Biscuits and gravy is a classic dish that is beloved by many. It is a hearty and comforting meal that is perfect for breakfast or brunch. This dish consists of flaky biscuits smothered in a rich and creamy sausage gravy. The combination of the savory gravy and the buttery biscuits is simply irresistible.
Making biscuits and gravy from scratch may seem intimidating, but it is actually quite simple. The key to a delicious gravy is using high-quality ingredients and taking the time to simmer it to perfection. The biscuits should be light and fluffy, with layers of melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
To start, you will need to gather the ingredients for both the biscuits and the gravy. For the biscuits, you will need flour, baking powder, salt, butter, and milk. The gravy requires ground sausage, flour, milk, salt, and pepper. You can also add additional seasonings such as garlic powder or thyme to enhance the flavor.
Once you have all the ingredients, the next step is to make the biscuits. Start by mixing together the dry ingredients, then cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add in the milk, stirring until the dough comes together. Roll out the dough and cut out the biscuits, then bake them until they are golden brown and flaky.
While the biscuits are baking, you can start preparing the sausage gravy. Cook the sausage in a skillet until it is browned and cooked through. Sprinkle flour over the cooked sausage and stir until it is well combined. Gradually pour in the milk, stirring constantly, and continue to cook until the gravy thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Finally, it is time to assemble the biscuits and gravy. Split open the warm biscuits and spoon the creamy gravy over the top. Garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or chives, if desired. Serve hot and enjoy the deliciousness of homemade biscuits and gravy.
Preparing the Biscuits
Before you start making the gravy, it’s important to have your biscuits ready. Follow these steps to prepare delicious homemade biscuits:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 3/4 cup milk
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- Add the cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the milk.
- Stir the mixture gently with a fork until it forms a soft dough.
- Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead it several times until it comes together.
- Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) thick.
- Using a round biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits from the dough.
- Place the biscuits onto a greased baking sheet, leaving a bit of space between them.
- Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top.
Note: If you prefer flakier biscuits, you can also use a technique called “folding” to create layers. After rolling out the dough, fold it in half and then fold it in half again. Repeat this process a few times before cutting out the biscuits.
Once your biscuits are ready, you can move on to making the gravy to complete this delicious biscuits and gravy dish!
Choosing the right ingredients
In order to make delicious biscuits and gravy, it is important to choose the right ingredients. Here are a few key ingredients you will need:
1. Biscuits: You will need all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, butter, and milk to make the biscuits. Make sure to use fresh ingredients for the best results.
2. Gravy: For the gravy, you will need sausage, all-purpose flour, milk, salt, and pepper. The sausage should be of high quality and you can choose between spicy or mild depending on your preferences.
3. Seasonings: To add flavor to the gravy, you can use a variety of seasonings such as thyme, sage, or paprika. These seasonings will give the gravy a delicious taste.
4. Butter: Butter will be used both in the biscuit dough and for cooking the gravy. Make sure to use unsalted butter for a better control of the saltiness in your final dish.
5. Milk: Whole milk is typically used in the recipe, but you can use any type of milk you prefer. The milk helps to create a rich and creamy texture in the biscuits and gravy.
By carefully selecting the ingredients, you can ensure that your biscuits and gravy turn out to be flavorful, delicious, and satisfying.
Mixing the dough
Before you start making the biscuits, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and get all your ingredients ready. For the dough, you will need:
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 3/4 cup (180ml) milk
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients.
Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the milk. Using a fork or your hands, gently stir until the dough comes together. Be careful not to over-mix.
Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it a few times until it is smooth and no longer sticky.
Once the dough is ready, use a rolling pin to roll it out to your desired thickness – around 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) is usually a good starting point.
Rolling and cutting the biscuits
Once you have prepared the biscuit dough, it’s time to roll it out and cut it into the desired shapes.
Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Sprinkle some flour onto your work surface to prevent the dough from sticking.
- Place the dough on the floured surface and sprinkle a little more flour on top of it.
- Using a rolling pin, gently roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1/2 inch.
- Be careful not to roll the dough too thin, as it will not rise properly.
- Once the dough is rolled out to the desired thickness, use a biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits.
- Press the cutter straight down into the dough, without twisting it, to create clean edges.
- Place the cut biscuits onto a greased baking sheet, leaving some space between them to allow for expansion.
- Gather any remaining dough scraps and gently knead them together.
- Roll out the dough again and continue cutting biscuits until all the dough is used.
After you have cut out all the biscuits, you can then proceed to bake them according to your recipe’s instructions.
Making the Gravy
To make the gravy for your biscuits and gravy, you will need the following ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
1. In a large skillet, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat until it is browned and cooked through. Use a wooden spoon to break the sausage into small crumbles.
2. Once the sausage is cooked, sprinkle the flour over the sausage crumbles. Stir well to combine and cook for 1-2 minutes, until the flour is cooked and no longer raw.
3. Gradually pour in the milk, stirring constantly to combine the flour and milk mixture. Continue stirring until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes.
4. Season the gravy with salt and pepper to taste. Remember to taste as you go and adjust the seasoning as needed.
5. Once the gravy is thickened and seasoned to your liking, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
6. Remove the gravy from heat and it is ready to serve.
Note: If the gravy becomes too thick, you can add more milk to thin it out. If it’s too thin, you can cook it for a few more minutes until it reaches the desired thickness.
Now that you have made the delicious gravy, it’s time to serve it over the homemade biscuits. Enjoy your biscuits and gravy!
Gathering the ingredients
To cook delicious biscuits and gravy, you will need to gather the following ingredients:
For the biscuits:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 3/4 cup milk
For the gravy:
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Make sure you have all these ingredients ready before starting to cook. It’s important to have everything in place so that the process goes smoothly.
Tip: For the biscuits, make sure the butter is cold. This will help create a flaky texture.
Please note: The ingredient quantities mentioned here are for a general serving size. You can adjust the measurements based on your preferences and the number of people you’re serving.
Cooking the Sausage
To make the perfect biscuits and gravy, you need to start by cooking the sausage. Here’s how:
Step 1: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook, breaking it up into smaller pieces with a spatula, until it is browned and cooked through. This should take about 8-10 minutes.
Step 2: Once the sausage is cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels. This will help drain off any excess grease.
Step 3: Leave about 2 tablespoons of grease in the skillet. If there is more grease than that, you can drain off the excess before proceeding.
Step 4: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour over the remaining grease in the skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. This will help thicken the gravy.
Step 5: Slowly pour in 2 cups of milk, while continuing to stir the mixture. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened to your desired consistency. If the gravy becomes too thick, you can add more milk to thin it out.
Note: Some people like to season their gravy with salt, pepper, and other spices at this point. Feel free to add any additional seasonings to taste.
Step 6: Add the cooked sausage back into the skillet with the gravy. Stir well to combine the sausage and gravy.
Step 7: Reduce the heat to low and let the sausage and gravy simmer for another 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Now that the sausage is cooked and combined with the gravy, you can move on to making the biscuits to complete your delicious biscuits and gravy meal!
Q&A
What is the recipe for biscuits and gravy?
To make biscuits and gravy, you will need 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, 3/4 cup of milk, 1 pound of ground sausage, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, and 3 cups of milk. First, preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add the milk, stirring until just moistened. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead it gently for about 10-12 times. Roll out the dough to a 1/2-inch thickness and cut out biscuits using a round cutter. Place the biscuits onto a baking sheet and bake them for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a skillet until it is browned and cooked through. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set it aside. In the same skillet, whisk in the flour until it is well combined with the sausage drippings. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, add the cooked sausage back to the skillet, and simmer for a few minutes. Serve the biscuits with the sausage gravy poured over the top. Enjoy!
Can I use self-rising flour instead of all-purpose flour in the biscuit recipe?
No, it is not recommended to use self-rising flour in the biscuit recipe. Self-rising flour already contains baking powder and salt, which are already included in the recipe. If you use self-rising flour, the biscuits may turn out too salty and over-leavened. It’s best to stick to all-purpose flour for this recipe.
Is it possible to make vegetarian biscuits and gravy?
Yes, you can make vegetarian biscuits and gravy by substituting the ground sausage with a vegetarian or vegan alternative. There are many brands available that offer meatless sausages made from plant-based ingredients. You can follow the same recipe, but replace the ground sausage with the vegetarian alternative. The rest of the recipe remains the same. This way, you can enjoy the delicious biscuits and gravy without any meat.
What can I serve as a side dish with biscuits and gravy?
Biscuits and gravy can be a filling dish on their own, but you can also serve them with various side dishes. Some popular options include scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon or sausage links, fresh fruit, or a simple green salad. The choice of side dish depends on your preferences and the occasion. Feel free to experiment and find the combination that you enjoy the most.
Can I freeze biscuits and gravy for later?
While it is possible to freeze biscuits and gravy, the texture and taste may be slightly affected upon thawing and reheating. Biscuits tend to become a bit denser and less flaky after freezing. The gravy may separate and lose some of its creaminess. However, if you still want to freeze them, make sure to store the biscuits and gravy separately in airtight containers or zip-top bags. Allow them to cool completely before freezing. When you’re ready to eat, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and reheat them in the oven or microwave. Keep in mind that freshly made biscuits and gravy will always have the best taste and texture.