Putting Coffee in Weird Things: Coffee-Bacon Gravy Eggs Benedict
A while ago, I posited that Café Benedict (coffee with Hollandaise sauce in it) would, in theory, be the ultimate hangover drink. In practice, it was disappointing to say the least.
Then, a few days ago, a friend of mine (hi Nick) sent me a recipe for coffee-infused ham gravy. I had to give that a try, but given this blog’s ongoing quest to combine bacon with coffee, bacon seemed a better choice than ham. And what could I do with the coffee-bacon gravy? Pouring it on eggs and more bacon seemed only logical. It’s sorta the opposite of Café Benedict.
As with most endeavours, the first step is bacon. Lots of bacon.
Set the bacon aside. Then pour the coffee into the bacon grease; just a bit more coffee than there is grease. I used a dark roast brewed extra strong, but a milder coffee probably would have been better.
Add some flour to thicken and make it look like gravy. Use a sifter to avoid chunks.
Let it simmer for a few minutes. Stir it often with a whisk; mine got chunky even after sifting, so you might have to whisk that gravy vigorously. Yeah. Yeah, real vigorously. Now that’s gravy. Oh yeah.
Tenderly spoon that gravy onto whatever you’d like. I treated it like Hollandaise, pouring it over an egg, slices of bacon, and an English muffin.
The gravy on its own was pretty bitter (probably due to the strong coffee) but not entirely unpleasant. Poured on top of everything else and with a little extra salt and pepper, it was quite good. A rich, earthy, smokey, meaty sort of meal. I was full for hours after eating this. I accosted a young woman (hi Danaë) and asked for a second opinion, and she liked it even more than I did. My gravy brings all the girls to the yard.
I’ll label this a success, but next time: 1) Milder coffee; 2) Maybe a touch of sugar to sweeten the gravy; 3) Think of a cool name for it.
The quest for bacon coffee is still ongoing. I’ve got a few leads and orders in the mail that may lead to breakthroughs. Stay tuned.
Obligatory aftermath shot:
Edit Feb 23: As some kind commenters pointed out, gravy made with pork drippings and coffee is known as red-eye gravy, especially in the southern U.S.
Putting Weird Things in Coffee 
In the southern United States, we call this red-eye gravy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-eye_gravy
It’s very country.
I agree with Daniel. It’s called Red-Eye gravy and I had the pleasure of growing up on the stuff. It’s usually made to go with a big juicy hamsteak, but I’ve always preferred it made with bacon. 🙂
Thanks for the info! I’ll update the post with its real name. Maybe I was meant to live in the south. 🙂
Yeah, I would definitely go for a weaker brew. This kind of gravy is most oft made at cruddy waffle houses and diners where their coffee is quite weak.
As a technical matter, I suggest you next time whisk the flour into the bacon fat before adding the liquid coffee, thereby making a traditional roux: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roux. You’ll never have clumps if you use this method, although you won’t be able to reduce the coffee using this method either.
Nice wallet. But I think your owl is looikng a little resentful – 1st because I’m sure he can smell that gravy (if it even IS gravy. I’m pretty sure it’s sauce from all those McRibs you were enjoying a while back); and 2nd because you’ve stuffed the wallet full of quarters. I’m thinking he’d prefer that wallet be stuffed with mice…and a side of gravy.
Bacon and coffe brownies, man! Have you tried that? I can’t seem to convince anyone I know that crispy, salty, delicious bacon and bitter, strong coffee would go perfectly with the sweet chocolate richness of brownies, despite it seeming like an absolutely mouthwateringly delishious treat!
Red-eye gravy is amazing on a fresh hot buttermilk biscuit, or on grits!
Normally I’m against killing but this article slaughtered my ignorance.
OK so this is EXACTLY what I had for breakfast at the Family Circle this morning.( all hail Snacon ) I had a cup of coffee and this breakfast, so is it so weird to put it together prior to gustation? I dare say, NO SIR IT IS NOT! I SAID GOOD DAY SIR! Phronk please contact me today via email.