Red Eye Gravy Recipes

RED EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• Dissolve ham stock and coffee granules in water in a large mixing bowl to create a stock.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; add flour. Cook butter and flour, stirring constantly, until brown, to create a roux, about 5 minutes. Add gravy stock mixture 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until it resembles the consistency of a gravy, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with black pepper. Remove from heat. Serve warm with meal of choice.

THE MORNING AFTER REDEYE GRAVY

Steps:

• In a saucepot set over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and garlic, and saute for 3 minutes. Add the sausage and cook for 5 minutes. Add the flour to create a roux. Cook, stirring continuously, until the roux is a rich caramel color and smells nutty, 5 minutes. Add the stock and coffee, and stir. Add the paprika, black pepper and cayenne. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Finish with the cream and season with salt.

COUNTRY HAM WITH REDEYE GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high. Cook ham, adding 1/2 Tbsp. butter if ham is lean to help the browning process, until browned and fat has rendered, 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer ham to a platter.
• Pour coffee into the same skillet and cook over medium-high heat, scraping skillet with a wooden spoon to deglaze and loosen any browned bits. Add broth and sugar; simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced to about 1/4 cup, 3-4 minutes. Add 1 Tbsp. butter and whisk until emulsified, about 1 minute more. Pour gravy into a small bowl or serving vessel and serve drizzled over or alongside ham.

CHICKEN-FRIED EGGPLANT WITH CREAMY RED-EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• For the eggplant: Lay the eggplant slices out on a paper or kitchen towel-lined cutting board and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 20 to 30 minutes. (This will pull the moisture out.)
• Heat 1 inch oil in a 14-inch cast-iron pan to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet tray or workstation with kitchen towels or paper towels.
• Sprinkle the flour with salt and pepper in a bowl. Pat the eggplant dry with more paper or kitchen towels, then dip each slice in the buttermilk followed by the seasoned flour. Repeat 1 more time. Fry the eggplant in batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove from the oil and drain on the prepared workstation.
• For the gravy: Add the ham to a large cast-iron pan over medium heat and let the fat begin to render and get crispy, about 3 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the strong coffee and add the butter, stirring constantly, to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Shingle the eggplant pieces in a large shallow dish. Top with the gravy and more pieces of ham. Serve.

GRANNY'S RED EYE GRAVY (ALSO CALLED REDEYE GRAVY)

Steps:

• Cook bacon until crisp, then set bacon aside and reserve drippings.
• Stir flour into the drippings, whisking until light brown, 5 minutes or possibly a little more.
• Pour coffee and water into the bacon drippings/flour, stirring constantly over low heat until mixture thickens up, about 10 minutes. Add whatever amount of salt and pepper you prefer.
• Remove from heat. Fold in crumbled bacon and serve hot.

RED-EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat grease, add flour and sugar until dissolved and incorporated with ham grease. Add water, coffee and bullion cube, stir until gravy is well blended. Turn down heat and cook for 1 minute, add butter and cook for 1 minute longer. Serve immediately with hot biscuits or grits.

RED-EYE GRAVY AND GRITS

Steps:

• Cut the fat from edges of ham slices. Add fat to a medium cast-iron skillet. Cook over medium heat until fat renders.
• Score edges of ham slices. Add ham to skillet, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. When cooked, remove ham from skillet; set aside. Add water, stirring to deglaze. Cook until mixture comes to a boil and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Serve ham and gravy with grits and buttermilk biscuits.

RED EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, cook ham until lightly browned, 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove and save for another use. Add coffee to pan drippings, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Simmer until reduced by about half.