For those following a ketogenic diet, finding satisfying and delicious breakfast options can sometimes be a challenge. Look no further! This article explores a classic Southern comfort food transformed into a keto-friendly delight: keto breakfast gravy, often served over biscuits. We'll delve into the nuances of creating a creamy, flavorful, and low-carb gravy that will have you looking forward to breakfast.
What is Keto Sausage Gravy?
Traditional sausage gravy is a staple Southern breakfast dish, typically served over biscuits. It’s made with browned sausage, all-purpose flour, milk, and seasonings. This recipe transforms this high-carb classic into a keto-friendly version. How do we make this southern gravy into a keto recipe? We use heavy cream instead of milk and cream cheese to thicken instead of flour. Regular dairy milk has a much higher carb count and flour is loaded with carbs.
Why Keto Breakfast Gravy?
Keto breakfast can be tough, but this simple recipe will have you going back for seconds! The best part of this recipe is understanding that all of those extra carbs from yesteryear were completely and totally unnecessary.
Ingredients and Substitutions
The beauty of this keto sausage gravy lies in its simplicity. The core ingredients are:
- Sausage: Opt for a good quality ground pork sausage. Bob Evans ground pork sausage is a popular choice. You don’t want links or anything with casings. Some prefer sage sausage, while others enjoy hot or Italian varieties. Remember to check the carb content of your chosen sausage. For a lighter option, consider homemade turkey sausage.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is key to achieving a rich and creamy texture while keeping the carb count low. Most gravy recipes use milk rather than cream. In one cup of milk there are 12 grams of carbs. In one cup of heavy cream, there are just 6.8 grams of carbs.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese acts as a thickening agent, adding to the gravy's creamy consistency.
- Chicken Broth: Chicken broth adds depth of flavor to the gravy.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder are essential for enhancing the taste. A pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes can add a kick.
For those with dietary restrictions or preferences, here are a few substitutions:
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Dairy-Free: To make a dairy-free keto sausage gravy, substitute the heavy cream with unsweetened almond milk (or non-dairy milk of choice) and use a keto-friendly thickening agent like xanthan gum or glucomannan root.
- Thickening Agent: While cream cheese and heavy cream are typically sufficient, xanthan gum can be used for extra thickness. However, exercise caution, as too much xanthan gum can result in a slimy texture.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here's how to create this delectable keto breakfast gravy:
- Brown the Sausage: In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium-high heat. Break it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Once browned, remove the sausage from the pan and set aside, leaving the fat in the pan.
- Create the Gravy Base: Reduce the heat to medium. Whisk in the cream cheese, heavy cream, and chicken broth to the fat in the pan.
- Simmer and Thicken: Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking continuously to break up the cream cheese and ensure a creamy sauce. Simmer until the sauce has thickened, typically around 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently. If you like your gravy super thick, add a bit of Xanthan Gum, but be patient, as the gravy will thicken naturally over time.
- Combine and Season: Once the gravy has reached your desired consistency, add the cooked sausage back to the skillet and stir to combine. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste. Simmer for a few more minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Keto Gravy
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Letting the cream cheese and heavy cream come to room temperature before adding them to the skillet can help them incorporate more smoothly into the gravy.
- Simmering is Key: The gravy doesn’t reduce and thicken right away. If the gravy is too thin, keep simmering.
- Don't Cover: Pro-tip: don’t cover it up, as uncovered simmering helps to reduce the liquid faster.
- Type of Flour: The finer the flour, the better. You also need to use full-fat cream in this recipe, which will thicken on its own without any almond flour. If you’re worried about thickening, pour the water in slowly, bit by bit, so you can decide how much to add.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a kick.
Serving Suggestions
While this keto sausage gravy is delicious on its own, it's even better when paired with the right accompaniments. Here are some serving suggestions:
- Keto Biscuits: The most classic pairing is with keto biscuits. These can be made using almond flour as the base, along with butter, heavy whipping cream, and cheese.
- Low Carb Bread: If biscuits aren't your thing, try spooning the gravy over low carb bread, low carb English muffins, or keto cheese waffles.
- Eggs: Keto sausage gravy is also delicious on top of scrambled eggs.
- Keto Waffles: This recipe is perfect for making Keto biscuits and gravy but it is also delicious on top of keto waffles.
Storage and Reheating
- Storage: Store leftover sausage gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Freezing: If you want to freeze it, let it cool down completely and transfer it to a freezer-safe container. It will last for about 2 months when stored properly. I don’t really recommend this though because the cream doesn’t reheat well.
- Reheating: When you’re ready to reheat the gravy, you can do so in the microwave or stovetop. If using the microwave, heat it in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it’s heated through. If using the stovetop, heat the gravy in a saucepan over low-medium heat, occasionally stirring until it’s heated through. To reheat it, I just dump the contents into a skillet and rewarm it. If you are using it frozen, take it out the day before and put it in the fridge to thaw.
Keto Biscuits Recipe
Here's a quick recipe for keto biscuits to enjoy with your gravy:
Ingredients:
- 3 cups almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ Teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350F; line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a sipat liner.
- Whisk together the almond flour, baking powder, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
- Cut in the butter with a fork until it looks like coarse meal.
- Use a fork to mix in the heavy whipping cream a little at a time, and then mix in the eggs.
- Cut in the white cheddar until it forms a dough.
- Divide the dough into 8 equal portions and roll each into a ball.
- Arrange the balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake until golden on bottom, about 20 minutes.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with keto sausage gravy.
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