Jamie Oliver Christmas gravy?

[NewBallsPlease00]

Doing Christmas Day hosting
Corner cutting in some parts but as I'm on a budget and also dairy free I need to make some stuff properly- so- is making the JO gravy worth it? Heard its good and I could make now and freeze but is it worth the effort- and also how many people does 1litre serve?
Thanks

[Gliblet]

It's definitely worth it - and very cheap to make if you use budget chicken wings\thighs. It can be made gluten free as well if you swap cornflour in for the 3tbsp normal wheat flour. Most importantly it will save you standing over a hot greasy roasting pan on Christmas day sloshing veg water around and whisking furiously while panicking about lumps and trying not to burn anything else! And a litre is a lot of gravy. Would easily do 10 for example. You might want to serve it in a couple of smaller jugs instead of one big one as well. Less likely anyone will end up drowning their dinner accidentally (or on purpose!).

[harryhausen]

By dh makes it every year. It's lush. He makes it about a week in advance and freezes. It makes a lot. We're a family of 4 with only 2 adults for Xmas day but we have lots over for Boxing Day.

[SnowMuchToBits]

Oh good - I was thinking of doing this. That has convinced me it will be worthwhile!

[PotteringAlong]

I was debating it too! You've all convinced me!

[Ubik1]

is it this one? I'm hosting this year and need all the help I can get TBH

[trixymalixy]

It's great. I'm really cheap at making gravy, so this was a lifesaver.

[Gliblet]

That's the one Ubik - I know she seems a bit out of touch at times but Delia has some pretty good tips about what can be prepped and frozen ahead as well.

[Donge13]

It is gorgeous. Make extra an freeze it.

[SpaghettiMeatballs]

I want to do this too but I'm a bit nervous about freezing it so was going to do it on 22nd..... Does it really defrost ok??

[Gliblet]

Yes it really does - and there's much less chance of bacteria surviving being frozen then boiled than having a couple of days in the fridge (if that's what worries you).

[exLtEveDallas]

I've got mine in roasting as we speak. I did it last year for the first time and my family raved over it. For me it was a little bit too thick, but I'll just add some more water this year.

It freezes fine. I think I made it two weeks in advance last year and just got it out the freezer on Xmas eve. Finishing it off on the day with juices and a good dollop of cranberry makes it look the business.

(Now I've just got to work out how to do a beef version for DH that won't break the bank...)

[exLtEveDallas]

Oh and I don't add the star anise, but do put in a couple of cloves of garlic instead.

[bimandbam]

Big fan of it here. Pretty easy, cheap and delicious. The star anaise makes it special and very Christmassy.

I also do his roast veg. Or my version. The addition of a squeeze of the juice of a satsuma makes your roast carrots extra special!

[SpaghettiMeatballs]

It was more about it keeping its consistency. I'm not a great freezer of things in general.

It would be so much easier to do it at the weekend though so good to hear it defrosts well Gliblet

[Gliblet]

exLtEveDallas how about asking the butcher for a piece of beef shinbone to use in place of the chicken wings? It makes good gravy and we used to get them free for MiL's dogs.

[exLtEveDallas]

Ahh, I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking about buying beef ribs but they seem too expensive just to buy for a gravy. Bloody man being awkward. Thanks Gliblet, that might be worth a try.

Oh. Maybe oxtail as well?

[ExplodingCarrots]

Done it last year, it was a life saver! Making it again next week. I got the chicken wings and veg from Lidl so it ended up being super cheap.

[Pointlessfan]

I was thinking of doing his vegan gravy for my veggie Xmas lunch, has anyone tried that?

[Gliblet]

Oxtail would work even better!

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes]

Made mine last night, been doing it for about 5 years now. I use a couple of cloves instead of star anise and add a dollop of caramelised onion chutney with the flour.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

I'm obviously in the minority but I found it really underwhelming.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

It froze fine though.

[DragonsCanHop]

I love it and will be making it this week, so easy and the star anise makes it really Christmassy for me.

[exLtEveDallas]

Ok so oxtail is out. Tesco wanted 4.36 for two pieces. I'd want at least 6.

So DH has been told that it's 'posh' ready made gravy or Bisto - his choice!

[bimandbam]

M and s meat gravy is nice! Could you not do a rib of beef for a Sunday dinner before Christmas and use the bones from that? It's bloody expensive though.

Or try a local butchers? Or maybe do a beef stew or shepherds pie and save some gravy from that. If you pass it through a sieve it should be a gravy consistency. Or tesco do pouches of beef stock and I think m and s do too.