Biscuits and Gravy has truly become one of my family’s favorite breakfasts. I think it all started one year when my son came home for the holidays and requested biscuits and gravy for breakfast. I had never made them before, but like I always do, I willingly gave a shot at a new recipe. Well, once was not enough after I made them for my son Paul. Now, anytime one of my children are home, especially for the holidays, it’s biscuits and gravy for their homecoming breakfast. Now, over the years, as I try to cook healthier, I decided to come up with a Lighter Biscuits and Gravy recipe.
Making a recipe in a “lighter” or healthier version is not that complicated and you do not have to sacrifice any of the flavor. My recipe for Lighter Biscuits and Gravy basically involves a few substitute ingredients, the addition of some herbs and spices, and using a little less of the “naughty” ingredients.
First, in making the biscuits, I use a little less fat and substitute some of the white flour for white whole wheat flour. I love this type of flour because it is a true whole wheat flour, but a little bit lighter. I love, love the King Arthur Flour brand. Next, I use a little less butter when making the sausage gravy. I also add in Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage Crumbles, instead of traditional pork breakfast sausage. The thing that is great about these is yes, they have less fat, but they are fully cooked so you do not have to take all that extra time browning the sausage. Plus you can add some wonderful spices to make it taste even more like real pork sausage.
Finally, and I love this substitution not only for making Lighter Biscuits and Gravy, but also for other recipes that call for half and half or heavy cream…Fat Free Half and Half. That’s right, fat free. It has all the creaminess of regular half and half but with a huge cut in the fat. You can find in several different brands, but I prefer Land O’ Lakes.
Yeah! I can actually have a Lighter Biscuits and Gravy. Serve them up with some wonderful home fries or hash browns and a light fruit salad and you have a memorable Christmas morning breakfast that will keep you satisfied all the way through unwrapping those presents.
So, for my extra special, lightened up version of biscuits and gravy that is a welcome home favorite…Merry Christmas Morning from the Memorable Kitchen!
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup minus 1 tablespoon fat free half and half or 1% milk
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour (I use King Arthur Flour Brand)
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup sweet onion (about ½ of a medium onion)
- 1-9 oz. package Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage Crumbles
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cups milk or fat free half and half
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon sausage spice mixture (I use Savory Spice Shop Pork Sausage Seasoning)
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Place apple cider vinegar in a 1 cup measure. Add enough fat free half and half to make one cup. Set aside. Mixture will get curdly.
- In a medium bowl combine flours, baking powder, salt and sugar. Cut butter into small cubes.
- Cut into the flour mixture with 2 knives or a pastry blender until butter pieces are pea size. Or you can place 1 cup of flour mixture into a food processor and combine with the butter. Mix into remaining flour mixture.
- Mix half and half mixture into flour mixture. Mix only until dry ingredients are incorporated into dough. Over mixing will make tough biscuits.
- Place dough on a floured surface. Pat out into a circle until about ½ thick. Cut with 2 inch biscuit cutters and place on a baking sheet prepared with baking spray.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
- Place the butter in a medium sauce pan over medium high heat. When melted, add the onions and cook for 8 minutes until soft. Add turkey sausage and cook for 2 more minutes. Add salt and pepper and seasoning.
- Heat half and half in the microwave for 1 minute until warm.
- Sprinkle flour over the onion and sausage mixture.
- Whisk for about a minute until thick. Add half and half and cook for 1-2 minutes until gravy is thick and bubbly. Add a tablespoon more of half and half if too thick.
- Serve warm over halved biscuits.
Leave a Reply