Rich Turkey Gravy Recipe

A rich turkey gravy is a delicious way to elevate your holiday meal, especially when made using the turkey drippings from your roast. Here’s a simple recipe to make a flavorful and rich turkey gravy:

Ingredients:

• Turkey drippings (from the roasting pan)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups low-sodium turkey or chicken broth (or homemade stock)
• 1/2 cup white wine (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh herbs (optional, like thyme, rosemary, or sage)
• A splash of cream (optional, for extra richness)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the drippings: After roasting the turkey, remove the bird from the roasting pan. Pour the drippings from the pan into a fat separator (or a bowl, letting the fat rise to the top). Discard or save the fat for other uses. You’ll need about 2 tablespoons of fat to make the gravy.
2. Make the roux: In the roasting pan (or a separate saucepan), melt the 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the 2 tablespoons of flour. Stir constantly to make a roux, cooking for about 2-3 minutes until it turns golden brown and has a nutty fragrance.
3. Add the liquid: Slowly pour in the turkey broth (and wine, if using), stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue to cook the mixture, bringing it to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer for about 5-10 minutes, until the gravy thickens to your desired consistency. Add more broth if you want a thinner gravy.
4. Incorporate the drippings: Once the gravy has thickened, add the turkey drippings to the pan, stirring to incorporate. If you’d like, you can add fresh herbs at this point for extra flavor (a sprig of thyme or rosemary works well).
5. Season: Taste the gravy and adjust the seasoning with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. For a creamier gravy, add a splash of cream.
6. Strain (optional): For an extra smooth gravy, you can strain the gravy through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any lumps or bits of herbs.
7. Serve: Pour the rich turkey gravy over your roasted turkey or mashed potatoes and enjoy!

This gravy is savory, flavorful, and the perfect complement to turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, or any other Thanksgiving sides.