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Christmas

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Original poster

Gravy is my nemesis

58 replies

Rainbowshit · 27/12/2021 19:54

Tried the JO get ahead gravy this year. What a bloody faff and felt like such a waste of chicken wings. Didn't like it either too thick.

What is your fool proof gravy recipe?

OP posts:
Doorawakens · 27/12/2021 22:08

Butter
Soffitto ( i buy Waitrose frozen)
Vermouth/ Maderia or wine if you have open - Vermouth is a kitchen lifesaver- ise as you would white wine, doesn't go off and doesnt seem wasteful/ needing you to open a bottle of wine
Flour before booze or cornflour and water after
Herbs ( tarragon/ rosemary and thyme)
Meat juices
Good stock cube - kallo or knorr organic stock pot
Water or ideally veg cooking water to make right consistency
Granary mustard
Salt and pepper
Pass through seive and serve
If I'm doing tarragon and have cream I'll also add a big slosh at the end

I am know for my good gravy!

LoveFall · 27/12/2021 22:12

This Pinot Noir gravy has been a hit many, many times in our family. I usually use the neck and giblets to make stock (with onions, carrots, celery, garlic, allspice berries etc.).

The turkey in this recipe is outstanding. I didn't make it this year as DH was adamant we should have an easier time and get a turkey roll. But it was just not the same.

www.finecooking.com/recipe/herb-butter-roasted-turkey-with-pinot-noir-gravy

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 27/12/2021 22:13

use the pan the meat has roasted in

deglaze with a splash of something...brandy, wine, cider, veg stock

get all the gubbins off the pan with a wooden spoon

then I will swish round the roasting pan with the potato water/other veg water and get it all into a sauce pan, it somehow seems easier to deal with in a proper saucepan

plenty of S&P, an appropriate OXO or two, a spoonful of something sticky I often add in some odd bits of stuff...mango chutney/cranberry/chutney...not all, just pick one!

If it's still not right try a dash of Lea and Perrins, maybe a teaspoon of balsamic or a spritz of lemon

I generally thicken with cornflour slurry....or if you are making yorkshire puds a swish of the gravy round the batter jug and back onto the heat will usually work.

Most gravy failure are down to a lack of salt imo....salt is gooooooooood and tasty.

Winniemarysarah · 27/12/2021 22:23

@gogohm

Just use bisto Grin
Bisto is non comparable to homemade gravy. And ‘fresh’ supermarket gravy in the packets or pots are even more disgusting than bisto. It’s really not hard to throw meat and veg juice with a bit of stock/flour and browning. When my dd was 11 she discovered and perfectly recreated kfc gravy.
TedGlenn · 27/12/2021 22:37

I have a fat separator jug. Pour all meat juices (adding water to loosen) into the fat separator jug. Pour the fat-free juices into a saucepan. I then use Bisto "The Best" gravy granules plus the vegetable water and the meat juices to make a gravy.

CantThinkOfaUserNameAgain · 27/12/2021 22:40

I make the JO get ahead one every year but add in extra port and star of anise.

This year also tried his vegan get ahead one for a vegan we had staying. It was less work and tasted even better 👏
Tempted to switch over next year completely.

BerthaBlythe · 28/12/2021 09:48

I like Gordon Ramsey’s gravy, but if I’m not in the mood to faff, I just strain off the turkey juice, remove the fat, bring to boil and thicken with a spoon of cornflour mixed with a small bit of water. Stir vigorously and take off the heat. Season to taste.

pickingdaisies · 28/12/2021 09:57

In the early years I prided myself on my made from scratch gravy, it was bloody lovely. But DH preferred his mum's gravy, so I asked her how she made it - yes, bisto. So nowadays I don't often bother with the whole deglazing kerfuffle, it's pearls before swine.

WeaverofWords · 28/12/2021 12:32

@CantThinkOfaUserNameAgain

I make the JO get ahead one every year but add in extra port and star of anise.

This year also tried his vegan get ahead one for a vegan we had staying. It was less work and tasted even better 👏
Tempted to switch over next year completely.

Oooh i didn’t realise he has a vegan one! If it’s good I might just do this one next year & not bother with separate meat one! Less faff. Will def do just vegan roast spuds, too, it was annoying to have 2 types this year.
ParkheadParadise · 28/12/2021 12:36

Bisto

Original poster
Rainbowshit · 28/12/2021 15:59

I think part of the problem is that I'm just used to bisto. My aunt was a bit sniffy about it one year though so I felt I had to do something more fancy.

We really dislike supermarket "fresh" gravy, it tastes quite artificial.

Think I might just stick with bisto!

OP posts:
Lovelydovey · 28/12/2021 16:09

Meat juices, slug of wine, veg water and bistro. Boom.

Showpan · 28/12/2021 16:16

Fry veg and herbs 12 mins, add sugar to caramelise, add flour, stir, add wine, stock then simmer for 20 mins. Sieve. Delicious.

Incywinceyspider · 28/12/2021 16:25

Buy a tub of ready made turkey gravy from Sainsburys. Microwave for 2 mins. Pour into gravy boat.

DillonPanthersTexas · 28/12/2021 16:26

Bisto tbh

BURN HER

DillonPanthersTexas · 28/12/2021 16:26

Buy a tub of ready made turkey gravy from Sainsburys. Microwave for 2 mins. Pour into gravy boat.

BURN HER TOO

BiggerBoat1 · 28/12/2021 16:30

I reduced down a large glass of wine with a couple of bay leaves in and then stirred it into Sainsbury ready made turkey gravy. Everyone said it was the best gravy ever and I've tried the bloody faffy JO one!

polkadotpjs · 28/12/2021 16:44

@BiggerBoat1 - I totally read the start of that as an instruction to "down a large glass of wine "!

BiggerBoat1 · 28/12/2021 16:48

Grin Actually that might be an even better recipe!

Original poster
Rainbowshit · 28/12/2021 18:29

[quote polkadotpjs]@BiggerBoat1 - I totally read the start of that as an instruction to "down a large glass of wine "![/quote]
I could get on board with this!😂

OP posts:
user1493494961 · 28/12/2021 18:49

Bisto granules and a kettle.

DisforDarkChocolate · 28/12/2021 18:52

Jamie get ahead gravy. No star anise, no celery, added leek. Dont forget the port and cranberry jelly and add the juices from thee turkey. Best gravy ever.

If a faff but its the highlight of my Christmas Dinner.

Buy the tubs of chicken gravy from M&S, expensive but very tasty if you can't be arsed.

MollysDolly · 28/12/2021 22:47

Have done the Jamie Oliver gravy, wanting to find a super gravy for special occasions. Gross. So much faff for awful gravy.

We are real foodies. And I'm (puffs chest out) an accomplished cook. However, I'm shite at gravy. I mean I can make one. We can all make one of sorts. I just can't make a fantastic one.

I'm wondering if the people who think the Jamie Oliver one is amazing, are the same people who think the M&S ones are amazing...

Anyhoo

Going to try the James Martin one tomorrow. It's the one that goes with his "grannies toad in the hole". There are also two types of gravy (which this one appears to be a combo of) that he does, one called "mums gravy" and one called "restaurant gravy." These have all sorts in, from red wine to Marmite and Bovril, so god only knows how it will transpire....if good, will report back.

MollysDolly · 29/12/2021 20:57

Made it. Not good. Not good at all. Really strong, and not in a flavoursome way. Overbearing marmite.

FireworkParrot · 30/12/2021 08:16

Honestly I just use the meat juices and add to nice shop bought gravy. This year I got fancy and deglazed the meat pan with red wine before adding my shop bought gravy. Tasted lovely!