Ham with Red-eye Gravy

Prep: 5 min

Cook: 10 min.

Serves: 4

Cost per serving: 41¢

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

12 oz. smoked ham, sliced 1/4 inch thick

1/3 cup strongly brewed coffee

Pepper

1. In a large frying pan (it should be big enough to accommodate ham, even more than one slice, in a single layer), melt butter over medium-high heat. Once butter foams, add ham and cook until browned on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and tent loosely with foil to keep warm.

2. Pour coffee into pan and cook, stirring and scraping bottom of pan to release browned bits, until liquid is reduced by about half and just slightly thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. (Gravy will still be thin.) Season with pepper to taste, pour over ham and serve hot.

PER SERVING: 137 Cal., 9g Fat (6g Sat.), 53mg Chol., 0g Fiber, 15g Pro., 0g Carb., 1,078mg Sod.

Kitchen Tips

Use the right ham. Get the thick-sliced smoked ham for this recipe at the meat counter in the supermarket, not at the deli case where the lunch meats are sold.

Have it for breakfast. Make this tasty ham with eggs and grits for a decadent weekend breakfast.

Get it thicker. If you prefer thicker gravy, whisk a few teaspoons of cornstarch into the coffee.