Thanksgiving is a time for indulging in a sumptuous spread of culinary delights. While the turkey often takes the center stage, it’s the humble gravy that quietly works its magic, enhancing every element of your feast. This recipe is a tribute to the art of creating the perfect gravy, showcasing its pivotal role in elevating your Thanksgiving meal to an extraordinary experience.
Homemade Versus Store-Bought
The choice between homemade and store-bought gravy is one that can significantly impact your Thanksgiving dinner. While convenience often leads us to opt for the latter, there’s something truly exceptional about crafting your own gravy from oven roast turkey drippings. The difference in flavor and quality is undeniable, and it’s a difference worth savoring.
Harnessing the Flavorful Extract
The process of extracting and preserving these precious drippings requires skill and patience. It’s about capturing that liquid gold as the turkey roasts to perfection, carefully skimming off excess fat, and enhancing the flavor with herbs and spices. The result is a savory elixir that will become the cornerstone of your Thanksgiving culinary masterpiece.
Homemade turkey gravy is a symphony of flavors. The rich, savory essence of the turkey, deepened by the herbs and spices used during roasting, combines with the caramelized drippings to create a complexity of taste that transcends the ordinary. It’s a culinary crescendo that enhances every dish it touches.
Venturing into the world of creating turkey gravy from oven roast turkey drippings is a culinary journey that every home chef should undertake. It’s an art that combines the essence of the turkey with a meticulous preparation process, resulting in a flavorful symphony that enhances your Thanksgiving feast. Moreover, this homemade gravy is not confined to a single holiday but serves as a year-round companion, elevating your everyday dining experiences. With this newfound skill, you’ll be able to savor the magic of homemade turkey gravy whenever your heart desires, ensuring that every meal is a true culinary delight.
Turkey Gravy From Drippings Recipe
Ingredients
Pan Juices from Oven Roast Turkey (and any remaining basting mixture)
1 Cup Wine, white or red
4 Cups Turkey Broth or Chicken Broth
2 Cans mushrooms, sliced (optional)
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
3 TBS Cornstarch
3 TBS Water
Instructions
- While turkey rests, pour pan juices into fat separator or measuring cup and allow to rest for a couple of minutes. Skim fat from top as much as possible (keeping a little fat is good).
- Meanwhile, add wine (or broth) to roasting pan and heat on medium* (if your pan works on the burners). Scrape up all cooked bits from the pan.
- Add broth, pan juices, any remaining wine basting mixture, and sliced mushrooms if using. Bring to a boil.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Once gravy is boiling, mix slurry again, and slowly add to gravy while whisking gravy. You may not need all of the slurry. Boil for about 2 minutes, until thickened.