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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Jamie Oliver Christmas gravy?

49 replies

NewBallsPlease00 · 13/12/2015 09:30

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

OP posts:

Gliblet · 13/12/2015 14:05

Blimey Eve

I wonder if it would be worth asking in a butcher for oxtail offcuts though? The raggedy bits from the tail end of broken pieces from prepping that won't sell for full price? DH once got about £20 worth of fillet steak for £5 by going in at the end of the day and asking for steak tails rather than beautiful perfect display quality pieces - pays to be cheeky sometimes!

Makemineacabsauv · 13/12/2015 22:38

I made it one year but everyone just thought it was the M&S one that we normally get so haven't bothered since!!

Welliesandwings · 14/12/2015 10:14

I do it but don't add the star anise, I just find it too overpowering.

CiderwithBuda · 14/12/2015 10:45

Can I do it with a chicken carcass? We had chicken yesterday and I have the carcass in the fridge. Was planning on doing the JO gravy anyway.

Welliesandwings · 14/12/2015 11:08

Yes I don't see why not.

wiltingfast · 14/12/2015 19:29

I was just going to ask the same thing! Bit worried the carcass might burn if I roast it a second time???

Enkopkaffetak · 14/12/2015 20:51

Absolutely do it. We have made it for the last 3 Christmases and its great.

Palomb · 14/12/2015 20:55

Of tail is really bloody expensive nowerdays!

Wrt the gravy.. It nice without the star anise.

DragonsCanHop · 14/12/2015 21:08

Just a quick question about the fresh herbs. I have a home delivery being delivered on the 23rd but I'm worried they won't have all the fresh herbs. Can I buy them now and freeze them to defrost to make the gravy?

WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 14/12/2015 21:18

If you buy them now and wrap them in a bit of damp kitchen roll they'll keep for a week in the salad drawer of your fridge.

DragonsCanHop · 14/12/2015 21:30

Thank you whoknows I didn't know that

abuhamzamouse · 15/12/2015 07:27

I really don't rate this at all. I find it very disappointing and a complete faff and totally lacking in flavour. Turkey juices, splash of wine, some flour and a stock pot will do for my gravy.

Oldraver · 15/12/2015 10:08

If you do make it dont let anyone convince you to go for a quick walk round the block and oooh your gravy will be alright

I agree about the star anise....it gives it an odd flavour

We usually have stuffed duck and use this gravy and I get a ready made for the beef. We're having just the beef so may have a go at oxtail.

I bought OH the Hestons special beef gravy last year and it was rank

EverybodyHatesATourist · 15/12/2015 10:19

I had high hopes for this after reading about it on MN a few years ago. First batch was disgusting due to the star anise. Second batch I missed the anise out...and found it completely underwhelming. Honestly, for all the messing about I thought it was going to be a-mazing, it wasn't.

Homemade cranberry sauce is the business though, you can make that in advance and freeze it recipe

WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 15/12/2015 10:49

It's underwhelming if you use it on it's own, it definitely needs the meat juices adding. I'm glad I've never bothered with the star anise.

fairyjasmine · 15/12/2015 11:31

I didn't rate it either. It was lacking in flavour and it seems I like the salt overload of Bisto et al . I don't think I'd want to see how much salt it would take to achieve the same effect!

Original poster

NewBallsPlease00 · 15/12/2015 12:36

Thanks all
I need evough for 7 so will give it a go and see... Buying posh ready made will be about £8 otherwise

OP posts:

DragonsCanHop · 15/12/2015 22:12

I made it today and the ingredients cost me £11.00 no fresh bay or sage so I had to use dried.

Potterwolfie · 15/12/2015 22:25

I made it today, it looks pretty thin but tastes great, I'll thicken it on the day and add cranberry sauce and Turkey juices. Didn't use star anise, and I used frozen fresh herbs.

Star2015 · 16/12/2015 17:48

I wasn't keen on it, it reminded me of KFC gravy.. It wasn't great, but perhaps it was me....

Joskar · 20/12/2015 19:46

Roast beef bones (50p a kilo at the butcher) then simmer for a couple of hours with plenty water and veg to make beef stock. Skim the fat and use the stock to make the gravy from the chicken wings. You get lots of dripping off it so that can be used for the roasties.

cashewnutty · 20/12/2015 21:51

I have made it before. It's a right pain in the ass to make and although it tasted good i don't think was worth the cost or the hassle. This year i have got M&S gravy. Pop into the microwave. Job done!

OnlyHereForTheCamping · 21/12/2015 08:26

I made mine last week. I am v. Impressed so far. Chucking in some sherry at the end did lift it from being ok to v. Nice. I didn't have any sage but it still tasted good.

macnab · 21/12/2015 12:18

My MIL makes the best gravy in the world. So I discussed with her and am doing the following: make up gravy using good quality cold chicken stock and Bisto POWDER (not the granules) I'm using Tesco Finest fresh chicken stock - the ingredients list has everything that I'd put in to make my own stock and absolutely nothing else so am happy to pay Tesco to do it for me! Then add the juices from the turkey (using my fat separating jug that I'm sadly excited about!) and a tablespoon of redcurrant jelly. It will knock the socks off any other gravy, including Jamie Oliver's

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