Shrimp Grits, Pickled Jalapeño, Fried Egg

Ingredients

• 0.3 teaspoon pepper black freshly ground
• 0.1 teaspoon cayenne or to taste
• 1 cup corn powder 
• 1  jalapeño thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 4  fried quail eggs 
• 1  scallion white thinly sliced
• 2.5 pounds shrimp frozen thawed cleaned peeled (16 to 20 count) (2 pounds total without tails)
• 0.3 cup sugar 
• 6 tablespoons butter unsalted
• 1.7 cups vegetable stock 
• 0.8 cup water 
• 0.5 cup distilled vinegar white

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• sauce pan
• blender
• plastic wrap
• wooden spoon
• meat grinder

Directions

1. Place the jalapeño slices in a small heatproof bowl.
2. In a small saucepan, bring the water, vinegar, sugar, and salt to a boil.
3. Pour over the jalapeño, cover, and let cool. Once the mixture is cool, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
4. Grind the shrimp using a meat grinder fitted with a fine (3/16-inch) die.
5. Clean and dry the meat grinder and parts (you will need it again later).
6. In a large, deep sauté pan over moderate heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter until foamy.
7. Add the ground shrimp, along with 1/2 teaspoon salt and the cayenne, and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon (the shrimp will clump, but that is OK), until firm and crumbly, 7 to 8 minutes.
8. Remove from the heat and use the meat grinder fitted with a fine (3/16-inch) die to grind the shrimp 2 more times.
9. Return the shrimp "grits" to the large, deep sauté pan, and add the vegetable stock, corn powder, and remaining 4 tablespoons butter.
10. Place over moderate heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, along with the scallion and pepper. Divide the shrimp "grits" evenly among 4 shallow bowls, garnish with pickled jalapeño slices, and, if desired, top each with 1 fried egg.
11. *Corn powder can be ordered online from Momofuku Milk Bar. Alternatively, you can grind freeze-dried corn in a blender until a fine powder forms, then sift it and measure out 1 cup. Freeze-dried corn is available online from Walmart or Melissa's Produce.