Advanceplanningturkeygravy Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine onion, carrots, celery, and vegetable oil in a large roasting pan and toss to coat. Place turkey wings on top of vegetables
• Place roasting pan in the preheated oven and cook until the turkey wings are browned and vegetables are caramelized and softened, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Transfer turkey wings and vegetables to a large stockpot. Place the roasting pan over a stovetop burner on medium heat. Pour 2 tablespoons cold water into the pan and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer mixture to the stockpot and add 10 cups cold water, thyme, and garlic.
• Bring turkey wing mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until meat falls off the bone, about 3 hours. Skim off turkey fat throughout the process and set aside 2 tablespoons.
• Strain turkey stock and reserve 6 cups of stock; discard all the solids.
• Heat butter and 2 tablespoons reserved turkey fat in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour and cook, whisking continuously, until it begins to smell like cooked pie crust, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly pour in turkey stock, whisking continuously. Increase heat to high and simmer until thick and warmed through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.

MAKE-AHEAD GRAVY

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook onion, celery and thyme until vegetables are very soft and golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in flour and cook until just beginning to brown, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes.
• Gradually stir in 2 cups broth. Cook, stirring frequently with a whisk, until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes; cool. Refrigerate gravy base and remaining 2 cups broth up to 2 days before serving.
• When turkey is finished roasting, remove from pan to let rest. Skim fat from pan drippings. Add turkey pan drippings to refrigerated gravy base in a medium saucepan; heat over medium heat, stirring frequently. Add reserved broth 1/4 cup at a time until desired thickness. Simmer until heated through and serve.

RICH MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place the turkey wings, onions, celery, carrots, and garlic into a roasting pan, and roast until the turkey wings turn a deep golden brown color, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Transfer the cooked wings and vegetables to a large pot. Place the roasting pan over 2 stove burners on medium-high heat, then pour the white wine into the roasting pan. Scrape off and dissolve any browned flavor bits from the bottom of the pan into the white wine; heat and scrape the roasting pan until the drippings and wine have reduced to about 1/2 cup. Pour the wine mixture into the saucepan with the turkey wings.
• Pour chicken broth and water into the pot, and season with thyme. Push the turkey wings down into the liquid; bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 45 minutes. Skim off any foam that collects on top. Pour the broth mixture through a colander into a large bowl; pick meat from the wings, if desired, to add to gravy, or discard the spent wings and vegetables. Allow the gravy base to stand for several minutes for the fat to collect into a layer on top, and skim as much fat as possible. Transfer the skimmed fat into a saucepan. There should be at least 1/2 cup of turkey fat; add butter to make this amount if necessary.
• Whisk the flour into the turkey fat over medium heat until the flour mixture becomes smooth and golden brown. Gradually whisk in the broth until the gravy comes to a boil and thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Allow the gravy to cool, then refrigerate or freeze. Reheat almost to boiling to serve.

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons salt, the garlic powder, onion powder, sage and pepper. Use to generously season the turkey wings on all sides and use any extra to season the carrots, celery and onion.
• Place the turkey wings and vegetables in a Dutch oven and bake, uncovered, 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Transfer the Dutch oven to the stovetop on medium-high heat. Add the stock and bay leaves. Use a wooden spoon to break up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Bring to a low boil, reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the turkey wings and use a mesh strainer to separate the vegetables from the broth. Use a spoon to press out any liquid from the vegetables. Use a gravy fat separator (optional, but I like to do this step because I find the extra fat can cause the gravy to separate) or skim off the excess fat.
• In the same Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook until it starts to turn golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in the reserved broth, sherry and Worcestershire. Simmer until it thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. If you have any lumps, pass through a fine mesh sieve. Let cool completely and refrigerate or freeze until use.
• Reheating Instructions: You may need to add a few tablespoons of stock and whisk vigorously to thin out the gravy.

THE BEST (DO-AHEAD) TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• In deep 12 inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot.
• Add turkey wings and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until golden on all sides.
• Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic, and cook 8-10 minutes or until turkey wings and vegetables are browned, stirring frequently.
• Transfer turkey and vegetables to a large bowl.
• Add wine to skillet, and stir until browned bits are loosened.
• Return turkey and veggies to skillet.
• Stir in broth, thyme and 3 cups water, heat to boiling over high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes.
• Strain into an 8-cup measure or a large bowl; discard solids.
• Let broth stand a few seconds until fat separates from meat juice.
• Spoon 1/4 cup fat from broth into 2-quart saucepan; skim and discard any remaining fat.
• Add flour to fat in saucepan; cook, stirring over medium heat until flour turns golden brown.
• Gradually whisk in reserved broth and cook until gravy boils and thickens slightly, stirring constantly.
• Pour gravy into a 2-quart container or medium bowl, cover and refrigerate.
• At serving time, reheat gravy and add pan drippings (and/or cooked diced giblets) from the roast turkey if you like.
• Gravy can be reheated in microwave prior to serving.