Breakfast Biscuits and Gravy

Photo: flickr user Dan4th

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups Unbleached all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons Baking powder

1 teaspoon Salt

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, chilled

cup Plain yogurt

1/2 cup (+2 Tbsp) milk

1 1/2 pounds Pork sausage

1 1/2 tablespoons Minced fresh sage leaves, or 1 t. dried

1/4 teaspoon Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon Paprika

1/4 teaspoon Ground allspice

3 teaspoons 3 tsp

Unsalted butter, or as needed

3 tablespoons All-purpose flour

2 1/4 cups Milk

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons Fresh sage leaves

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 425F. Cover a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.

2. Make the biscuits: sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together into a large bowl. Using two knives or a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the texture rangers from cornmeal to the size of small peas. (These two steps can be done quickly in a food processor.) Using a fork, gradually mix in the yogurt, then the milk, until the dough is quite soft and somewhat sticky. Work quickly without overworking the dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it briefly, just long enough to get it to hold together. Roll it out so it is about 1 1/4 inches thick, and cut it into 2 i

3. While the biscuits are baking, prepare the sausages: place all the sausage ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly, using your fingers.

To test the seasoning, fry a tiny patty and taste; adjust if necessary.

4. Place the patties in a large heavy or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and cook until they are crisp and brown on the outside and cooked through inside, about 8 minutes per side. Transfer the sausage patties to a warmed platter and keep warm.

5. Make the gravy: Add enough of the butter to the skillet so the bottom is covered with 1/8 inch of fat. Stir, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium and add the flour slowly, stirring until it has absorbed the butter. Cook, stirring constantly, until it turns golden brown, at least 2 minutes. Then slowly pour in the milk, stirring constantly, and cook until the gravy thickens to the consistency of very heavy cream.<

6. To serve, split two biscuits in half. Place the bottom halves on a warm plate, top them with sausage patties, and pour a generous amount of gravy over the sausage. Mince the fresh sage and sprinkle some over the sausage and gravy. Set the biscuit tops at an angle, partially covering the sausages and serve immediately.

4 servings (with extra biscuits).