White Grit

White grit (usually called white grits) is a porridge-like dish of ground white corn, typically dried, coarsely milled dent corn; 'hominy grits' specifically means grits made from hominy (corn treated with an alkaline solution), which isn't true of all grits.

Grits developed in the American South from corn porridges eaten by Native American peoples of the Southeast, becoming a defining Southern breakfast dish after European settlers adopted ground corn as a staple. It's related to, but distinct from, Latin American hominy dishes like pozole, which use whole hominy kernels rather than ground grits.

In the South, grits are served for breakfast with butter, cheese, bacon, shrimp, or sausage, and are central to dishes like shrimp and grits. Their flavor is mild and slightly nutty with a smooth, creamy texture when cooked, pairing well with dairy, seafood, poultry, pork, and aromatics like garlic and onion.