Tennessee Tomato Gravy Recipes

GRANDMA HAWLEY'S TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Melt the bacon fat and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When the bubbles subside, pour in the tomatoes and stir with a wooden spoon until the fat has married with the tomatoes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring regularly, until reduced by half, 2 hours.
• Heat the evaporated milk and the whole milk in separate saucepans over low heat until they form a skin on the surface. Remove and discard the skin from the evaporated milk, then pour into the tomatoes; stir until incorporated.
• Put the flour in a large mixing bowl. Remove and discard the skin from the whole milk. Quickly pour the milk into the bowl with the flour, whisking vigorously (to avoid clumps). Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the pot with the tomatoes. Stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated. (The consistency should be velvety.) Season with 2 tablespoons each salt and pepper.

MAMA'S TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat bacon drippings in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir the flour into the bacon drippings and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned. Slowly pour the water into the flour mixture while whisking. Whisk in the tomato paste. Cook the mixture until it begins to thicken. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thick, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

OLD-FASHIONED TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings, reserving 2 tablespoons in pan. Add onion to drippings; cook and stir over medium-high heat until tender, 3-5 minutes. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until blended; cook and stir over low heat until mixture is golden brown (do not burn). Gradually whisk in tomato juice. Stir in tomatoes. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in bacon. Serve over biscuits.

GRANNY'S TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Whisk cornmeal, salt and pepper (however much salt and pepper you like) into a large skillet with the oil, cooking and stirring over low heat until the cornmeal ts a lovely golden brown.
• Turn heat to low, and stir in water, stirring all the time until the mixture thickens. Add the tomatoes and cook another 10-12 minutes or until hot.

TENNESSEE TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• In a frying pan containing around 2 tablespoons of drippings, sauté onion until tender. Mix in flour and cook several minutes. Add tomatoes; stir well. Water or chicken stock may be required here (to reach desired consistency), depending on the liquid available from the tomatoes. Season with thyme, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until gravy thickens.

SOUTHERN STYLE TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Reserving the drippings in the pan, remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Stir the butter and flour into the bacon drippings. Scrape the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon; cook and stir together until beginning to thicken, about 3 minutes. Stir the tomatoes into the mixture, using the spoon to break the tomatoes into small pieces while cooking; season with salt and pepper. Add the cream cheese and heavy cream; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until hot and thick, about 10 minutes.

TENNESSEE TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat the bacon drippings in a large heavy skillet. Combine the flour, salt, and pepper, and sift the mixture over the drippings. Blend well, stirring often to keep the mixture from sticking or burning, cook over medium heat. Add the tomatoes to the roux and stir well. If too thick, add a little boiling water. If too thin, add a little more thin flour paste, about the consisitency of buttermilk. Reduce the heat to low and keep warm for second helpings. If you like, add 1 tablespoon of sugar.

TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, melt drippings.
• When hot, stir in flour, salt, and pepper, blending well.
• Continute to stir until mixture is dark brown.
• Add tomato juice and water, stirring until well blended.
• Reduce heat to simmer and cook 5 minutes.
• Serve warm.