Now that you've cooked your holiday turkey to serve a huge crowd of guests, you need a luscious large quantity recipe for gravy or sauce to top it off.
Producing a good gravy is often a hit or miss proposition. If your gravy making skills are not what you want them to be, cut this recipe in half and make the gravy in two batches.
Here you will find recipes for a basic turkey or chicken gravy with variations. Also included are recipes for cream gravies, mushroom and Hollandaise sauce and compound butters.
Turkey or Chicken Stock
Makes 3½ to 5 cups. Serves about 20
Turkey or chicken necks, hearts, gizzards and wing tips
1 large onion, thickly sliced
1 large carrot, thickly sliced
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1 celery rib, roughly chopped
Handful parsley stems
10 black peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Cut the turkey neck into 1-inch pieces. Put the ingredients in a heavy pot and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat, skimming any foam that accumulates. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 2 hours.
Add more water as needed to keep ingredients covered. Skim off foam and excess fat.
OPTIONAL: Drain stock into clean saucepan and reduce to 3½ cups.
Make Ahead Stock
Often, making chicken or turkey gravy can bring the whole meal preparation process to a grinding halt.
Make the poultry stock days or even weeks ahead by purchasing poultry wings, legs and necks separately. To make 1/2 gallon of stock you will need:
5 pounds of parts | 1 celery rib |
Cut the poultry into smaller pieces. Put the ingredients in a heavy pot and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat, skimming any foam that accumulates. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 2 hours.
Add more water as needed to keep ingredients covered. Skim off foam and excess fat.
Store the stock in the refrigerator, covered up to 5 days. Freeze in small containers up to 4 months.
Use the drippings from the roasted turkey or chicken to this stock before making a pan gravy as instructed below. Heat stock before using
Pan Gravy- Serves 50
Makes 1 gallon
Serving size: 1/3 cup
Recipe can be easily cut in half to serve 25 or less
1 cup hot meat drippings and/or other fat or oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoons salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 gallon meat or poultry stock
To a large saucepan add the hot meat drippings or fat. Add the flour and blend well. Stir in the salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes. Gradually add the stock, stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Cook until smooth and thickened
Variations:
Giblet Gravy: Add 1 quart cooked giblets, chopped
Onion Gravy: Lightly brown 1 pound thinly sliced onions in hot fat before adding flour
Seasoned Gravy: In water or meat stock cook until tender, 1 pound diced carrots, 1/2 cup chopped celery and 1½ cups chopped onions. Stir into flour and fat mixture just before or after adding the stock.
Plain White Sauce for Creamed Gravy
Makes 1 gallon, serves 50+
8 oz butter
8 oz all-purpose flour
4 quarts milk
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
Make a roux
Melt butter in large skillet or pot. Add flour and cook and stir until smooth. Add one-fourth of the milk and beat with whisk until smooth. Gradually add remaining milk while stirring. Cook until smooth and thickened, about 15 minutes.
Savory Cream Gravy
Makes 1 gallon, serves 50+
8 oz butter, melted
4 oz celery leaves, coarsely chopped
4 oz green onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
7 oz all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dried basil leaves
1 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 3/4 quarts chicken stock, canned or homemade
2 cups water
3/4 cup soy sauce
2 cups half-and-half milk
2 1/2 cups sour cream
Sauté celery leaves, green onions and garlic in butter until softened but not browned. Sprinkle flour, basil and nutmeg over vegetables and blend well.
Meanwhile, combine chicken stock, water, soy sauce, and milk. Slowly add liquids to vegetables. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Thoroughly blend in sour cream. Do not boil. Keep warm.
Fresh Mushroom Sauce
Makes 1 gallon
Serving size: 1/3 cup
Recipe can be easily cut in half to serve 25 or less
4 pounds fresh mushrooms
2 sticks butter or margarine
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots or onions
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 quarts chicken stock, hot
2 cups whole milk or cream
Salt and ground pepper to taste
Clean, trim and slice mushrooms. Melt butter in a large pot. Sauté onions and mushrooms. Add flour and blend. Cook and stir, 5 minutes. Add stock and milk while stirring with a whisk. Cook until thickened. Taste for seasoning. Add salt if needed.
Hollandaise Sauce
Makes about 18 ounces
Serves 12
Serving Size: 1½ tablespoons
It is recommended that this sauce be made only in small quantities or batches
1½ sticks butter, divided into 3 portions
1½ tablespoons lemon juice
3 egg yolks
Pinch salt and cayenne pepper
Place 1/3 portion of butter, lemon juice and egg yolks in a bowl over a pan of hot (not boiling) water. Cook slowly, beating constantly. When first portion of butter is melted, add second portion and beat until mixture thickens. Add third portion of butter and salt and red pepper. Beat until thickened. Serve at once
Compound Butters
Yields 2 pounds
Cut ingredient proportions in half to yield 1 pound of butter
These seasoned butter can be used to rub on turkey or chicken before roasting. Use generously. Compound butter can be wrapped in foil and frozen, almost indefinitely
2 pounds unsalted butter, softened
Flavoring (see below)
Mix flavoring with softened butter. Form into a 1-inch diameter log by shaping with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm and flavors blend. Soften slightly to use as a meat rub or slice while firm to use in pasta, vegetables or breads.
Variations:
Basil Butter: Add 4 cups fresh basil leaves, finely chopped, 3 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 cup lemon juice.
Herb Butter: Add a combination of about 2¼ cups chopped fresh herbs of your choice. Use chives, parsley, thyme, basil, or sage. Use intensely flavored herbs like tarragon and rosemary in lesser amounts. Add 3-5 minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
Lemon Butter: Add 1 cup lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon zest and ¼ cup Dijon mustard
Orange Butter: Add 2-3 teaspoons orange zest and 1 tablespoon honey
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