Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits with Sausage Gravy

Ingredients

For the Gravy:

3 ounces pork breakfast sausage, removed from the casing
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Biscuits:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small dice
1 cup low fat buttermilk
1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

For the Biscuits:

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives cut the butter pieces into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the buttermilk until the mixture is just moistened; knead the dough 1-2 times in the bowl to bring it together. Form the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 15 minutes.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to scant 3/4-inch thickness. Using a 2 1/4-inch biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits and set them on a large nonstick baking sheet. Gently press the dough scraps together and re-roll to a scant 3/4-inch thickness. Cut out enough biscuits to equal 12 and place them on the baking sheet. Brush the tops of each muffin with the melted butter. Bake the biscuits until they are puffed and the tops are golden brown, 14-15 minutes. Serve biscuits warm or room temperature.

For the Gravy:

1. Heat a 2-quart saucepan over medium. Add the sausage and cook, breaking into small crumbles, until lightly browned, 4-5 minutes. Stir in the butter and cook until melted, 30 seconds. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, increase the heat to medium-high and cook, whisking, until thickened, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper; keep warm.