During this time of uncertainty with no end in sight, we’re going to cook with all the ingredients we have. The normal, the random, and those forgotten impulse buys we made a month ago. This is quarantined cooking. 

Biscuits are a staple for a traditional Southern breakfast or brunch. When we think of biscuits, we think of hot, buttery, flakey mounds of cooked dough to hold jam, more butter, and gravy. But adding a few pantry staples can change the breakfast sidekick into a bolder biscuit that can accompany sandwiches, crockpot dinners, or a hearty snack in between Zoom meetings. The main recipe is easily adaptable, the alternative recipes require adding or omitting an ingredient with no additional steps. ––Justin Burke 

Buttermilk Biscuits
Makes 16 biscuits (depending on cutter size) 

Ingredients
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 cup baking powder
2 tablespoons salt
10 ounces unsalted butter, cold
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 egg, for egg wash 

 

Directions 

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Using a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. 
3. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry mix until butter is in small, pea-shaped pieces. If you don’t have a pastry cutter, use your hands to feather the butter until large chunks are no longer visible. 
4. Make a well in the center of the mix and pour in buttermilk. Mix with your hands until just incorporated. There will be some mix not fully incorporated; this is okay, it will come together when folded. 
5. On a floured work surface, dump the mix from the bowl. Shape the mix into a mound and flatten into a round circle about 2-inches thick. Using a medium biscuit cutter, punch out the biscuits and place on the sheet tray, two inches apart.
6. Reshape the scraps into a round circle and continue to punch out biscuits until there is no more dough. 
7. Brush the tops with egg wash and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. 

Alternative Recipes

Ranch Buttermilk Biscuits
Omit sugar
1 packet of ranch dressing mix

Whisk together the ranch dressing mix and buttermilk until smooth. Follow step four. 

Good for turkey avocado biscuit sandwiches 

Relish Buttermilk Biscuits
Omit sugar
½ cup pickle relish 

Stir together relish and buttermilk, follow step four. 

Good for chicken or tuna salad biscuit sandwiches. 

Ham and Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits
Omit sugar
1 ½ cups cheddar, grated
1 cup ham, diced
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

After step three, toss the ingredients by hand to incorporate fully. Follow step four. 

Good for brunch. 

Sriracha Buttermilk Biscuits
Omit sugar
2 tablespoons Sriracha (or preferred hot sauce)

Whisk together sriracha and buttermilk, follow step four. 

Good for fried chicken or barbecue dinner. 

Taco Buttermilk Biscuits
Omit sugar
1 packet taco seasoning 

Whisk together taco seasoning and buttermilk together until smooth. Follow step four. 

Good for ham or turkey sandwiches or chili dinner.

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