Country Ham and Biscuits: A Southern Classic Recipe
Country ham and biscuits. The words alone conjure images of lazy Southern mornings, warm kitchens, and the satisfying crunch of a perfect biscuit giving way to the salty, savory goodness of thinly sliced country ham. This isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience, a tradition, and a taste of home for many. If you’ve never experienced the joy of a truly great country ham biscuit, or if you’re looking to perfect your own recipe, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through every step, from sourcing the right ingredients to achieving that perfect golden-brown biscuit, ensuring a truly unforgettable culinary experience.
## Understanding the Key Ingredients
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s take a closer look at the stars of the show:
* **Country Ham:** This isn’t your average deli ham. Country ham is dry-cured, meaning it’s preserved through a process of salting, smoking, and aging. This results in a ham with a distinctive salty, robust flavor and a firm texture. The aging process can last for months or even years, concentrating the flavors and creating a truly unique product. Look for country ham that is thinly sliced – almost paper-thin is ideal. Many regions have their own particular styles of country ham, such as Benton’s from Tennessee or Edwards Virginia Smokehouse ham. Experiment to find your favorite!
* **Biscuits:** Ah, the biscuit. Fluffy, tender, and slightly crumbly, a good biscuit is essential for balancing the saltiness of the ham. We’ll be making a classic buttermilk biscuit, known for its tangy flavor and tender crumb. The key to a great biscuit is cold ingredients and minimal handling of the dough. Overworking the dough will result in tough, dense biscuits, so be gentle!
* **Butter:** Because everything is better with butter! We’ll be using cold butter in our biscuit recipe to create those flaky layers that we all crave. High-quality unsalted butter is recommended.
* **Buttermilk:** Buttermilk adds a subtle tang and helps to tenderize the biscuit dough. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make a substitute by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk and letting it sit for five minutes.
* **Flour:** All-purpose flour is the most common choice for biscuits, but you can also experiment with self-rising flour. If you use self-rising flour, omit the baking powder and salt from the recipe.
* **Baking Powder & Baking Soda:** These are the leavening agents that make our biscuits rise. Be sure to use fresh baking powder for the best results.
* **Salt:** Salt enhances the flavors of all the other ingredients and also helps to control the yeast activity (if using a yeast-based biscuit recipe, which we aren’t here).
* **Optional additions:** While the classic combination is simple, feel free to experiment with additions like honey, apple butter, or a sprinkle of black pepper to add your own personal touch.
## The Perfect Country Ham and Biscuit Recipe
This recipe yields about 10-12 biscuits.
### Ingredients:
**For the Biscuits:**
* 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
* 3/4 cup cold buttermilk
**For the Filling:**
* 1/2 pound thinly sliced country ham
* Optional: Honey, apple butter, or your favorite biscuit topping
### Equipment:
* Large mixing bowl
* Pastry blender or food processor
* Rolling pin
* 2-inch biscuit cutter (or a sharp knife)
* Baking sheet
* Parchment paper (optional, but recommended for easy cleanup)
### Instructions:
**Making the Biscuits:**
1. **Preheat the Oven:** Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. **Cut in the Butter:** Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. The smaller the butter pieces stay, the more flaky the biscuits will be. You can also use a food processor for this step: pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. **Add the Buttermilk:** Gradually add the cold buttermilk to the flour mixture, stirring gently with a fork until just combined. The dough will be shaggy and slightly sticky. Do not overmix!
5. **Turn out the Dough:** Lightly flour a clean work surface. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and gently pat it into a 3/4-inch thick rectangle. Use a rolling pin if needed, but avoid overworking the dough.
6. **Fold and Cut (Lamination for Layers):** This is where the magic happens! Fold the dough in half and gently pat it back into a 3/4-inch thick rectangle. Repeat this folding and patting process 3-4 times. This creates layers in the dough, which will result in flaky biscuits. With each fold, lightly dust the surface with flour to prevent sticking.
7. **Cut out the Biscuits:** Use a 2-inch biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits. Press straight down and avoid twisting the cutter, as this can seal the edges and prevent them from rising properly. If you don’t have a biscuit cutter, you can use a sharp knife to cut the dough into squares or triangles. Gather the scraps of dough, gently press them together, and cut out more biscuits until you’ve used up all the dough. These “scrap biscuits” may not be as pretty as the first batch, but they will still taste delicious.
8. **Arrange on Baking Sheet:** Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each biscuit. For softer-sided biscuits, place them close together. For crispier sides, space them further apart.
9. **Bake:** Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and have risen nicely. Keep a close eye on them, as ovens can vary.
10. **Cool Slightly:** Let the biscuits cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before serving.
**Assembling the Country Ham Biscuits:**
1. **Slice the Biscuits:** While the biscuits are still warm, gently split them in half horizontally.
2. **Add the Ham:** Place a few slices of thinly sliced country ham inside each biscuit.
3. **Add Optional Toppings:** If desired, drizzle with honey, spread with apple butter, or sprinkle with black pepper.
4. **Serve Immediately:** Serve the country ham biscuits warm and enjoy!
## Tips for Perfect Biscuits
* **Keep Everything Cold:** This is the most important tip for making flaky biscuits. Use cold butter, cold buttermilk, and even chill your mixing bowl if possible. The cold butter creates steam as it bakes, which separates the layers of dough and creates a flaky texture.
* **Don’t Overmix:** Overmixing the dough will develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough, dense biscuits. Mix the dough until just combined, and don’t worry if it’s a little shaggy.
* **Handle the Dough Gently:** Be gentle when patting out the dough. Avoid pressing down too hard, as this will flatten the biscuits and prevent them from rising properly.
* **Fold and Laminate:** The folding and patting process creates layers in the dough, which will result in flaky biscuits. Don’t skip this step!
* **Use a Sharp Biscuit Cutter:** A sharp biscuit cutter will create clean cuts, which will help the biscuits rise properly. Avoid twisting the cutter, as this can seal the edges and prevent them from rising.
* **Bake at a High Temperature:** Baking the biscuits at a high temperature will create a crisp exterior and a tender interior.
* **Don’t Overbake:** Overbaking the biscuits will make them dry and crumbly. Bake them until they are golden brown and have risen nicely.
* **Experiment with Flours:** Different types of flour will produce different results. All-purpose flour is the most common choice, but you can also experiment with self-rising flour or pastry flour.
* **Consider Adding Fat to the Dough:** Lard or shortening can be added to the dough along with butter for an even flakier biscuit. Some recipes call for a combination of butter and shortening.
* **Use a Grater:** If you find it difficult to cut the butter into small cubes, try grating it on a cheese grater. This will create fine shreds of butter that will incorporate easily into the flour.
* **Rest the Dough:** Some bakers recommend resting the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting out the biscuits. This allows the gluten to relax and can result in more tender biscuits.
## Variations and Additions
* **Sweet Potato Biscuits:** Add 1/2 cup of mashed sweet potato to the dough for a slightly sweet and flavorful biscuit.
* **Cheddar Biscuits:** Add 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the dough for a savory biscuit.
* **Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuits:** Add 1/4 cup of chopped jalapeños and 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the dough for a spicy and cheesy biscuit.
* **Herb Biscuits:** Add 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, or chives, to the dough for an herbaceous biscuit.
* **Bacon Biscuits:** Crumble cooked bacon and add it to the dough for a smoky and savory biscuit.
* **Ham and Cheese Biscuits:** Add diced ham and shredded cheese to the dough for a heartier biscuit.
* **Honey Butter Biscuits:** Brush the warm biscuits with melted honey butter for a sweet and decadent treat.
* **Mini Biscuits:** Use a smaller biscuit cutter to make mini biscuits, perfect for appetizers or snacks.
* **Drop Biscuits:** For a rustic and easy version, skip the rolling and cutting steps. Simply drop spoonfuls of the dough onto the baking sheet.
## Serving Suggestions
Country ham biscuits are delicious on their own, but they can also be served with a variety of accompaniments.
* **Gravy:** Serve with sausage gravy, tomato gravy, or chocolate gravy for a classic Southern breakfast.
* **Eggs:** Serve alongside scrambled eggs, fried eggs, or an omelet for a complete breakfast.
* **Fruit:** Serve with fresh fruit, such as berries, peaches, or melon, for a refreshing contrast to the saltiness of the ham.
* **Jam or Jelly:** Serve with your favorite jam or jelly for a sweet and savory combination.
* **Cheese:** Serve with a slice of cheese, such as cheddar, swiss, or provolone, for a more substantial meal.
* **Hot Sauce:** Add a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
* **Coffee or Tea:** Enjoy with a cup of hot coffee or tea for a perfect Southern breakfast.
## Storing Leftovers
Leftover country ham biscuits can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, warm them in the oven or microwave.
## Sourcing Country Ham
Finding good quality country ham is crucial for this recipe. Here are a few tips:
* **Local Butchers and Specialty Stores:** Check with your local butcher shops or specialty food stores. They often carry a variety of country hams and can offer recommendations.
* **Online Retailers:** Many online retailers specialize in country ham. Some popular brands include Benton’s, Edwards Virginia Smokehouse, and Newsom’s Old Mill Store.
* **Farmers Markets:** Farmers markets are a great place to find locally sourced country ham.
* **Read Labels Carefully:** Look for country ham that is dry-cured and aged. Check the ingredients list to make sure it doesn’t contain any artificial preservatives or additives.
* **Ask for Samples:** If possible, ask for a sample before you buy. This will give you a chance to taste the ham and make sure you like the flavor.
## Conclusion
Country ham and biscuits are more than just a recipe; they’re a symbol of Southern hospitality and a taste of home. With a little practice and attention to detail, you can create your own version of this classic dish and share it with your loved ones. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to experience the joy of a truly great country ham biscuit. Enjoy!