Grandma's Southern Tomato Gravy Recipe
This Grandma's Southern Tomato Gravy Recipe is a family treasure. It is warm, savory, and very easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup of bacon drippings or butter.
- 1/4 cup of all-purpose white flour.
- 1 can 14.5 oz of diced tomatoes.
- 1 cup of whole milk or water.
- 1 teaspoon of granulated white sugar.
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt.
- 1/2 teaspoon of cracked black pepper.
Instructions
Heat the Fat
- Place your skillet over a medium heat flame. Melt the bacon fat or the butter completely.
Make the Roux
- Whisk the flour into the hot melted fat. Stir it constantly for about two minutes now.
Brown the Flour
- Keep stirring until the flour turns light brown. This adds a deep nutty flavor to gravy.
Add the Tomatoes
- Pour the tomatoes and their juices into skillet. Stir quickly so no lumps form in flour.
Pour the Liquid
- Slowly add the milk or the plain water. Keep stirring until the mixture starts to thicken.
Season the Gravy
- Add the sugar, salt, and the black pepper. The sugar helps balance the acidic tomato taste.
Simmer to Finish
- Lower the heat and let it bubble softly. Cook for five minutes until it is very smooth.
Notes
- Use bacon grease for the most authentic flavor.
- Stir constantly to prevent the flour from burning.
- Mash the tomatoes with a fork for smoothness.
- Use heavy cream for a much richer gravy.
- Add a pinch of cayenne for a kick.
- Serve it immediately while it is very hot.
- Thin it with more milk if it gets thick.