Do You Ever Make Ham Gravy?

With Easter coming this weekend, I will make the traditional ham. I usually make scalloped potatoes with it.

When I first met my husband, his Mom always made ham gravy with her ham and of course mashed potatoes. I always thought the gravy tasted like salt water. LOL! I would never say anything, though. Hubby loved it. He loves all gravies.

I am thinking about making mashed potatoes and ham gravy this year. Although, I don't want it to taste like salt water gravy. If anyone makes this, please let me know if you have a good recipe. Maybe MIL just didn't have enough of ham bits in it to make the difference in the ham flavor. Or perhaps it is just an acquired taste.

Do you celebrate Easter? Will you be having a ham? We will also have a veggie tray, pickled eggs, green beans and some kind of dessert. I haven't decided on that yet. Maybe a coconut cream pie.

Comments: 16

sheila ~the hapless housewife~ j. Apr 5, 2012, 2:10pm UTC

We're having ham, but I've never had gravy with it.

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William M. Apr 5, 2012, 2:23pm UTC

We make sausage gravy but don't remeber making any with ham. I would think it would tastes good.

J F. Apr 5, 2012, 3:34pm UTC

Sausage gravy is very good with nice, big fluffy biscuits. Yum!

William M. Apr 5, 2012, 3:40pm UTC

Talking about it is making me hungry.

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John S. (arizona) Apr 5, 2012, 2:42pm UTC

I used to make ham gravy all the time from scratch, just like my Mom taught me. However, as you mention I can't really do it like I used to years ago because hams are too salty "now-a-days." It's really a shame because it tastes so good, but just too plain salty for most people. I read that they add a lot more salt or brine(?) to packaged hams than they used to because it preserves it longer, kills more bacteria, and/or something like that.
Anyway, what I usually do now if anything is just add some broth from the bottom of the cooking pan to a store bought gravy mix for a little added flavor, as opposed to the traditional method... not the same though, LOL.

J F. Apr 5, 2012, 3:33pm UTC

Sounds like a plan to me. :)

Dennis Gilman Apr 5, 2012, 3:56pm UTC

My wife boils the ham first.

John S. (arizona) Apr 5, 2012, 4:30pm UTC

You know Dennis, now that you mention that I seem to recall somebody recommending to soak the ham in water for some period of time to try and leech the salt out. Never tried it though, or remember the details, but boiling would be doing much the same thing I suppose. Does she boil it for that reason, to get the salt out, or just part of the way she cooks it?

Del Nerkez Apr 5, 2012, 4:33pm UTC

or make it from fresh (non-cured) ham, or a smoked, sugar, or maple cured one.

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Larry H. Apr 5, 2012, 3:00pm UTC

thanks for sharing having pork loin potatoes. don't know what else.

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Dennis Gilman Apr 5, 2012, 3:55pm UTC

Don't celebrate Easter. Love ham gravy.

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Sensational Sadie Sexy Senior Sitizen Apr 5, 2012, 4:22pm UTC

I don't care for ham gravy. I would either have secalooped potatoes or oven baked cheesy hash brown casserole. If you think about it enough ahead of time you could save the drippings from a beef roast and have gravy from that, or a pork roast.

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Ishbel R. Apr 5, 2012, 6:30pm UTC

Here in the UK, it is traditional to serve spring lamb (the paschal lamb). I always roast a leg of lamb, serve it with mint sauce, roasted potatoes and turnips, honey-glazed carrots, spring greens and a red wine reduction gravy.

Pudding? Usuallly a simnel cake and later we eat home-made hot cross buns.

Ham is not an Easter meat, here.

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Nurse Nancy S. Apr 10, 2012, 11:25am UTC

Red-eye gravy is a thin sauce often seen in the cuisine of the Southern United States and associated with the country ham of that region.
To the ham drippings in the pan, add about 1/2 cup cold water mixed with 2 cups of strong brewed day-old coffee. Allow to boil until gravy turns red. Blend and pour over the ham.
YUMMY!!!

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michele r. Apr 15, 2012, 7:37pm UTC

We have ham but we normally have pineapple gravy with ours. Keith's mom or his sister makes it.

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Marilyn (PaintsOnSlate) S. Jun 12, 2012, 5:40pm UTC

I've never made it but I know it can be tasty.

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Do You Ever Make Ham Gravy?

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