COUNTRY HAM-AND-CHEESE BISCUIT SANDWICHES

COUNTRY HAM-AND-CHEESE BISCUIT SANDWICHES image

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar (preferably raw)
3 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening or lard
1 1/4 cups chilled buttermilk plus additional for brushing biscuits
3 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, very thinly sliced, then frozen
Butter, room temperature
Black Mission Fig Jam
12 oz very thinly sliced country ham or 24 very thin slices prosciutto, folded to same size as biscuits
12 tablespoons coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 3/4 cup packed; 3 ounces)

Steps:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Whisk first 4 ingredients in large bowl to blend. Add shortening. Using fingertips, rub in shortening until very coarse meal forms (some pea-size lumps will remain). Gradually add 1 1/4 cups buttermilk, tossing with fork until dough just holds together. Turn dough out onto floured surface; pat out to 1/4-inch-thick rectangle (about 15x10 inches); see Shortcakes and Biscuit Tips. Arrange frozen butter slices in single layer over top two thirds of dough. Fold bottom third of dough over center; fold top third of dough over center (like folding a letter). Pat dough out to 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Using 2 1/2-inch round cutter and pressing straight down without twisting, cut out biscuits. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet. Gather dough and press again to 3/4-inch thickness. Cut out more biscuits (making 12 total) and transfer to sheet; brush with buttermilk. Bake biscuits until puffed and golden brown and tester inserted into center from side comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool biscuits 15 minutes before cutting. Preheat broiler. Using serrated knife, cut each biscuit in half horizontally; spread room-temperature butter over cut sides. Broil until butter melts and biscuits brown at edges, about 1 minute. Transfer to work surface; keep broiler on. Spread bottom halves of biscuits with fig jam. Top each with folded slices of country ham, then 1 tablespoon cheddar cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and ham is heated through, about 1 minute. Cover with biscuit tops. Place 2 filled biscuits on each of 6 plates. Serve grits alongside.