Ham with Red Eye Gravy

The way the bitter coffee marries with the sweet, smoky fat is far from unpleasant, and infinitely better than simply pouring the pan drippings over your food.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ cup chopped fatty ham scraps
• 4 (1/4 inch thick) slices ham
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup brewed coffee

Directions

1. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir ham scraps until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove to a plate, reserving the grease in the pan.
2. Place ham slices in the pan and cook over medium heat until browned, about 5 minutes on each side. Season both sides with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Remove ham and reserve on a plate.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and sprinkle flour over the pan drippings. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and pour in coffee into the pan. Cook and stir until combined and thickened. Season to taste. Return ham to the pan to warm through.