Chestnut And Bay Leaf Gravy Recipes

TURKEY & CHESTNUT GRAVY

Steps:

• Once the turkey has cooked and is resting on a board, carefully pour the juices from the roasting tin into a large heatproof jug. Leave to settle, then pour all of the fat into a separate jug. Put 2 tbsp fat in a saucepan and carefully dispose of the rest. If you have lots of pan juices left after skimming the fat off, substitute this for some of the chicken stock. Alternatively, put the goose fat or butter in a saucepan.
• Put the saucepan with the fat in on the heat and add the giblets. Cook for 10 mins or until golden, then add the flour. Cook for 2-3 mins, then add the white wine and stir well. Pour in the chicken stock, then add the thyme and bay. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 25-30 mins or until reduced by half, then stir in the chestnut purée.
• Strain the gravy into a jug, discard the herbs and giblets, season and serve with turkey.

THE BEST GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and turkey neck and giblets; cook, stirring, until browned, about 15 minutes. Add the broth, herb sprigs and bay leaf; cover and simmer about 2 hours (do this while the turkey roasts).
• Once your turkey is done, transfer it to a cutting board to rest and pour the pan drippings into a large fat separator cup. Strain the broth; save the giblets for chunky gravy, if desired.
• Put the roasting pan on the stovetop over low heat. Add a splash of the broth to the pan and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Transfer the liquid and bits to the fat separator.
• The fat will rise to the top of the degreasing cup. Spoon off 1/2 cup fat and transfer to a saucepan. (If you don't have enough turkey fat, add butter to measure 1/2 cup total.) Scatter in the flour and whisk to incorporate. Cook over medium heat, stirring in a figure-eight motion with a wooden spoon, until the flour mixture browns slightly, about 4 minutes.
• Gradually ladle the hot broth into the flour mixture, whisking constantly (this is key, or your gravy will be lumpy). Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat so the gravy simmers gently.
• Add the remaining turkey drippings to the gravy, leaving any extra fat behind in the fat separator. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper.

TURKEY CUTLETS WITH MUSHROOM AND WATER CHESTNUT STUFFING AND PAN GRAVY

Steps:

• Turn the broiler to high and toast the bread on both sides. Butter the toasted bread liberally with softened butter. Switch oven to bake and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Season the turkey cutlets with salt, pepper and 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning - just eyeball it. In a large skillet, brown turkey cutlets on each side over medium-high heat in 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil. Transfer the cutlets to a shallow baking dish and add 1 cup broth to keep meat moist. Transfer cutlets to oven, loosely tented with foil, to continue cooking through. To skillet that you browned the cutlets in, add 2 tablespoons butter and melt it over medium heat. Add flour to butter and cook a minute or two more. Whisk in about 2 cups turkey broth or chicken stock and allow it to thicken up, 5 minutes. Season the gravy with salt and pepper and poultry seasoning, to your taste.
• Preheat a second skillet, over medium high heat and 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add chopped mushrooms and brown 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper. Add celery, water chestnuts and bell pepper as you get them chopped. Continue to cook until veggies are all tender, another 5 minutes. Add scallions and herbs. Cut bread into cubes and add. Moisten stuffing with 1 cup broth or stock. Transfer to a serving dish. Use an ice cream scoop to portion out the stuffing at the table. Top mounds of stuffing with turkey cutlets and gravy, serve with sugar snap peas and brown rice or other vegetable side dishes of your choice.

CHESTNUT AND BAY LEAF GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat the oil and fry the carrot, celery, leek and half the onion over a low heat until soft.
• Add bay leaves, wine, herbs and stock. Bring to the boil and boil for 10 minutes.
• Strain gravy into a jug and discard the veg. Add soy and yeast extract (season with a good twist of black pepper if desired) and return to the pan.
• Add the chestnuts and remaining onion to the gravy and simmer for 10 minutes.