Crispy Coconut Bites with Chocolate Sauce

Photograph by Kyle Ripley, Haigwood Studios

Recipe by Whitney Miller, winner, Fox’s MasterChef Season One

My dad loves the combination of coconut and chocolate. I created this simple dessert using basic, inexpensive pantry ingredients that you probably already have on hand. You’d never guess that the secret ingredient in these decadent little bites is a Southern staple: grits!

Yield: 6 servings

1 1/3   cups canned coconut milk
1/2      cup quick cooking grits
3          tablespoons sugar
1/2       cup heavy cream
2/3       cup graham cracker crumbs
1          cup shredded fresh coconut or packaged sweetened shredded coconut
3          tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
Chocolate Sauce (recipe included)

Bring coconut milk to a slight boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in grits and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until grits reach porridge consistency, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Scrape into a small bowl and let cool at room temperature, about 25 minutes.
Scooping 1 tablespoon of grits at a time, gently roll mixture with the palms of your hands to form 12 balls. Place balls on a plastic wrap-covered baking sheet. The balls can be made up to several hours ahead of time.
Pour heavy cream into a shallow dish. Place graham cracker crumbs and shredded coconut on 2 separate plates. Roll grits balls in cream, then in crumbs, back into cream, and then in the coconut.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small heavy nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Cook 4 balls until lightly browned all over, a few seconds on each side. Transfer cooked balls to a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe pan clean and repeat with remaining butter and grits balls, using 1 tablespoon butter for each batch. Serve with Chocolate Sauce.

Chocolate Sauce
1/4  cup heavy cream
4     ounces good-quality semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

For the Chocolate Sauce
Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to boil. Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Pour hot cream over chocolate and stir until smooth.

---