How to Make Homemade Gravy

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to gather with friends and family and show off your cooking skills. But no Thanksgiving is complete without great gravy to go with your turkey! Making homemade gravy is a great way to step up the flavor and impress your guests. It can seem daunting to make homemade gravy from scratch, but all you really need a great Thanksgiving gravy recipe and the tricks of the trade.

Start out with these basic tips on how to make homemade gravy and then try out a recipe:

• The base of any good gravy is a roux—equal parts fat and flour mixed and cooked on a stove top until slightly browned
• The second important step is to add 4 -6 parts liquid and simmer on the stove top
• The last key ingredient is seasoning

Using different types of fat and liquid will make different types of gravy. For example, you can make homemade chicken gravy using chicken stock and chicken fat, or homemade turkey gravy from turkey drippings. You can also add in extras like mushrooms, onions, or garlic to really boost the flavor. Try this recipe for this Thanksgiving.

Homemade Gravy with Mushrooms Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsalted butter
• 1 pound portobello mushrooms
• 2 pounds whole white mushrooms
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 ½ cups turkey pan drippings
• 2 cups chopped onions
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Melt the butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Clean the mushrooms by wiping them down with a paper towel, and then sauté them in the butter until completely cooked and browned (about 1-1½ minutes). Remove the mushrooms, and chop them coarsely. Add the flour to the butter in the pan and whisk together, cooking for about 20 minutes, or until medium-deep brown. Add the chicken stock and simmer to thicken. In a separate pan, add the turkey drippings and onions, and cook over medium heat until the onions are brown (about 20 minutes). Add this mixture to the gravy and simmer for another 20 minutes. Then add the mushrooms and seasonings and keep warm until serving.

This homemade gravy recipe is sure to impress your guests! Feel free to add or subtract extra ingredients to make your own special homemade brown gravy, but remember the basic tips!

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