Gravy can add so much flavor to your meal. But making it can be time-consuming. Want a quick way to make and enjoy a rich gravy? Keep reading to learn how to make gravy with bacon grease.
Can you Make Gravy with Bacon Grease?
Yes, making gravy with bacon grease is possible. It is a great way to add flavor and texture to your dish. Bacon grease adds smokiness and a hint of saltiness that helps balance the other flavors. In addition, bacon grease contains fat which helps create a smoother, creamier texture for your gravy.
Ingredient breakdown
- Bacon Grease: Bacon grease is the main ingredient when making this gravy. Bacon grease is high in fat content, which helps to thicken the sauce and helps to bind all of the other ingredients together, resulting in a smooth and creamy texture. Additionally, bacon grease adds a rich umami flavor that enhances the overall taste of the gravy.
- Whole Milk: Adding whole milk provides an extra richness that helps balance out the salty taste of the bacon grease. This makes achieving the perfect texture easier without adding too much flour or cornstarch as a thickening agent.
- All-Purpose flour: All-purpose flour plays an important role in making gravy. It helps to bind the fat from the bacon grease together with the liquid ingredients, which creates a thicker consistency. This also helps to create a richer flavor and an appealing texture.
- Peppercorns: Peppercorns have a sharp taste that adds heat and spice to the gravy. It adds flavor depth to the dish, which helps take your dish from ordinary to extraordinary!
- Salt: Salt can enhance the gravy’s flavor, making it even more delicious. This will help bring out the flavors of the bacon grease and give your gravy a nice salty kick.
Tips to Remember
It is important to remember a few key tips when making gravy using bacon grease:
- You can adjust the thickness of the gravy by adding more milk. You can also use heavy cream for extra creaminess. 2% or 1% milk will work fine with this recipe.
- Before adding cooked bacon to the gravy, crumble it.
- If you want a dairy-free gravy, use unsweetened oat or almond milk. You can add coconut milk for extra creaminess.
- You can use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour as well.
- Cook the bacon grease on low heat before adding it to the other ingredients in your recipe. This will help prevent scorching and ensure that all flavors are blended properly.
- Strain the bacon grease after cooking so that any pieces of cooked meat or gristle don’t end up in your gravy.
- Bacon grease has a strong flavor, so it’s important to use just enough to give your dish the desired taste without overpowering it.
What to Serve with Gravy with Bacon Grease
Gravy with bacon grease can be used as a base or topping for almost any dish; some of them are discussed below:
- Potatoes: Potatoes pair perfectly with this savory sauce. You can use mashed potatoes as an easy side dish or make roasted potatoes topped with gravy for an extra special meal.
- Rice: Rice is also a great option to serve with gravy for an easy but wholesome dinner option.
- Vegetables: Try roasting broccoli or cauliflower florets in olive oil, then topping them off with this tasty sauce before serving.
- Sandwiches: You can use gravy as a condiment on burgers or grilled cheese sandwiches for an extra flavor that will take your sandwich game up several notches!
- Pasta: Toss cooked noodles in this delicious sauce for an easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love! You can also use it as a topping on macaroni and cheese or lasagna for added flavor without having to do too much work in the kitchen.
How to Store Gravy with Bacon Grease
There are a few important steps to ensure proper storage and safety when storing gravy with bacon grease.
- Cool the cooked gravy before transferring it into an airtight container or jar for storage in the refrigerator or freezer.
- When transferring the cooled gravy into an airtight container or jar, ensure all of the fat has been skimmed off the top of the sauce before adding it in.
- You can generally store cooked gravy with bacon grease for up to two weeks in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator without any issues.
- If you keep your stored sauce longer than two weeks, freeze it.
How to Make Gravy with Bacon Grease
- Preparation time: 5 minutes
- Cooking time: 10 minutes
- Total time: 15 minutes
- Servings: 4
Ingredients
- ¼ cup bacon grease
- 3 cups whole milk
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. peppercorns, crushed
- 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, add bacon grease.
- Gradually add flour while whisking and cook for two minutes or until clumps appear.
- Then add 1 cup of milk and cook for another 3 minutes or until the gravy thickens.
- Add another cup of milk and continue cooking until the gravy is creamy and thick. You can add more milk to adjust the thickness of the gravy.
- Reduce heat to low and season with pepper and salt.
- When ready, remove from heat and allow to cool. You can use it immediately or transfer it to an airtight container to store in a refrigerator.
How to Make Gravy with Bacon Grease
Preparation time: 5 minutes; Cooking time: 10 minutes; Total time: 15 minutes; Servings: 4
Ingredients
- ¼ cup bacon grease
- 3 cups whole milk
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. peppercorns crushed
- 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, add bacon grease.
- Gradually add flour while whisking and cook for two minutes or until clumps appear.
- Then add 1 cup of milk and cook for another 3 minutes or until the gravy thickens.
- Add another cup of milk and continue cooking until the gravy is creamy and thick. You can add more milk to adjust the thickness of the gravy.
- Reduce heat to low and season with pepper and salt.
- When ready, remove from heat and allow to cool. You can use it immediately or transfer it to an airtight container to store in a refrigerator.