Biscuits and gravy

Biscuits and gravy is a popular breakfast dish in the United States, especially in the south.^[1] The dish consists of soft dough biscuits covered in white sausage gravy,^[2] made from the drippings of cooked pork sausage, flour, milk, and often (but not always) bits of sausage, bacon, ground beef, or other meat. The gravy is often flavored with black pepper, see Sausage gravy.

A serving of biscuits and gravy, accompanied by home fries

A variation of the dish served in the US military is sometimes referred to as "SOS" which means "shit on a shingle", and is prepared with either biscuits or toast, and has been a staple military comfort food for over 100 years.^[3][4][5][6]

History

Biscuits and gravy from a restaurant

The meal emerged as a distinct regional dish after the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), when stocks of foodstuffs were in short supply. Breakfast was necessarily the most substantial meal of the day for a person facing a day of work on the plantations in the American South.^[7] In addition, the lack of supplies and money meant it had to be cheap.^[7]

Restaurant chains specializing in biscuits and gravy include Biscuitville in Virginia and North Carolina, Tudor's Biscuit World in West Virginia, Biscuits N' Porn in North Carolina, and Biscuit Belly in Kentucky and Indiana.

Variations

Tomato gravy is white gravy mixed with crushed or diced tomatoes.^[8]

See also

• Food portal

• Chipped beef on toast
• Creamed eggs on toast
• Greasy spoon
• List of bread dishes
• List of regional dishes of the United States