topic Re: Ham Gravy in Recipes

Ham Gravy

Knit-Chick — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:36:16 GMT

I just watched an episode of the Pioneer Woman where she made ham gravy from the drippings of the pan. I've never heard of making a gravy for ham! Anyone else make this? It was pretty simple, she just added some butter and flour. And when that was a paste consistency and cooked for a bit, she added milk and seasonings. Looked good!

Re: Ham Gravy

olewoman — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:40:27 GMT

Im an ole woman from nc mountains and I make gravy fromevery meat,bacon,hotdogs,porkchops chicken,ham,sausage,just any meat.Most of time I make milk gravy,sometimes water gravy.my husband like water gravy over rice or mashed potatos,I like milk gravy but both is good.

Re: Ham Gravy

4OU2 — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:46:37 GMT

Ham gravy is soooo good, but I have only made it after frying slices of ham. I've heard of ham gravy called red eye and a cup of strong coffee is an ingredient. It is sometimes served over rice.

Re: Ham Gravy

Sister Golden Hair — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:50:28 GMT

Yes, you can make gravy from most anything. I have even made gravy from "Spray Pam".

I'm like olewoman, I'm 62, an old woman from Missouri. In the old days, people had gravy three times a day and always kept a pot of brown beans cooking.

Re: Ham Gravy

goodstuff — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:51:37 GMT

Red Eye Gravy is an old Southern staple. I'm sure there are as many variations as there are cooks, but the basics involve frying a slice of country-cured ham in a little oil in a skillet till browned on both sides. I usually add a little water, cover, and simmer to steam the ham the last few minutes. Then remove the ham and use a spatula to scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. While reheating the oil and ham fat, stir in a couple of spoonsful of brown sugar till dissolved, then add a half-cup or so of black coffee. (This is traditional; if you don't care for coffee, you can just add more water.) Simmer till hot and flavors are blended. Taste, and if it's too salty add more water and/or coffee. Return ham to pan and heat through. Serve ham with hot grits, rice, or mashed potatoes, with red eye gravy over all.

Re: Ham Gravy

peachesncream — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:53:01 GMT

Yes, we make it with coffee. I don't add any flour. I just let the gravy simmer till it thickens a bit.

Re: Ham Gravy

Knit-Chick — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 22:55:19 GMT

Thank you all! Your gravies sound delicious. I've only made turkey gravy, so I need to branch out and try some others. Thanks again

Re: Ham Gravy

olewoman — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 23:35:11 GMT

To sister golden hair,still good to ain't it.

Re: Ham Gravy

birkin baby — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 23:36:35 GMT

Red eye gravy is one of my favorite things. It's so good on grits,eggs,biscuits.... even with pancakes and syrup.Of course it's good,though;it's made from country ham grease and coffee.

Re: Ham Gravy

forrestwolf — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 01:28:56 GMT

Instead of Red Eye gravy, made always with coffee, and no flour, you can make the ham gravy just as you would sausage gravy, without the sausage in it, but out of the ham drippings, and adding the flour and milk (or for really good taste, add Pet Milk, or Carnation Milk) to make it a little more rich (add a bit of water), since there is no meat........only drippings........in the gravy..........

Re: Ham Gravy

sciencegeek_1 — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 02:00:10 GMT

My mom taught me to always bake the ham. Not just warm it, but put it in a roaster with water and bake it 15 minutes per pound. The lid keeps it moist, and you end up with good drippings for gravy.

Re: Ham Gravy

brewhaha — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 02:16:31 GMT

I've never made it before but I'm definitely interested in trying it.

Re: Ham Gravy

ilovedaisies — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 03:02:17 GMT

Ham gravy is fantastic! It's the best part of having a ham.

Re: Ham Gravy

goodstuff — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 04:21:20 GMT

On 4/15/2014 forrestwolf said:
Instead of Red Eye gravy, made always with coffee, and no flour, you can make the ham gravy just as you would sausage gravy, without the sausage in it, but out of the ham drippings, and adding the flour and milk (or for really good taste, add Pet Milk, or Carnation Milk) to make it a little more rich (add a bit of water), since there is no meat........only drippings........in the gravy..........

This kind of gravy made from ham (or other fried meat) drippings thickened with flour and perhaps with milk added is often called "Sawmill Gravy" in the South.

I've heard that "redeye gravy" gets its name from the way it looks when it's served up in a bowl. A thin oily layer rises to the top, and the darker coffee part stays at the bottom, usually narrower part of the bowl, making for a darker bottom/center layer with a reddish, larger layer on top -- maybe suggesting to the imaginative observer the look of a reddish human eye with a dark pupil.

Re: Ham Gravy

chickenbutt — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 04:53:24 GMT

Sounds interesting, but I've really never considered some kind of gravy for ham. I guess I'm in the camp of 'not everything needs gravy'. Don't get me wrong - I like gravy.

Re: Ham Gravy

Flo08 — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 05:02:40 GMT

I make my version of Red Eye with sugar cured ham. The Salt cured is just too salty for my taste. I have also had a version that is made with pineapple juice and corn starch. Both are OK but I prefer my baked ham without gravy.

Re: Ham Gravy

RedTop — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:39:11 GMT

To me, ham gravy was red-eye gravy until I married my husband. His mother made ham gravy from the ham drippings, and if she didn't have enough grease from the ham, she added bacon grease to make the gravy. She also used water, not milk or broth. I was the only person in the family who did not like the gravy; it was too salty and too greasy for me, and ripped through my intestines like a tornado. In fact, I always referred to my MIL's ham gravy as the equivalent of liquid Drano for humans. Both of my girls are so "proud" they know how to make their grandmas ham gravy.

Re: Ham Gravy

dfyre — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:00:59 GMT

So interesting to read all this. I'm Italian from New Jersey and to me gravy is something made from tomatoes and poured over pasta - making a ham next week and will definitely give it a try!

Anyway, since when is 62 an "old" woman??? I'm 67 and don't think of myself as an "old" woman yet, lol.

Re: Ham Gravy

olewoman — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:27:06 GMT

Guess its how ole our bodies feel mine feels and hurts way more than my 63 years.

Re: Ham Gravy

Kweenme — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 22:45:15 GMT

Absolutely had ham gravy and it was WONderful! Haven't had it for many, many years ...