This easy turkey gravy made brings the whole meal together—and you can make it ahead for an easier holiday.
Servings: About 3 cups
Prep Time:10 Minutes
Cook Time:25 Minutes
Total Time:35 Minutes
Ingredients
1 stick (½ cup)unsalted butter
1½ cupsfinely chopped yellow onions
¼ cupall purpose flour
Defatted turkey drippings plus chicken broth to make 2½ cups
1 tablespoonCognac or Brandy
1 tablespoonheavy cream
1 tablespoonchopped fresh herbs (such as thyme, sage, rosemary or parsley)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook until very soft and translucent, about 15 minutes.
Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in the turkey drippings/chicken broth and Cognac and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cream and fresh herbs and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Gravy should be generously seasoned because turkey is pretty bland; I usually add at least ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, but it depends on how salty your broth and drippings are.) Transfer the gravy to a gravy boat and serve.
Make-Ahead Instructions: The gravy can be made, without the turkey drippings, up to 2 days ahead of time and refrigerated. Use 2 cups of chicken broth and add about ½ cup defatted turkey drippings after cooking the turkey when you reheat the gravy. Note that the gravy will thicken up in the fridge; thin it to the desired consistency with water or chicken broth upon reheating.