Thanksgiving and holiday feasts wouldn't be complete without the rich, flavorful gravy that complements the roasted turkey. This article presents two delectable gravy recipes: Chef John's Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy and Linda's version with her special modifications. Both recipes promise to elevate your holiday meal with their distinct flavors and textures.
Chef John's recipe emphasizes convenience and time-saving. Prepared ahead of time, this gravy can be refrigerated or frozen until ready to serve. The secret lies in roasting turkey necks, wings, and giblets to create a flavorful base. Aromatic vegetables, herbs, and seasonings further enhance the depth of flavor.
Linda's modifications add a unique touch to the classic gravy recipe. She incorporates white wine for a subtle acidity and a touch of Dijon mustard for a hint of sharpness. These adjustments create a well-balanced gravy that pairs perfectly with roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all the Thanksgiving trimmings.
Whether you prefer Chef John's classic approach or Linda's creative twist, these gravy recipes guarantee a delicious and memorable holiday feast. Prepare to indulge in the rich, savory flavors that will leave your taste buds craving more.
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
RICH MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY
If you're like me, I can't stand the last minute rush and expectations in making the turkey gravy. You have one shot and it better be good! Well, this takes out all the stress of that last minute dash. Can be frozen or refrigerated for five days. This is honestly the best turkey gravy I've ever had. You dirty a few pots and pans, but it sure beats the last minute rush Thanksgiving Day. Let me know what you think. Bon appetite!
Provided by john.jacoby
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Gravy Recipes Turkey Gravy Recipes
Time 3h
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 12
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 111.4 calories, Carbohydrate 5.2 g, Cholesterol 25.5 mg, Fat 4.7 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 7.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 250.4 mg, Sugar 1.2 g
MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY
I discovered this excellent Thanksgiving gravy recipe years ago! It is gravy that, unlike most, can be made AHEAD of time. The gravy will keep for 3 months when frozen in an airtight container.
Provided by SUE1956
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Gravy Recipes Turkey Gravy Recipes
Time 2h30m
Yield 32
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange a single layer of turkey wings in a large roasting pan. Scatter the onions over the top of the wings. Roast in the preheated oven for 1-1/4 hours or until wings are browned.
- Place browned wings and onions in a 5 quart stockpot. Add water to roasting pan and stir, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Pour the the water from the pan into the stockpot. Stir in 6 cups broth, carrot, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 1-1/2 hours.
- Remove wings from the pot and place on a cutting board. When the wings are cool, pull off the skin and meat. Discard the skin and save the meat for another use. Strain contents of stockpot through a large strainer into a 3 quart saucepan. Press on the vegetables to extract any remaining liquid. Discard the vegetables and skim the fat off the liquid. Bring the contents of the pot to a gentle boil.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour into the remaining 2 cups chicken broth until smooth. Gradually whisk the flour mixture into the simmering turkey broth; simmer 3-4 minutes or until the gravy has thickened. Stir in the butter and pepper. Serve immediately or pour into containers and refrigerate or freeze.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 58.9 calories, Carbohydrate 3.2 g, Cholesterol 15.2 mg, Fat 2.8 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 4.9 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 17.7 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
Tips:
- Use a roasting pan with a lid. This will help keep the turkey moist and prevent the gravy from becoming too thick.
- Roast the turkey at a high temperature for the first 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325°F. This will help to brown the turkey and keep it from drying out.
- Baste the turkey every 30 minutes with the pan juices. This will help to keep the turkey moist and flavorful.
- Remove the turkey from the oven when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Let the turkey rest for 15 minutes before carving.
- Make the gravy while the turkey is resting. This will give the flavors time to develop.
- Serve the gravy immediately with the turkey and your favorite sides.
Conclusion:
This recipe for make-ahead turkey gravy is a delicious and easy way to add flavor to your Thanksgiving turkey. By following these tips, you can make sure that your gravy turns out perfect every time. So, next time you're making turkey, be sure to try this recipe for make-ahead turkey gravy. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love