What are hominy grits made from?

Hominy grits are made from ground corn that has been treated with lye. The corn is soaked in lye to remove the hull in a process called nixtamalization. The dish is commonly served in the southern United States and is of Native American origin.

A recipe for hominy grits involves boiling 4 cups of salted water, then pouring in 1 cup of hominy grits, lowering the heat and simmering for an hour, stirring frequently. When the hominy grits are cooked, the recipe calls for mixing in 1 tablespoon of butter and beating the mixture. It can then be served on its own or as a vegetable side or cereal.