If you are roasting a turkey for your holiday dinner spread, you need to have a great gravy to serve with it and that can be done in just a few minutes with the pan drippings from your turkey and 3 simple pantry staples.
Let’s get started…
While your turkey is roasting, gather 4 tablespoons of butter, 1/3 cup of all purpose flour and some seasoning.
The way that you season your gravy will depend on how you seasoned your turkey. For example, if you roast a turkey using my classic holiday roast turkey recipe, you won’t need to season your gravy with anything more than some finely chopped fresh parsley, salt and black pepper.
If you are roasting a turkey dry or lightly seasoned, then you can add some addition fresh or dried herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, a spice blend or your favorite seasoned salt to taste. I recommend adding a small pinch of your chosen spices, whisk to combine and do a quick taste test. Just remember, you can always add more seasoning, but you can’t take it out if you add too much. Season slowly in layers and reach for spices and herbs instead of salt.
When your turkey is done roasting, carefully pick the turkey up and allow all of the drippings to drip back into the roasting pan. Transfer the turkey onto a cutting board and transfer all of the drippings into a bowl and set it aside for now.
Step #1. Add 4 tablespoons on butter into a medium saucepan over medium heat
Step #2. Once the butter has melted, sprinkle 1/3 cup of all purpose flour into the saucepan and whisk to combine. Cook the butter and flour for about 60-90 seconds, whisking constantly.
Step #3. As soon as the butter and flour mixture is very lightly browned and has a slightly nutty fragrance, quickly place a mesh sifter over the saucepan and pour the pan drippings through the sifter.
Step #4. Whisk to combine and bring the gravy up to a gentle simmer.
Step #5. As soon as the gravy begins to simmer, add your seasoning. Today, I am adding a heaping tablespoon of finely chopped fresh parsley and a pinch of salt and black pepper.
As soon as the gravy thickens, remove the saucepan from the heat and cover the pan tightly until you are ready to serve.
If the gravy sits out for a while before serving, simply return the saucepan to medium heat and whisk until it is warm and smooth again.
This gravy is amazing. Straining the drippings keeps it smooth and the roux (the butter and flour mixture) thickens it beautifully. The parsley adds a beautiful fresh note and then all of the seasoning that you rubbed your turkey down with helps bring so many delicious flavors into this gravy.
This Thanksgiving, Christmas and the entire holiday season you can create a beautifully seasoned turkey gravy for your friends and family that they will absolutely love. Drizzle it over your roasted turkey, over some creamy mashed potatoes, whipped sweet potatoes and your stuffing too. I even dip by dinner rolls in this gravy… over and over again…
You are going to love this gravy…
Turkey Gravy
Ingredients
Turkey Gravy
- 3 cups of turkey pan drippings
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 1/3 cup of all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, finely chopped
- salt and black pepper
Optional Seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon of fresh thyme, very finely chopped
- 1/4 teapsoon of garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of dried sage
- 1/4 teaspoon of poultry seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon of Italian seasoning blend
Instructions
- Reserve 3 cups of turkey drippings from the bottom of your roasting pan
- Place 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat
- Once the butter has melted, whisk in 1/3 cup of flour and cook while whisking for about 90 seconds
- Place a mesh sifter over the saucepan and slowly pour the turkey drippings through the mesh until it has all been added to the roux
- Whisk to combine
- Bring the gravy to a gentle simmer and continue simmering until the gravy has thickened
- Add seasoning, if necessary
- Serve immediately and re-warm when necessary
