Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner is incomplete without moist, flavorful, and silky gravy. However, making gravy from scratch can be a daunting task for novice cooks. The gravy may turn out to be too thick, too thin, or bland. If you follow the right recipe and some simple tips, you can create the perfect no-fail roast turkey gravy that will elevate your holiday meal.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
CHEF JOHN'S ROAST TURKEY AND GRAVY
The biggest myth in all of American cookery is the belief that a juicy, perfectly cooked turkey is difficult for the novice cook to achieve. One of the secrets to a moist, delicious, and beautiful turkey is spreading butter under the skin. You can season the butter any way you want; the possibilities are endless.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Turkey Whole Turkey Recipes
Time 4h55m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Mix 2 tablespoons salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper, and poultry seasoning in a small bowl. Tuck turkey wings under the bird, and season cavity with about 1 tablespoon of the poultry seasoning mixture. Reserve remaining poultry seasoning mix.
- Toss the onion, celery, and carrots together in a bowl. Stuff about 1/2 cup of the vegetable mixture, rosemary sprigs, and 1/2 bunch sage into the cavity of the turkey. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Loosen the skin on top of the turkey breast using fingers or a small spatula. Place about 2 tablespoons butter under the skin and spread evenly. Spread the remaining butter (about 2 tablespoons) all over the outside of the skin. Sprinkle the outside of the turkey with the remaining poultry seasoning mix.
- Spread the remaining onion, celery, and carrots into a large roasting pan. Place the turkey on top of the vegetables. Fill the pan with about 1/2 inch of water. Arrange a sheet of aluminum foil over the breast of the turkey.
- Roast the turkey in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 3 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 165 degrees F (75 degrees C). Remove the foil during the last hour of cooking. Baste the turkey with the pan juices.
- While the turkey is roasting, make stock: place neck, heart, and gizzards in a saucepan with the bay leaf and water. Simmer over medium heat for 2 hours. Strain the turkey giblets from the stock, and discard giblets. There should be at least 4 cups of stock.
- Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Pour the pan juices, about 3 cups, into a saucepan and set aside. Skim off the turkey fat from the pan juices, reserving about 2 tablespoons.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the turkey fat and 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Transfer the onion from the roasting pan into the skillet. Cook and stir until the onion is browned, about 5 minutes, then stir in the flour. Continue to cook and stir for about 5 minutes more; whisk in 4 cups of the skimmed turkey stock and the reserved pan juices until smooth; skim off any foam. Stir in the balsamic vinegar. Simmer until the gravy is thickened, whisking constantly, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of chopped sage, and season to taste with salt and black pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 942.1 calories, Carbohydrate 4.6 g, Cholesterol 256.3 mg, Fat 70.1 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 68.7 g, SaturatedFat 22.8 g, Sodium 949.8 mg, Sugar 1.2 g
FOOLPROOF TURKEY GRAVY
There are just two simple steps (and five easy ingredients) in this delicious turkey gravy from drippings. You'll be delighted with the smooth, flavorful results. This is a recipe you'll return to every year, so be prepared to become the designated "gravy maker" at all your holiday gatherings. You'll get rave reviews, but don't let anyone know how easy it really is to make turkey graving from drippings; it may sound complicated, but with Betty's foolproof recipe you'll be able to add another turkey feather to your apron.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Condiment
Time 10m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Pour drippings from roasting pan into bowl, leaving brown particles in pan. Return 1/4 cup drippings to roasting pan. (Measure accurately because too little fat makes gravy lumpy.) Stir in flour. (Measure accurately so gravy is not greasy.)
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Stir in liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in salt and pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 40, Carbohydrate 2 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 2 Tablespoons, Sodium 200 mg
KITTENCAL'S EASY NO-FAIL MAKE ANYTIME TURKEY GRAVY
I have been using this recipe for many years, my family loves this gravy and I have served it to dinner guests over the holidays and always receive rave reviews! --- you don't need to make this gravy using all pan drippings, if you do not have 4 cups of drippings you may mix with chicken broth to make the 4 cups, or it may be made with only chicken broth, please see note on the bottom of the recipe--- this may be made slightly ahead and kept uncovered on top of the stove until ready to serve, just whisk before using If you have any left over this gravy freezes very well or you may reduce all ingredients down to half and for a thinner gravy reduce flour by 1 tablespoon --- also see my recipe#314890 for more of my recipes visit www.kittencalskitchen.com
Provided by Kittencalrecipezazz
Categories Sauces
Time 20m
Yield 5 cups (approx)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Drain the pan drippings for the roasted turkey through a fine strainer.
- Let sit and then remove any fat from the top of the drippings.
- Add in chicken broth or water to make 4 cups if necessary.
- In a medium saucepan, melt margarine or butter.
- Add in lots of black pepper.
- Add in 1/2 cup flour plus 3 tablespoons; constantly whisk for about 3 minutes over low heat.
- Slowly add in the 4 cups turkey broth/drippings; whisk constantly over medium-low heat until bubbly and thickened (about 3 minutes).
- Use right away or keep warm over lowest heat setting, whisk again before serving.
- **OPTIONS** to make this gravy using all chicken broth prepare as directed using 4 cups low sodium chicken broth and 1 tablespoon chicken boullion powder ---- or you may add in low sodium chicken broth omitting bouillon powder to pan drippings to make up 4 cups.
PERFECT ROAST TURKEY AND GRAVY
Provided by James Briscione
Categories main-dish
Time 14h30m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Twelve to 24 hours before cooking the turkey, remove the giblets and dry the turkey inside and out with paper towels. Rub the Dry Brine on all sides of the turkey, completely seasoning the exterior as well as the interior cavity. Place the turkey in a pan inside the refrigerator overnight.
- Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
- When ready to cook, remove the turkey from the refrigerator and pat dry with paper towels. Cut one of the onions into quarters. Place the onion quarters, herbs and one head of the garlic inside the turkey. Tie the legs together with a single piece of string and tuck the wings under the body.
- Chop the remaining onion. Combine the chopped onion, carrots, celery and remaining garlic in a large roasting pan. Place the turkey on top of the vegetables in the roasting pan.
- Brush the entire surface of the turkey with the melted butter and sprinkle lightly with salt. Pour any remaining melted butter over the vegetables in the base of the pan. Place the turkey in the oven to roast on the center rack with the legs towards the back wall of the oven.
- After 45 minutes, remove the turkey from the oven and set on the stovetop. Carefully tilt the pan to one side and use a ladle to baste the butter over the breast of the turkey. Return the turkey to the oven, this time with the breast toward the back wall of the oven. Continue basting and rotating the turkey every 45 minutes until done. The turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees F, 2 1/2 to 3 hours total. If at any point during the cooking the skin of the breast becomes too dark, cover the breast with aluminum foil and continue cooking to doneness.
- When the turkey is done, remove to a cooling rack to rest for 30 to 45 minutes.
- To make the gravy, place the roasting pan on the stovetop. Turn the heat beneath the roasting pan to medium. Cook the vegetables, stirring constantly, until the butter remaining in the pan is translucent, up to 6 minutes. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the butter, if necessary. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir until a thick paste forms. Pour in the wine, stirring well and scraping the bottom of the pan to release any brown bits that remain stuck to the pan. Add the chicken stock and continue stirring until the stock reaches a simmer. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until flavorful and thickened to your liking.
- Transfer the entire gravy mixture to a saucepot and bring back to a simmer. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper and strain the gravy into a serving container. Serve with the carved turkey.
- Combine the salt, sugar, garlic powder, pepper, fennel and sage in an airtight container and shake to thoroughly combine. Keeps for up to 6 months.
PERFECT ROAST TURKEY WITH BEST-EVER GRAVY
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 6h
Yield 18 servings with about 7 cups
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Position a rack in the lowest position of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
- Reserve the turkey neck and giblets to use in gravy or stock. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water. Pat the turkey skin dry. Turn the turkey on its breast. Loosely fill the neck cavity with stuffing. Using a thin wooden or metal skewer, pin the neck skin to the back. Fold the turkey's wings akimbo behind the back or tie to the body with kitchen string. Loosely fill the large body cavity with stuffing. Place any remaining stuffing in a lightly buttered casserole, cover and refrigerate to bake as a side dish. Place the drumsticks in the hock lock or tie together with kitchen string.
- Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in the roasting pan. Rub all over with the softened butter. Season with salt and pepper. Tightly cover the breast area with aluminum foil. Pour 2 cups of the turkey stock into the bottom of the pan.
- Roast the turkey, basting all over every 30 minutes with the juices on the bottom of the pan (lift up the foil to reach the breast area), until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh (but not touching the bone) reads 180 degrees and the stuffing is at least 160 degrees, about 4 1/2 hours. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 1/2 cups at a time. Remove the foil during the last hour to allow the skin to brown.
- Transfer the turkey to a large serving platter and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before carving. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Drizzle 1/2 cup turkey stock over the stuffing in the casserole, cover, and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, pour the drippings from the roasting pan into a heatproof glass bowl or large measuring cup. Let stand for 5 minutes, then skim off and reserve the clear yellow fat that has risen to the top. Measure 3/4 cup fat, adding melted butter if needed. Add enough turkey stock to the skimmed drippings to make 8 cups total.
- Place the roasting pan on two stove burners over low heat and add the turkey fat. Whisk in the flour, scraping up browned bits on the bottom of the pan, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the turkey stock and the optional bourbon. Cook, whisking often, until the gravy has thickened and no trace of raw flour remains, about 5 minutes. Transfer the gravy to a warmed gravy boat. Carve the turkey and serve the gravy and the stuffing alongside
PERFECT NO-FAIL ROAST TURKEY GRAVY
If you are looking for a fantastic homemade turkey gravy, look no further! This is by far the absolute best tasting gravy to accompany the traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas roast turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. No other gravy will do! From my family to yours--I hope you enjoy as much as we do!
Provided by BecR2400
Categories Poultry
Time 3h15m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a medium saucepan, bring the water (or broth), turkey parts, shredded carrot, celery and onion, and bay leaf to a boil.
- Cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until liver is done; remove liver and set aside.
- Continue to cook, covered, until giblets are done, about 2 hours more.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove turkey parts to a cutting board. Let cool slightly, then carefully remove all bones from meat. Cut up the turkey and liver into fine pieces; set aside.
- Make a paste by whisking together 1/2 cup water and the flour in a glass measuring cup.
- Gradually whisk the paste into the warm broth, whisking briskly to combine. Bring to a boil and boil gently, whisking all the while, for 2-3 minutes until gravy is thickened. Now reduce heat to low and stir in the turkey drippings, milk or cream, and finely chopped turkey meat.
- Heat through briefly, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour into a gravy boat to serve. ENJOY your perfect gravy!
PERFECT TURKEY GRAVY
Learn how to make the perfect gravy for Thanksgiving using caramelized, brown bits from the bottom of the roasting pan, homemade Giblet stock, Madeira wine, and salt and pepper for seasoning.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Turkey Recipes
Yield Makes 3 cups
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Make giblet stock while turkey is roasting.
- Transfer roasted turkey to a large platter. Pour juices from the pan into a fat separator. Set aside to separate, about 10 minutes.
- Strain stock, discarding solids, and return to saucepan; warm over low heat. Place roasting pan on top of stove over medium-high heat. Pour Madeira into measuring cup, then into pan, and let it bubble; scrape bottom and sides of pan with a wooden spoon to dislodge cooked-on bits.
- Make a slurry: Place flour in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Ladle 1 cup stock into jar, and close lid. Shake until combined. Slowly pour into roasting pan; stir to incorporate. Cook over medium heat, stirring until flour is cooked, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly stir in remaining stock.
- Raise heat to medium high. Add the dark drippings that have settled to the bottom of the fat separator to roasting pan. Discard fat. Stir in rosemary. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 10 to 15 minutes to reduce and thicken. (For thicker gravy, add 1 more tablespoon flour and 1/2 cup less stock.)
- Strain liquid from pan through a very fine sieve. Adjust seasoning. Keep warm in heat-proof bowl over a pan of simmering water until ready to serve.
EASY ROAST TURKEY WITH NO-ROUX GRAVY RECIPE
It's important to follow the measurements for the salt and to use a low-sodium stock (or, better yet, a homemade one) for this recipe-otherwise, the gravy could wind up being too salty.
Provided by Claire Saffitz
Yield Serves 8 with leftovers
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Mix brown sugar, spices, pepper, and 3 Tbsp. or 4 1/2 tsp. salt in a small bowl to combine; sprinkle all over surface and inside cavity of turkey. Place turkey on a V-shape roasting rack set inside a large roasting pan (if using a disposable pan, place it on a rimmed baking sheet). Chill, uncovered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
- Let sit at room temperature 1 1/2-2 hours.
- Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 450°F. Smear butter all over outside of turkey. Arrange turkey wings (if using), neck, and giblets, then onions, celery, and garlic around turkey and pour in wine. Roast on center rack until skin is golden all over, 25-35 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300° and continue to roast turkey, rotating 180° halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast registers 150°F (temperature will rise as the bird rests), 1 1/2-2 hours. Carefully transfer turkey to a cutting board and tent with foil.
- Increase oven temperature to 450°F. Push vegetables, neck, giblets, and wings (if using) into center of roasting pan and sprinkle flour over. Roast until flour is very lightly browned in a few spots, 12-15 minutes. Scrape contents of roasting pan into a large saucepan. Add thyme and broth. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by nearly half and gravy is thick enough to coat a spoon, 25-30 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium saucepan; discard solids. Stir in soy sauce; season with more salt if needed. Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat while you carve the turkey. Thin with a bit more stock if needed.
Tips:
- Use Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the gravy. Use fresh herbs, vegetables, and broth, and choose a high-quality turkey.
- Roast the Turkey Properly: Make sure the turkey is cooked thoroughly, but not overcooked. This will help ensure that the drippings are flavorful and rich.
- Make the Gravy Immediately After Roasting the Turkey: This will help capture all of the flavorful drippings from the turkey.
- Use a Good-Quality Stock or Broth: The stock or broth you use will make a big difference in the flavor of the gravy. Choose a high-quality, flavorful stock or broth.
- Season the Gravy to Taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add fresh herbs, grated Parmesan cheese, or a splash of white wine for extra flavor.
- Strain the Gravy: This will remove any lumps or unwanted bits from the gravy, resulting in a smooth, velvety texture.
Conclusion:
With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can make a delicious, flavorful turkey gravy that will be the perfect complement to your holiday meal. Remember to use fresh, high-quality ingredients, roast the turkey properly, and make the gravy immediately after roasting the turkey. With these tips, you'll be sure to impress your family and friends with your culinary skills.
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