An old southern recipe for tomato gravy. Delicious served over hot buttermilk biscuits and topped with an over-easy egg.
I'm doing my most favorite kind of post today. A good, old-fashioned recipe.
As you all know, I post all kinds of things here on Never Enough Thyme - southern, traditional, vintage, even classic recipes. Even though the main theme of the blog is southern traditional, I basically post whatever I feel like cooking and sounds good to eat!
Lots of people say that's a big mistake, that a blog should have a very strict focus, but that's never been my intention. I just enjoy sharing recipes of all kinds and that's what I do, but it always makes me happiest when I share something really old.
This recipe for Tomato Gravy is an old, traditionally southern recipe. It's good for breakfast, lunch, or supper and is best served over buttermilk biscuits hot from the oven. We enjoy it on biscuits topped with an over-easy or poached egg and a side of either bacon or ham. It's also good spooned over fried chicken or on top of country fried steak. I've even drizzled it on top of homemade french fries and topped that with shredded cheese. I hope you'll give tomato gravy a try. I think you're going to love it!
An old southern recipe for tomato gravy. Delicious served over hot buttermilk biscuits and topped with an over-easy egg. Click To Tweet
How to Make Tomato Gravy
Heat the bacon fat in a skillet over medium high heat. If you don't always have a jar of bacon fat in your fridge like I do, you can use olive oil. Or you could fry up a few pieces of bacon and use the rendered fat. It'll taste way better than the olive oil :-)
Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, for an additional minute or two.
Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes.
Add the tomatoes along with their juice. Break the tomatoes up with a spoon or potato masher. Bring to a bubble and then reduce the heat to medium low.
Add the thyme leaves, salt, and pepper and continue cooking at a simmer for 5-6 minutes. Stir often so that the gravy doesn't stick to the pan.
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the butter and milk or cream. Serve over hot split biscuits topped with an over easy or poached egg and a side of bacon or ham.
Just a note - the thyme, butter, and cream are not really traditional in tomato gravy but are my own additions. I think the thyme adds a lovely flavor and the butter and cream give a very nice finish. If you want a strictly traditional recipe, just leave those out.
Enjoy!
More Tomato Recipes on Never Enough Thyme:
Tomato Gravy Recipes from Other Bloggers:
- Shrimp in Tomato Gravy with Creamy Grits from Andrea's Recipes
- Tomato Gravy Recipe from Dottie's Biscuit Barn from The Vintage Mixer
- Toast with Tomato Gravy from Taste and Tell
- Tomato Gravy with Fried Okra and Rice from The South in My Mouth
- Southern Homestyle Tomato Gravy from Deep South Dish
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Tomato Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 tblsp. bacon fat
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 tblsp. all-purpose flour
- 14.5 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes with their juice
- 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 tsp. butter
- 1/4 cup milk or cream
Instructions
- Heat the bacon fat in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until soft. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, for an additional minute or two. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juice. Break the tomatoes up with a spoon or potato masher. Bring to a bubble, reduce the heat to medium low. Add the thyme leaves, salt, and pepper and continue cooking at a simmer for 5-6 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the butter and milk or cream. Serve over hot split biscuits topped with an over easy or poached egg and a side of bacon or ham.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
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Lana Stuart is the cook and occasional traveler here at Never Enough Thyme. Lana has been cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove and started this blog in 2009 to share her delicious home cooking recipes. You'll find about 700 recipes here so there's sure to be something your family will like!
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Rachel
In my family we use a bottle of favorite hot sauce and serve it on tacos The elderly couple I sit for asked for tomato gravy which I had never made (so I thought) I never realized they were basically the same recipe!!! I will be making for him in the am thank you so much this was not the first recipe I looked up but it was the first one that I recognized the rest seem to explain it in a difficult way when I knew better thank you so much we’re making a easy delicious recipe easy to read and still look delicious
Lana Stuart
I hope the couple enjoy it, Rachel!
Candycane
I love tomatoe gravy! I always put chopped celery in mine and use Italian seasoning in place of the thyme. I add a couple spoonfuls of sugar and serve over rice, mac and cheese, toast or baked potatoes. I will be trying your recipe and love the addition of an egg! Sounds delicious!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic
Gravy is one thing that I love about southerners! This northern girl has never heard of tomato gravy, but I'm loving the look of it over hot biscuits with a soft fried egg. I will definitely be trying this one.
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
I'm glad you posted this one Lana. It sounds delicious and like one I'll definitely be trying. I'm the same with you about my blog. I kind of lost the fun of it but am trying to be more relaxed about it going forward.
Stella
Like another poster, I'm think tomato gravy with meatloaf along with a splash over my favorite comfort food - mashed potatoes.
carrie
I was so excited to try this that I actually forgot to add the cream and butter at the end and it still turned out fantastic. I served it over meatloaf and the whole family loved it. It has been added to my rotation..thanks for sharing!
Lana Stuart
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Carrie!