Foolproof Gravy Guide Recipes

FOOLPROOF GRAVY

Steps:

• Pour drippings into a 2-cup measuring cup. Skim and discard fat. Add enough broth to the drippings to measure 2 cups; transfer to a small saucepan and bring to a boil., In a small bowl, whisk flour and milk until smooth; gradually stir into drippings mixture. Stir in the bouillon granules, poultry seasoning and white pepper. Return to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

FOOLPROOF FAT-FREE GRAVY

Steps:

• Defat the pan drippings by placing them in a fat separator cup.
• (If you don't have one, pour the drippings into a bowl, add a few ice cubes, and skim off the fat once it rises and hardens.) Combine the fat-free drippings, pepper, poultry seasoning, and bouillon granules in a 1 quart saucepan, and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
• While the gravy is heating, combine the flour and milk in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and shake until smooth.
• Slowly add the milk mixture to the simmering broth, stirring constantly with a wire whisk.
• Continue to cook and stir until the gravy is thick and bubbly.
• Transfer the gravy to a warmed gravy boat or pitcher, and serve hot with the turkey.
• Makes 2-1/2 servings (1 serving= 2 tablespoons).

PERFECT GRAVY

Steps:

• Remove turkey from the roasting pan. In a small jar, shake flour with water until smooth; set aside.
• Leaving carrot, onion, and turkey neck in the pan, remove 2 to 3 tablespoons of fat from the bottom, using a baster.
• Place pan over medium heat; add chicken broth. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Simmer the mixture until the sauce has darkened, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the vegetables and the turkey neck from the pan, and discard. Strain the sauce into a large measuring cup; discard any solids. You should have approximately 3 1/2 cups of strained liquid; add more stock if needed.
• Return the liquid to the pan; bring it to a simmer. Whisking constantly, gradually add the flour mixture.
• Cook mixture until gravy is smooth, has no lumps, and is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, 10 to 12 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

FOOLPROOF GIBLET GRAVY

Steps:

• Stage 1 MAKE BROTH.
• Up to 3 days ahead cut turkey neck and heart in half.
• Put into a large saucepan along with gizzard and remaining broth ingredients.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours.
• Add liver and simmer 30 minutes longer or until gizzard is very tender.
• Remove giblets to a cutting board.
• Strain broth into a large cup measure, pressing vegetables to extract as much broth as possible.
• Discard vegetables.
• Add water to broth if needed, to make 6 cups.
• Chop giblets and neck meat.
• Refrigerate.
• Stage 2 THICKEN BROTH.
• Mash butter and flour with a fork until blended to a paste. Break into 4 chunks.
• Bring broth to a boil, reduce heat to low and gradually whisk in flour mixture, 1 chunk at a time, until blended.
• Whisk until thickened and boiling. Boil 3 minutes minutes longer to cook out any "floury" taste.
• Cover surface of gravy to keep skin from forming.
• Refrigerate.
• Stage 3 FINISH GRAVY.
• After turkey is removed from roasting pan: Spoon fat off pan drippings and discard.
• Stir juices in pan (add up to 2°C water if juices have evaporated), scraping up brown bits on bottom of pan.
• Add no more than 2 cups of drippings to gravy or it will be too thin.
• Stir in giblets and neck meat.
• Heat and season to taste.