Description
Silky smooth turkey gravy elevates holiday meals with rich, savory flavor crafted from pan drippings. Each spoonful brings comfort and culinary tradition to your festive table, inviting you to savor classic homemade goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.75 cups (656 ml) turkey or chicken stock
- ¼ cup (60 ml) turkey drippings
- ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
Seasoning and Herbs:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
Optional Enrichment:
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- After roasting the turkey, carefully transfer the pan drippings into a fat separator or wide container, allowing the liquid to settle and the fat to rise to the surface. Carefully remove the excess fat, preserving approximately one-quarter cup of the flavorful liquid.
- Select a medium saucepan and warm the reserved drippings over medium heat. Introduce flour to the heated liquid, whisking continuously to create a smooth, golden-hued roux. Cook for roughly 1-2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Slowly incorporate turkey or chicken stock into the roux, whisking methodically to prevent lumps from forming. Maintain a steady stirring motion to ensure a silky, uniform texture.
- Introduce seasonings including salt, ground black pepper, and optional thyme to enhance the gravy’s depth of flavor. Reduce heat and allow the mixture to gently simmer, stirring periodically to prevent scorching.
- Monitor the gravy’s consistency, allowing it to thicken naturally over 5-7 minutes. If the sauce becomes too dense, gradually thin with additional stock until reaching the desired texture.
- Elevate the gravy’s richness by introducing a final pat of butter, creating a glossy and luxurious finish. Taste and refine the seasoning, ensuring a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
- For an exceptionally smooth presentation, consider straining the gravy through a fine-mesh sieve, removing any potential imperfections. Serve immediately alongside roasted turkey, complementing traditional side dishes.
Notes
- Collect drippings carefully, avoiding burning or scraping the bottom of the roasting pan to prevent bitter flavors.
- Use a fat separator to easily remove excess fat, creating a lighter, cleaner-tasting gravy without greasy residue.
- Whisk flour and fat slowly to create a smooth roux, preventing lumps and ensuring a silky texture in the final gravy.
- Adjust consistency by adding more stock if too thick or simmering longer if too thin, allowing the gravy to reach perfect pouring texture.
- Enhance flavor by adding herbs like rosemary or sage, or a splash of white wine for deeper complexity.
- Make ahead and reheat gently, stirring frequently to maintain smooth consistency and prevent separation.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting cornstarch or arrowroot powder for flour, whisking carefully to prevent clumping.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg