Kentucky Fried Country Ham with Redeye Gravy
Salt-cured country ham pan-fried and deglazed with black coffee for a thin, savory redeye gravy.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 310 kcal
Equipment
- •Cast-iron skillet
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- fat
- 20
- carbs
- 3
- protein
- 28
- calories
- 310
Instructions
- 1
Snip small cuts into the fat edges of the ham slices so they do not curl. Fry them in a dry cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
- 2
Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until the edges turn brown. Remove the ham and keep it warm.
- 3
Pour the black coffee into the hot skillet. Scrape up the tasty browned bits from the bottom.
- 4
Add the water and brown sugar if using. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the liquid cooks down slightly.
- 5
Put the ham back into the skillet briefly. Let it warm through in the hot gravy.
- 6
Serve the ham with the gravy spooned over biscuits or grits (warm, thick cornmeal porridge).
Chef's tips
Country ham is very salty, so soak thick slices in water for 1 hour beforehand if you want a milder flavor. Use strong black coffee rather than weak drip coffee to give the gravy its classic dark color and deep flavor.
Storage
Refrigerate leftover ham and gravy separately up to 3 days.
Reheating
Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat to avoid drying out the ham.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Cooking the ham over heat that is too high, which quickly makes the meat tough.
- •Using instant coffee substitutes that do not have the rich, bitter taste needed for the gravy.
Serving suggestions
Cooked Kentucky Fried Country Ham with Redeye Gravy?
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