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
Directions
- 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.
- Transfer the ham to a plate and pour the coffee into the same skillet still set over medium heat.
- 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
- Pour the gravy into a small bowl or over the ham and serve immediately, if desired.
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