Thanksgiving dinner is incomplete without a rich, flavorful turkey stock and gravy. This article provides two easy-to-follow recipes for making both turkey stock and gravy from scratch. The turkey stock recipe uses a combination of turkey bones, vegetables, and herbs to create a flavorful base for soups, stews, and sauces. The gravy recipe uses the turkey stock as a base and adds butter, flour, and seasonings to create a thick, creamy gravy that is perfect for pouring over turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. With detailed instructions and helpful tips, this article ensures that you'll be able to make delicious turkey stock and gravy that will impress your family and friends.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CLASSIC TURKEY GRAVY
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 3h
Yield 8 cups
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- When your turkey goes into the oven, start the broth: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and turkey neck and giblets; cook, stirring, until the giblets are browned, about 15 minutes. Add the chicken broth, herb sprigs and bay leaf; cover and simmer while the turkey roasts, about 2 hours. Strain the broth and keep warm; reserve the neck and giblets, if desired.
- When your turkey is done, transfer it to a cutting board and pour all the pan drippings into a degreasing cup. Add 1/2 cup of the prepared broth to the roasting pan and scrape up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. (If the bits are stuck, put the pan over a low burner to loosen them.) Add the bits and liquid to the degreasing cup.
- Let the fat rise to the top of the degreasing cup, then spoon off 1/2 cup fat and transfer to a large saucepan over medium heat. Make a roux: Sprinkle the flour into the pan and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the flour browns slightly, about 4 minutes.
- Gradually add the hot broth to the roux, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low. Pour the dark roasting juices from the degreasing cup into the gravy, discarding any remaining fat. If desired, chop the giblets and shred the neck meat; add to the gravy. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the flavored butter, if desired.
- Start with cold heavy cream and mix on high speed.
- After about 3 minutes, you'll have whipped cream; continue mixing.
- After about 6 more minutes, the butter will clump and separate from the liquid. Strain and wrap the butter in cheesecloth, then squeeze out the liquid.
- Tip: To make perfect rounds, shape flavored butter into a log using parchment paper; wrap and chill, then slice.
- Pumpkin
- Mash 1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin, 1 stick softened butter, 1/4 teaspoon orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon each sugar and pumpkin pie spice, and a pinch of salt.
- Spiced Cranberry
- Simmer 1/2 cup cranberries with 1 tablespoon water, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 strip lemon zest, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 clove, 6 to 8 minutes. Discard the zest, cinnamon and clove; let cool. Pulse in a food processor with 1 stick softened butter and a pinch of salt.
- Bourbon-Raisin
- Microwave 1/2 cup raisins with 1 tablespoon bourbon, covered, 45 seconds; let cool. Pulse in a food processor with 1 stick softened butter, 1 tablespoon chopped chives and a pinch of salt.
- Sage Brown Butter
- Melt 1 stick butter over medium heat and cook until browned. Add 1/4 cup sage and fry 30 seconds; drain on paper towels, then chop. Let the brown butter cool; mash with 1 stick softened butter, the sage and a pinch of salt.
TURKEY GRAVY
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories condiment
Time 3h20m
Yield 5 to 6 cups
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Put the turkey wings* into a small roasting pan and roast them until they are golden brown, about 30 minutes. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, herbs, and peppercorns and cook for 5 minutes. Add the turkey wings. Pour some water into the roasting pan and scrape up all the browned bits on the bottom; add this to the pot. Cover everything in the pot with cold
- water by 1-inch and bring to the boil, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Strain out the solids and discard. Wipe out the pot and put it over medium heat. Melt the butter with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and add the flour. Cook this roux, stirring frequently, until it is golden brown. Slowly whisk in the strained stock being careful to work out any lumps. Cook until the gravy has thickened, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- *Cook's note: Also add the backbone and neck from the turkey you are grilling.
BEST GRAVY
The best gravy for Thanksgiving starts with make-ahead turkey stock, a true roux, and the drippings from your roasted turkey.
Provided by Mary Frances Heck
Yield Makes 6 cups of gravy
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Arrange 3½ pounds turkey wings and 1 turkey neck (optional) on a rimmed baking sheet and roast, turning turkey halfway through, until golden brown, about 45 minutes.
- Transfer wings and neck to a stockpot. Pour off fat from baking sheet; discard. Pour 2 cups water onto baking sheet. Scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Pour liquid from sheet into pot with turkey. Add 1 chopped large onion, 1 peeled and chopped large carrot, 1 chopped celery stalk, 4 sprigs parsley, 4 sprigs thyme, 12 whole peppercorns, 1 bay leaf, and 10 cups water. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to low and simmer gently until stock is reduced by at least one-third, about 4 hours.
- Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. If you have more than 6 cups stock, simmer uncovered over medium heat until reduced to 6 cups. Let cool. Pour stock into an airtight container; cover and chill. DO AHEAD: Stock can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled. Stock can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Melt ⅓ cup unsalted butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Whisk in ⅓ cup all-purpose flour. Reduce heat to low; whisk until roux is golden brown, about 2 minutes. DO AHEAD: Roux can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool, cover, and chill.
- Bring 6 cups Make-Ahead Turkey Stock to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1-2 cups skimmed and strained roast turkey drippings. (If you're short on drippings, skim fat from pan and add 1-2 cups water. Scrape up browned bits with a wooden spoon; strain liquid into stock.) Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Whisk in roux. Reduce heat to low; simmer gently for 5 minutes for gravy to thicken and flavors to meld. You're done! VARIATIONS (for every 6 cups of gravy:): Option 1: Reduce 1½ cups dry white wine in a small saucepan to 1 cup; stir into gravy. Option 2: Add 1½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce. Option 3: Add 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons apple cider and simmer for 5 minutes.
TURKEY GRAVY FROM SCRATCH
The stock can be made weeks ahead; so can the gravy itself. The golden turkey fat from the roasting pan is reserved and forms the base for a rich roux. The finished gravy freezes beautifully and only needs to be whisked in a hot pan and tasted for salt and pepper before serving.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories sauces and gravies, side dish
Time 9h
Yield 3 quarts, about 20 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt 4 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle turkey parts lightly with salt and pepper, place in roasting pan and brush with melted butter. Roast 2 hours, basting with butter every 20 minutes or so.
- Transfer roasted turkey to a stockpot and set roasting pan aside. Add onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves and peppercorns to stockpot. Add cold water just to cover, bring to a simmer and cook, slightly uncovered, about 6 hours.
- Meanwhile, place roasting pan on top of stove and bring juices to a simmer over low heat. Pour in wine (or water), stirring and scraping to bring up browned bits. (If using wine, simmer at least 5 minutes.) Pour all liquid into a bowl and refrigerate. When deglazing liquid is cool, lift off top layer of fat; reserve fat. Add deglazing liquid to stockpot.
- When stock is golden and flavorful, strain into a large container and refrigerate. When cool, lift off fat and mix it with reserved fat from deglazing liquid. Reserve 3 quarts stock for gravy and refrigerate or freeze the rest for another use.
- In a deep skillet or large heavy pot, melt 12 tablespoons (3/4 cup) reserved turkey fat over medium heat. If you do not have enough turkey fat, use additional butter to make 3/4 cup. Gradually whisk in the flour. Cook, whisking, until golden brown and toasty-smelling, 3 to 5 minutes or longer for darker gravy.
- Whisk in a small amount of stock (this prevents lumps), then add remainder more quickly and whisk until smooth. Simmer, continually whisking, until thickened. If too thick, thin with more stock or a little wine and simmer briefly. Season with salt and pepper. If desired, whisk in a few tablespoons cold butter to smooth and enrich gravy.
THE BEST TURKEY GRAVY
This gravy takes a little work but it is sooooooo worth the time and effort.
Provided by JULZBROWN
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Gravy Recipes Turkey Gravy Recipes
Time 3h35m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Remove the wrapping, and place the giblets and turkey neck into a large saucepan with onion, celery, white pepper, and turkey gravy mix. Pour the chicken broth over the mixture, bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the turkey liver and set aside. Allow the stock to simmer for 2 1/2 more hours. Stock should equal about 3 cups; add more chicken broth if necessary. Remove the giblets and chop them if you want to put them back into the gravy. Chop the liver if desired. Strain the stock into a saucepan; discard bones and spent vegetables.
- When the turkey is finished roasting, pour the drippings into a fat separator or bowl, and skim off the fat. In a bowl, whisk the quick-mixing flour with the pan drippings until smooth, then whisk the flour mixture into the stock. Bring the gravy mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, and add the chopped giblets, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 229.4 calories, Carbohydrate 4.9 g, Cholesterol 42.2 mg, Fat 20.3 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 6.6 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 142.9 mg, Sugar 1 g
Tips:
- Use a variety of bones: For a richer flavor, use a combination of turkey bones, such as the neck, back, and wings. You can also add some roasted vegetables, such as carrots, celery, and onions, to the stockpot for additional flavor.
- Simmer the stock for at least 4 hours: The longer you simmer the stock, the more flavor it will have. If you're short on time, you can simmer the stock for a shorter period of time, but the flavor will be less intense.
- Strain the stock before using it: Once the stock is finished simmering, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any solids. This will give you a clear, flavorful stock that can be used in a variety of recipes.
- Freeze the stock for later use: If you don't plan on using the stock right away, you can freeze it for later use. Simply transfer the cooled stock to freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
Conclusion:
Turkey stock is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of recipes, from soups and stews to gravies and sauces. By following these tips, you can make a delicious turkey stock that will add flavor to all your favorite dishes. So next time you have a turkey carcass, don't throw it away! Use it to make a delicious and flavorful turkey stock that you can enjoy all week long.
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