How to Make Awesome Sausage Gravy

Sausage gravy is the perfect accompaniment for light, fluffy biscuits.

Although you could make sausage gravy from a store-bought mix, you can also make a from-scratch awesome sausage gravy in just a little more time and with several more ingredients. Secrets to exceptionally smooth gravy include ensuring there are no lumps and that it thickens properly. The key to a particularly tasty sausage gravy is the sausage you choose. Select a brand and flavor of ground sausage that you enjoy. Typical seasonings in sausage are sage, allspice, ground black pepper and savory, although your favorite sausage may contain unusual flavor combinations not found in "common" sausage.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. ground sausage
• Large skillet
• Cooking oil, if needed
• Wooden spoon
• Plate
• Paper towels
• Heat-proof bowl
• Measuring spoons
• Flour
• Whisk
• Milk
• Seasonings of your choice

Instructions

1. Place the sausage into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook it until browned, stirring and breaking it up with a wooden spoon. If you are using turkey sausage or another non-fatty meat, add 1 tbsp. of cooking oil to the meat to keep it from scorching.

2. Line a plate with paper towels. Remove the cooked sausage from the skillet to the towel-lined plate to drain while you make the gravy.

3. Pour the oil into a heat-proof bowl. Replace the skillet on your stove's burner.

4. Measure 3 tbsp. of the sausage grease back into the skillet. If you don't have enough grease, make up the difference with cooking oil. Turn the heat back to medium.

5. Add 2 tbsp. flour to the hot grease, whisking vigorously as you do so to keep the flour from clumping or burning. Allow the flour and grease to cook together and brown to a golden color.

6. Continue whisking as you pour 3 cups of milk into the flour mixture. Stir the ingredients together, using the whisk to break up any clumps that may form. Continue cooking the gravy until it thickens to the desired consistency.

7. Turn off the heat and remove the skillet from the stove. Add the sausage back into the skillet and mix it into the gravy.

8. Taste the gravy. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste. Additionally, you can add complementary seasonings to the gravy. If you selected a sage-flavored sausage and wish to add extra sage, sprinkle in a little and stir before tasting again. Likewise, if you like the flavor of allspice, add a bit of it to taste.

References

• University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service; Making Sausage at Home; Roxie Rodgers Dinstel; August 2010