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Red Eye Gravy and Country Ham

Red eye gravy—also known as poor man’s gravy, bird-eye gravy, and red ham gravy—is a popular favorite in America’s southern states. It consists of nothing more than the drippings of pan-fried country ham and boiling hot black coffee. The name red eye gravy refers to how the mixture separates in a bowl with the coffee sinking to the bottom and the grease rising to the top, resembling the shape of a human eye. The color red comes into play when cayenne pepper is used as a seasoning.  

Recipe Servings: 2

Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal

Ingredients

  • 6 oz country ham, sliced ¼-inch thick
  • ½ Tbsp butter, if needed to fry ham
  • ½ cup boiling black coffee
  • Pinch of all-purpose flour, if needed for thickening

Directions

  1. Fry the slices of ham in a skillet set over medium heat for 2–3 minutes on each side until browned. Add the butter to the skillet if the ham is lean to help the browning process.
  2. Transfer the ham to a plate and pour the coffee into the same skillet still set over medium heat.
  3. Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes, stirring and scraping the bottom and sides of the skillet to incorporate the browned bits. Add a pinch of flour if needed to thicken the gravy
  4. Pour the gravy into a small bowl or over the ham and serve immediately, if desired.

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