recipe — and Sam’s Salsa gives it the flavor!

First, toss thawed shrimp and frozen corn on a baking sheet and sprinkle with spices and drizzle with olive oil. Bake that for 15 minutes at 425F.

roasted shrimp and corn in 15 minutes

Second, while the shrimp is roasting in the oven, whip up all ingredients for the grits in the MICROWAVE. Quick grits, produce-department cut cubes of butternut squash, and Sam’s Fresh Salsa put an unexpected southwestern and seasonal spin on an old-school side dish. It all cooks up in the microwave in 10 minutes and ready just about when the shrimp is done!

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn is an unbelievably fresh, fit, flavorful and fast recipe! Like 15-minute fast! Plus, only 261 calories per serving, 20g protein, 36g carb and 3g fat!
Make these Salsa Butternut Squash Grits in the microwave in 10 minutes!

Pile grits in a bowl, top with roasted shrimp and corn, and extra Sam’s Fresh Salsa, Mild or Medium – your choice! Of course, salsa is great as a dip with chips, but using it as a quick and easy way to elevate the flavor in many recipes without adding a lot of calories or fat — like these salsa shrimp grits.

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn is an unbelievably fresh, fit, flavorful and fast recipe! Like 15-minute fast! Plus, only 261 calories per serving, 20g protein, 36g carb and 3g fat!
Without the shrimp, Salsa Butternut Squash Grits also are amazing as a southwestern side dish.

I’ve been a fan of making Sam’s Fresh Salsa recipes for a while, for dipping chips of course, but also drizzling on fish, salads, and other personal creations like these Salsa Verde Spinach, Corn & Rice Poppers, a popular snack at my house and also works as a party appetizer.

Delicious baked rice balls loaded with cheese and veggies are perfect for dunking in mild salsa verde! The secret to maximum flavor is also using the salsa as part of the cooking liquid in the rice! Surprising low cal and lower carb -- 56 calories and 6g carbs per piece. An appetizer and snack that makes everyone happy!
Salsa Verde Spinach, Corn & Rice Poppers for your party!

You can purchase Sam’s Fresh Salsa at fine stores like ShopRite, Acme, and Safeway. If they are not in your local store, ask them to carry Sam’s Fresh Salsa products!

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn – 15 minutes!

An amazingly flavorful, fit and fast meal, ready in 15 minutes!

Course: dinner, dinner, entree
Cuisine: Southwestern
Keyword: grits, salsa, shrimp
Calories: 261 kcal
Ingredients
Sheet Pan Shrimp & Corn
  • 12 oz med raw shrimp peeled, deveined, tail on (or off, your preference), thawed
  • ¾ cup frozen corn
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
Salsa Butternut Squash Grits
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • ¾ cup quick-cook grits
  • 10- oz package ready-to-cook butternut squash cubes from bag in produce dept
  • 1 cup Sam’s Fresh Salsa extra for garish– Medium or Mild (your preference)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. Pat thawed shrimp dry with paper towels. Add to rimmed baking sheet Add corn to baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle with garlic salt, chili powder, and ground cumin. Mix everything up in pan and then spread out into single layer. Roast in oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until shrimp done and corn turning brown in places.
  3. Meanwhile, while shrimp is cooking, prepare grits. Add broth to 2-quart microwave-safe container (I used a 2-quart Pyrex measuring cup). Microwave on high for about 10 minutes topping to stir every 3 or 4 minutes. Grits will be done when water is absorbed and grits and butternut squash are softened. Stir well, and mash up the butternut a little bit with spoon.
  4. Divide grits among 4 serving bowls or one large bowl to present family style. As soon as shrimp are ready, remove from oven and divide among bowls. Garnish with cilantro, additional salsa, and crumbled feta cheese.
Recipe Notes

Watermelon Quinoa Summer Salad

This post is part of a blogger recipe challenge sponsored by Sam’s Fresh Salsa.

Watermelon Quinoa Summer Salad is a delight for lunch or a light dinner this hot weather time of year! It’s a delicious watermelon quinoa salad that is a little bit sweet, a little bit savory, a little bit salty and just a tiny bit spicy – so many flavors that shine bright!

Celebrate summer with this cool, refreshing vegetarian salad that offers enough protein to make it a meal! Watermelon, corn, spinach, seeds, queso fresco and cheese come together with a dressing made from olive oil and fresh watermelon jicama salsa.

Watermelon and quinoa are namesake ingredients, but it’s also loaded with corn, fresh spinach, seeds, green onions and crumbled queso fresco. The whole entrée salad comes together in minutes if you’ve pre-cooked the quinoa and is flavorfully festive with a dressing made from Sam’s Fresh Salsa and a bit of olive oil.

Celebrate summer with this cool, refreshing vegetarian salad that offers enough protein to make it a meal! Watermelon, corn, spinach, seeds, queso fresco and cheese come together with a dressing made from olive oil and fresh watermelon jicama salsa.

If you know me AT ALL, have used the search bar to look for watermelon recipes here, or follow my Instagram, you know that I am a mega super-fan and advocate of watermelon. It’s hydrating, it’s packed with vitamin C, natural sugars to fuel my active lifestyle, the amino acid l-citrulline said to possibly reduce post workout soreness are among the many reasons I love watermelon – -and, oh yeah, it’s delicious!

Celebrate summer with this cool, refreshing vegetarian salad that offers enough protein to make it a meal! Watermelon, corn, spinach, seeds, queso fresco and cheese come together with a dressing made from olive oil and fresh watermelon jicama salsa. For more clean eating recipes and salad ideas, visit thefitfork.com
Pin this for later!

I also love an easy, healthy recipe that doesn’t require me to turn on the oven in the summer. Watermelon Quinoa Summer Salad can be made a bit ahead too, and served later that day – perfect for pool parties, summer celebrations like July 4th, and outdoor entertaining and potlucks (so glad these are all coming back)!

Celebrate summer with this cool, refreshing vegetarian salad that offers enough protein to make it a meal! Watermelon, corn, spinach, seeds, queso fresco and cheese come together with a dressing made from olive oil and fresh watermelon jicama salsa.

Watermelon Quinoa Summer Salad also can be layered up in a jar for a pretty presentation, or to take to work and then shake up right before eating. The trick is to layer the dressing made from Watermelon Jicama Salsa on the bottom of the jar and then load up in order of “delicateness” – so like watermelon, corn, quinoa and seeds, spinach, and cheese!

Celebrate summer with this cool, refreshing vegetarian salad that offers enough protein to make it a meal! Watermelon, corn, spinach, seeds, queso fresco and cheese come together with a dressing made from olive oil and fresh watermelon jicama salsa.

This watermelon salad fits with vegetarian diets – and if you leave the cheese off it is suitable for a vegan lifestyle. As written, the vegetarian version recipe (with cheese) offers 19 grams of protein – but if you are looking for more protein, it is also delicious paired with grilled shrimp or fish. It also has more that 100% DV for vitamin A, 54% DV for vitamin C, 37% DV iron, and 21% DV calcium.

I am really loving these new refrigerated salsas from Sam’s Fresh Salsas with a thumbs-up clean label featuring fresh fruits and veggies with absolutely no preservatives or anything artificial. In addition to the Watermelon Jicama Salsa there is also Salsa Verde and Cantina Medium Salsa. You can purchase Sam’s Fresh Salsa at: ShopRite, Acme, and Safeway or ask your store to stock it!

You can also learn more about Sam’s Fresh Salsa at SamsSalsa.com on Facebook and Instagram!

5 from 3 votes
Watermelon Quinoa Summer Salad
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
cooling
10 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 

Celebrate summer with this cool, refreshing vegetarian salad that offers enough protein to make it a meal! Watermelon, corn, spinach, seeds, queso fresco and cheese come together with a dressing made from olive oil and fresh watermelon jicama salsa.

Course: entree salad, Salad, Side Dish
Keyword: quinoa, watermelon
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 443 kcal
Ingredients
  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 ½ cups water to cook quinoa
  • 1 ½ cup diced watermelon
  • 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
  • ½ cup frozen corn thawed
  • ¼ cup chopped green onions whites and greens
  • 2 tablespoons toasted hemp hearts or can use sunflower seeds or pepitas
  • ½ cup crumbled queso fresco cheese
  • 2/3 cup Watermelon Jicama salsa from Sam’s Fresh Salsa
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ½ tsp. salt
Instructions
  1. Place rinsed quinoa in medium pot and add water. Cook, with lid on, for approximately 15 minutes or until water has been absorbed and it is tender.
  2. Let quinoa cool to at least room temperature. Spread out on a cookie sheet and stick in the fridge to quick cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Add diced watermelon, spinach, corn, green onions, hemp hearts (or seeds), and crumbled cheese to a large bowl with quinoa.
  4. In small bowl, whisk together salsa, olive oil and salt.
  5. Pour over salad and mix well.
Recipe Notes

Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon with Blistered Peach Tomato Salsa

This post was sponsored by Cedar Bay Grilling as part of a blogger recipe challenge. I received product for my participation, however all opinions, content and enthusiasm remain my own.

Reel in amazing flavor this beautiful summer weekend with a grill out featuring salmon! My recipe for Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon with Blistered Peach Tomato Salsa is a delicious dinner ready to elevate your al fresco dining in under 30 minutes.

Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon with Blistered Peach Tomato Salsa

Just imagine spicy-sweet seasoned fish taking on a woodsy aroma and hint of smoky flavor that comes from grilling on a cedar plank – and then topping all that salmon goodness with a selection of the season’s best produce (including grilled peaches and grilled tomatoes) that have been softened and lightly charred on the grill before chopping up into a salsa-like relish condiment. It’s an off-the-hook flavor combination! Read on to get the recipe: Continue reading

“Just a Li’l Spicy” Strawberry Radish Salsa

I relish relish, will dive head first into dip, and always “lika da sauce”! Since all the spring produce is on parade and I like spicy-sweet things, I couldn’t resist making “Just a Li’l Spicy” Strawberry Radish Salsa! Read on to get all the deets and recipe:

Strawberry Radish Salsa
Continue reading

Brisket Tacos with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce and Pickled Rind Relish #TacoTakedown

Brisket Tacos with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce and Watermelon Rind Relish - TheFitFork.comI enjoyed a one-of-a-kind, sorta-strange experience as only Austin can host at the Taco Takedown that was held this past weekend near the be-hip-or-go-home scene at SXSW (South by Southwest).  I’ve been in quite a few cook-offs including the iconic Pillsbury Bake Off in Vegas with $1 Million prize (obviously I didn’t win), the Crisco Cook Off in Nashville as part of the Country Music Festival, and even many times in my home-town Hatch Green Chile Cook Off where I hold bragging rights as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner.

Taco Takedown Contenders - TheFitFork.com

The right to battle it off as a finalist in most of these showdowns required each recipe to make it through some sort of qualifying round, being made and examined in a test kitchen by professional chefs and pre-judged on factors like presentation, fit within a certain category, creativity, convenience, taste and so on. Typically, pages of rules, do’s and don’ts, and lists of disqualifications were also involved.  However, not at the Taco Takedown – basically all the info I was given was just show up with your best taco. So, of course I started over analyzing and guessing at the non-existent details. And, in the end I decided to fly by the seat of my pants. I wondered what kind of taco would win – surely in Austin, a freaky taco would beat a traditional taco any day.

My Beefy Man Hunk Taco Model

My Beefy Man Hunk Taco Model

That’s why I wrapped all my loves, as strange as the combo might sound, in one tortilla – viola, a Beef Brisket Taco with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce (and Pickled Rind Relish) recipe was born. Well, I guessed wrong because a Crispy Chicken with Avocado Taco dished up by Evin at Food Good, Laundry Bad took top honors.  As partial as I was to my wacky yet wonderful watermelon beef taco, I have to admit, the winner was really, super-ultra-deluxe good – and it was fried, how could I compete with that?!  But, I got to go home with the beefy man-hunk taco model — so, really, I was the WINNER!

 

Brisket Taco with Watermelon BBQ Sauce - TheFitFork.com

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of meaty beef, and summer-sweet watermelon and a surprise of spiciness, these are a few of my favorite things (is there a song here . . )?  I knew these flavors would mingle together for a memorable taco –as they did. I didn’t want to smoke the brisket, so I had four massive slow-cookers breaking down the beef into the perfect tenderness for fork shredding.  But, holy-moly, it took a long time to shred 27 pounds of brisket!    The BBQ sauce was a not-too-vinegary, not-to-tomatoey sauce sweetened with watermelon just and spiced up with Sriracha. Probably the most unique thing going on was the pickled watermelon rind that was diced up in the salsa. A true southerner uses ALL parts of the watermelon. And, of course, I topped it all off with some salty, crumbly queso fresco cheese.  Pickled Watermelon Rind Relish - TheFitFork.com

Use this Spicy Watermelon Barbecue Sauce on beef — but also on chicken, baked beans, fish, sausage, pork and more. I’ve also used it as a salad dressing!

Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce - TheFitFork.com

Because you’re probably not cooking for a 250 person crowd, I’ve scaled down the recipe for you to feed about 8 and maybe some leftovers!

What’s the craziest thing you’ve wrapped in a tortilla and called a taco? Please share in the comments!

 

Beef Brisket Taco with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce and Pickled Rind Relish
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
10 hrs
Total Time
10 hrs 20 mins
 
Beef Brisket Taco with Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce and Pickled Rind Relish -- a strange but good recipe that will rock your next backyard party.
Course: Condiment, Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
For Brisket:
  • 2 lbs. Beef Brisket preferably center cut
  • 4 cups water can substitute beef broth or beer!
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 medium sweet yellow onion sliced thinly
  • 3 jalapenos seeded and quartered
For Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce:
  • 3/4 cup watermelon juice
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp Sriracha pepper sauce more or less, to taste
Pickled Watermelon Rind Relish:
  • 1 cup diced watermelon drained of excess juice
  • 1/2 cup diced pickled watermelon rind homemade or oldsouth.com
  • 2 tbsp liquid from picked watermelon rind
  • 2 plum tomatoes seeded and diced
  • 1 jalapeno seeded and minced
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh cilantro
Other:
  • 16 tortillas
  • 1/2 cup queso fresco cheese, crumbled
Instructions
For Brisket:
  1. Add ingredients for brisket into 6 - 8 quart capacity slow cooker. Cook on low setting for 10 hours. Remove brisket from cooking juices and strain out onions and peppers. Chop of onions and peppers, set aside. Cut excess fat of brisket and use fork or fingers to shred beef. Stir back in onions and peppers.
For Spicy Watermelon BBQ Sauce:
  1. Prepare BBQ sauce by adding all ingredients together in medium sauce pan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat and reduce to low. Simmer for 20 minutes. Pour desired amount over beef, remainder may be stored in the refrigerator for a week. Makes about 2 cups.
For Picked Rind Relish:
  1. To make relish, toss together all ingredients in medium bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
To Serve:
  1. To serve, place sauced, shredded brisket in tortilla. Top with relish and queso fresco.
Recipe Notes