Gussied Up Gravy Recipes

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.

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY WITH ONIONS & SAGE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes, until the onion becomes browned and starts to caramelize. Sprinkle on the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, Cognac, sage leaves, bay leaves, 2 teaspoons salt (depending on the saltiness of the chicken stock), and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour and strain, pressing the solids lightly and then discarding them. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• After the turkey is cooked, remove it to a carving board to rest while you finish the gravy. Place the roasting pan on the stovetop over medium heat and add the wine. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring and scraping up all the bits clinging to the bottom of the pan. Slowly whisk the gravy base into the pan. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the gravy is smooth and slightly thickened. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the turkey pieces on a rimmed baking sheet, and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Roast until browned and cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the roasted turkey pieces to a medium saucepan; scrape up any brown bits from the baking sheet, and add them to the saucepan. Add the stock, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 30 minutes to enrich the stock with roasted-turkey flavor. Strain the liquid into a heat-safe bowl, and keep warm.
• Melt the butter in the saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour, and whisk until the mixture is smooth, toasted and a deep golden brown. Slowly pour in the warm broth, whisking continuously, and continue whisking until the mixture comes to a simmer. Continue to cook, still whisking, until the gravy is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Let the gravy cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag, label and date, and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve, reheat the frozen gravy in a saucepan or a microwave. Be sure to whisk vigorously as the gravy heats up to keep lumps from forming. Adjust the seasoning as needed.

SAUSAGE GRAVY

Steps:

• With your finger, tear small pieces of sausage and add them in a single layer to a large heavy skillet. Brown the sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Sprinkle on half the flour and stir so that the sausage soaks it all up, then add more little by little. Stir it around and cook it for another minute or so, then pour in the milk, stirring constantly.
• Cook the gravy, stirring frequently, until it thickens. (This may take a good 10 to 12 minutes.) Sprinkle in the seasoned salt and pepper and continue cooking until very thick and luscious. If it gets too thick too soon, just splash in another 1/2 cup of milk or more if needed. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Spoon the sausage gravy over warm biscuits and serve immediately!

MAPLE-WHISKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Put the giblets and neck in a small saucepan of water over medium heat and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium low and simmer until the giblets are cooked, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the giblets and neck, set aside and keep the water in the saucepan.
• In the turkey roasting pan (which should not have been cleaned!), add back 1/4 cup turkey fat. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk it into the fat to form a paste. If the paste is too thick or clumpy, add a little more fat. If it's too greasy, sprinkle in more flour. Whisk and cook the roux over medium-low heat until deep golden brown.
• Turn off the heat and add the whiskey, then turn the heat back on and whisk it in. Pour in the chicken broth, whisking the whole time, then add the maple syrup. Allow it to cook and thicken for several minutes, whisking occasionally. If the gravy gets too thick or if it's too salty, thin it with a little of the giblet water. If the gravy is too thin, just keep cooking until it thickens up. Taste, then add salt and plenty of black pepper. Chop the giblets and add them to the gravy. Remove as much of the neck meat as you can and add it to the gravy too. Serve immediately!

GUSSIED UP GRAVY

Steps:

• Add the caramelized mirepoix, sage and thyme to a saute pan, mix together and heat over medium until hot. Add the gravy, turkey pan juices, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer--don't boil it--and simmer until reduced slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a dish, let cool and then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• When ready to serve, bring the gravy back to a simmer. Stir in the chopped eggs and pour into a pitcher.
• Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• In a saute pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon each of the butter and oil. When the butter is melted, add the celery, carrots, onion and fennel (mirepoix) and saute until caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and stir through. Scoop out 2 cups of the caramelized mirepoix and reserve for the gravy. Put the remaining caramelized mirepoix in a large bowl (you should have about 4 cups).
• Heat a second saute pan over medium heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon each butter and oil and heat until the butter is melted. Add the celery root, parsnips and turnips and saute until caramelized, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the mirepoix and add the stuffing mix. Add the chicken broth, parsley, salt and pepper and toss together. Transfer the stuffing mixture to the prepared baking dish.
• If baking right away, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover with foil and bake until the stuffing is heated through, about 1 hour.
• If making ahead of time, cover the unbaked stuffing with foil and refrigerate overnight. The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring the stuffing to room temperature, then drizzle with 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Bake, covered with foil, until heated through, about 1 hour.