Nation Ham with Pink Eye Gravy

Nation ham is a kind of cured ham that could be a staple in Southern delicacies. It’s produced from the hind leg of a pig and undergoes a prolonged curing course of that entails rubbing the meat with salt, sugar, and different seasonings. The ham is then hung to dry and age for a number of months, which permits the flavors to develop and intensify. Nation ham is thought for its wealthy, salty, and barely smoky style.

Pink Eye Gravy (typically known as Poor Man’s Gravy or Ham Gravy) is a standard Southern darkish, skinny gravy that’s served with nation ham. The gravy is made by deglazing the pan after cooking the ham, utilizing robust black espresso. The espresso provides a novel and daring taste to the gravy, making it an ideal pairing with the saltiness of the ham. When you don’t like espresso then you definitely received’t like Pink Eye Gravy. I suppose you would substitute with a low sodium beef broth however then it’s now not crimson eye gravy.
Some say it’s known as that to assist get up your drained crimson eyes within the morning (due to the espresso added), and a few say it’s as a result of the ham and gravy appear to be a crimson eye. Personally, I feel it’s the drained eyes clarification as a result of this can absolutely get you going within the morning!

The ham slices are normally bought in vacuum sealed packaging so that you typically received’t discover it within the chilly part, it might be on a separate stand close to the meat part and typically it may be situated within the refrigerated part with the opposite meats.
Whether it is raw nation ham, will probably be within the chilly part. Regardless, I all the time hold mine saved within the fridge. Except you’re from an space the place nation ham is widespread like the place I dwell, it’s going to virtually all the time be cooked ham. However both method, this recipe works with each cooked and raw.

Nation Ham slices can come “cooked” and “raw” – they’ve each been preserved and cured with salt however one has gone by way of the extra cooking course of (normally they’re smoked). 
Typically the packaging is not going to say “raw”, it’s going to simply say “able to cook dinner” and that permits you to understand it must be cooked first. Within the case of this recipe, we’re frying it up anyway and it doesn’t matter which one you get, they’ll each style improbable and the recipe directions received’t change. 

When you can’t discover nation ham close to you, you should purchase it on-line and there are many nice choices. I normally simply get what’s on sale at my grocery retailer however my choice is the Virginia model nation hams since that’s the place I’m from and what I grew up with however they could be a bit extra expensive than others. Virginia is thought for his or her ham so I feel they get a bit “excessive on the hog” – actually. Listed here are some nation ham slices to take a look at (you should purchase complete hams too):
Raw ham slices: Edwards Raw Virginia Ham Slices
Cooked ham slices: Kites Cooked Virginia Ham Slices or Edwards Cooked Virginia Ham Slices.

The milk soak actually does assist to get a number of the salt out of the ham. It’s also possible to use water if desired however I feel the milk does a greater job and that’s how I used to be taught. I choose to soak first, in any other case, it’s too salty and who needs a mouthful of tremendous salty ham? However, in case you prefer it fairly salty, the soaking is elective, so do as your style buds choose.

Usually, I could be fairly lenient with substitutions, however not with this recipe. I’ve to emphasize that it’s simply not Nation Ham and Pink Eye Gravy with out the nation ham. You could possibly presumably use a ham steak however it’s simply not going to provide the identical taste in any respect. So, if attainable, keep on with the Nation Ham.

I have to stress that Pink Eye Gravy just isn’t a standard thick gravy. It’s meant to be skinny. Nevertheless, in case you just like the gravy barely thickened, you may whisk in 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch into the water after which flip the warmth up as you whisk and you need to begin to see it thicken.

I prefer it served with grits and biscuits.

Hold leftovers within the fridge for as much as 3 days, freeze for as much as 3 months. The gravy texture might change as soon as frozen and thawed.

You may reheat by inserting the whole lot again into the pan and simmer till heat once more. When you microwave it, it might probably come out rubbery and difficult.