How to Prepare Southern Biscuits and Gravy in Simple English
Southern biscuits and gravy is a classic comfort food that’s been enjoyed in homes across the United States for generations. It’s warm, filling, and full of rich flavors. Luckily, you don’t have to be a professional chef to make this delicious dish! In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to prepare homemade Southern biscuits and gravy, step by step, using simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions.
What is Biscuits and Gravy?
Biscuits and gravy is a Southern staple made up of soft, flaky biscuits paired with creamy sausage gravy. The biscuits are typically baked fresh from scratch, and the gravy is made with crumbled sausage, flour, milk, and seasonings. This dish is perfect for breakfast or brunch and works equally well as “breakfast for dinner.”
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Biscuits:
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 tablespoon baking powder
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, for a hint of sweetness)
– 1/2 cup cold butter (unsalted)
– 3/4 cup cold milk (whole milk works best)
For the Sausage Gravy:
– 1/2 pound ground breakfast sausage (pork sausage works well)
– 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
– 2 cups whole milk
– Salt and black pepper (to taste)
Step 1: Preparing the Biscuits
Begin with the biscuits since they’ll need time to bake.
-
Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C). This ensures it’s hot and ready when your biscuit dough is ready.
-
Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Mix them well.
-
Add Butter: Cut the cold butter into small pieces and add it to the dry mixture. Using a fork or pastry cutter, break the butter into small crumbs until the mixture looks like coarse sand. The cold butter is what makes the biscuits flaky.
-
Add Milk: Pour the cold milk into the bowl and gently combine everything until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix—this can make the biscuits tough.
-
Roll and Cut the Dough: Lightly flour your countertop and roll the dough out to about 1-inch thickness. Use a round biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass to cut out biscuit shapes. Gather, reshape, and cut out any leftover dough to make more biscuits.
-
Bake: Place the biscuits on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t touch each other. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top.
Step 2: Making the Sausage Gravy
While the biscuits are baking, you can prepare the sausage gravy.
-
Cook the Sausage: In a large skillet or frying pan, brown the ground sausage over medium heat. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to break the sausage into small pieces as it cooks. Once it’s fully cooked (no pink in the meat), leave the sausage in the pan, but don’t drain the fat—this adds flavor to the gravy.
-
Add Flour: Sprinkle the flour over the cooked sausage in the pan. Stir well to coat the sausage in flour. Let it cook for about 2 minutes. This helps thicken the gravy and removes the raw flour taste.
-
Pour in the Milk: Slowly pour the milk into the skillet while stirring constantly. This will turn the flour and sausage into a creamy gravy. Keep stirring to prevent lumps from forming.
-
Season: Add salt and black pepper to taste. Start with small amounts—you can always add more later. If you like extra flavor, you can also add a pinch of garlic powder, onion powder, or red pepper flakes for spice.
-
Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let the gravy simmer for 5-10 minutes until it thickens to your desired consistency. If it gets too thick, you can add a little more milk to thin it out.
Step 3: Putting It All Together
Your biscuits should be done baking around the same time your gravy finishes cooking. Now it’s time to assemble the dish!
-
Plate the Biscuits: Take the warm biscuits and split them in half. You can leave them whole if you prefer, but splitting them lets the gravy soak in.
-
Pour the Gravy: Generously ladle the sausage gravy over the biscuits. You can add as much or as little as you like—there’s no wrong way to do it!
Tips for Success
- Use Cold Ingredients: For flaky biscuits, make sure your butter and milk are cold. Cold butter melts as the biscuits bake, creating layers of flakiness.
- Taste Your Gravy: Adjust the seasonings as needed. Everyone’s salt preference is different, so don’t skip the taste-test.
- Make Extra: Both the biscuits and gravy store well in the fridge, so feel free to make a larger batch and enjoy leftovers.
Final Thoughts
Southern biscuits and gravy is more than just food—it’s a warm hug on a plate. With just a little prep and patience, you can recreate this iconic dish right at home. Whether you serve it to family, friends, or just yourself, it’s sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Happy cooking, and enjoy your Southern-style comfort food!
