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A quintessential Southern breakfast featuring salty, pan-fried country ham slices smothered in a uniquely savory gravy made from ham drippings and strong black coffee. Best served with grits and biscuits.
Prepare the Ham (10 minutes)
Fry the Ham (6-8 minutes)
Make the Red-Eye Gravy (3-5 minutes)
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A quintessential Southern breakfast featuring salty, pan-fried country ham slices smothered in a uniquely savory gravy made from ham drippings and strong black coffee. Best served with grits and biscuits.
This southern recipe takes 25 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 305.14 calories per serving with 31.89g of protein, it's a beginner-friendly recipe perfect for breakfast or brunch.
Serve Immediately (1 minute)
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the gravy for a little kick.
Add a tablespoon of bourbon or a teaspoon of maple syrup to the gravy along with the coffee for a more complex flavor profile.
For a slightly richer, less traditional gravy, whisk in a teaspoon of cold butter at the very end of cooking until it melts and emulsifies.
Country ham is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, supporting muscle mass, and overall body function.
Pork, the source of ham, is rich in B vitamins like thiamine (B1), niacin (B3), and B6. These vitamins are crucial for converting food into energy and maintaining a healthy nervous system.
Ham contains selenium, a powerful antioxidant mineral that plays a key role in thyroid function and protecting the body from oxidative stress.
Red-eye gravy is a classic Southern pan sauce made from the drippings of fried country ham and deglazed with strong black coffee. It's known for its thin consistency and a unique, savory flavor that is both bitter and salty.
It's supposed to be! Unlike thick, flour-based gravies, red-eye gravy is traditionally a thin, broth-like sauce. Its purpose is to add a potent burst of flavor to the ham, grits, and biscuits, not to coat them heavily.
If you are using authentic, salt-cured country ham, then yes, soaking is highly recommended. This process leaches out some of the intense saltiness, making the ham more enjoyable. If you are using a less salty, more common 'city ham', you can skip this step.
You can, but the flavor will be very different. Country ham is dry-cured with salt, giving it a distinctively salty, intense flavor that is essential for authentic red-eye gravy. A standard wet-cured or smoked ham won't produce the same kind of drippings or flavor profile.
This dish is a traditional indulgence and is very high in sodium and saturated fat due to the cured ham. It should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. It is, however, a great source of protein.
A single serving of one slice of country ham with gravy contains approximately 350-400 calories, not including side dishes like grits or biscuits.
A strong, dark-roast drip coffee or even a shot of espresso diluted with water works best. The goal is a robust coffee flavor that can stand up to the saltiness of the ham. Avoid flavored coffees or weak brews.