One thing that is very country, is ham and biscuits and this recipe uses delicious smoked ham and flaky homemade buttermilk biscuits. You can use sliced ham or a thick piece of ham on these biscuits and a great dressing can be honey mustard or honey butter. They can be enjoyed anytime for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and can come together quickly in less than 45 minutes. Here’s how to make them:
Start by preheating your oven to 450 degrees. Now, sift all of your dry ingredients together through a sieve or flour sifter. Place 2 cups of flour, 2 tsp. of aluminum free baking powder, 1/4 tsp. baking soda, and 1 tsp. salt into the sieve or sifter and sift into a med. sized bowl.
Stir the dry ingredients to make sure everything is well distributed.
Next, take a 1/4 cup of well chilled shortening and drop in pieces on top of the flour and then cut it into the flour with a pastry cutter or large fork until it looks like meal, a few lumps are ok.
Add in 3/4 cup of buttermilk and stir to combine all of the flour. If the dough is too wet, just add a little more flour when kneading the dough. Do not overmix the dough, just mix until combined and then turn out onto a floured surface and need the dough gently, just enough for the dough to hold together. It is important not to overwork the dough or the biscuits will be tough. The less you work the dough, the flakier they will be.
As soon as the dough holds together, with your hands, gently flatten the dough to a 1/2 inch thick. Use whatever size cutter you want, I used a 3 inch round glass to cut them out. When cutting out the biscuits resist twisting or turning the cutter as you cut them out. Instead, press straight down because twisting can seal the edges and prevent the biscuits from rising nice and high.
Using a 3 inch cutter will yield 4 large biscuits. If you use a smaller size cutter obviously, you will get more. Just press any leftover dough together to cut out more biscuits and to use up all of the dough.
Place on an ungreased baking sheet, I use the double lined type that has air in the middle so the biscuits don’t burn on the bottom. If your pan is very thin, you can line it with parchment paper. Bake at 450 for 10 – 15 min. depending on the size. until light golden brown. Check at 10 min. and bake longer until they are done.
Once your beautiful biscuits are done, remove from the oven and take them off the baking sheet and move to a wire rack to cool slightly before slicing.
I use a nitrate, nitrite free smoked sliced ham, but you can also use just one thick slice if preferred.
To dress the biscuits I use organic raw honey mixed with mustard or I make a honey butter to spread on them and then fill with smoked ham. Enjoy and happy cooking!
Prep Time: 15 min. Cooking Time: 10-15 min.
Difficulty: Easy Servings: 4-6
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees Bake: 10-15 min.
2 cups flour sifted plus more for kneading
2 tsp. baking powder (aluminum free)
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup very chilled shortening
3/4 cup buttermilk
Smoked nitrate, nitrite free ham
For dressing, raw organic honey mixed with mustard or butter