Herbed Gravy Recipes

Steps:

• Pour drippings and loosened browned bits into a 2-cup measuring cup. Skim fat, reserving 1/4 cup. Add enough broth to the drippings to measure 2 cups. , In a small saucepan, combine flour and reserved fat until smooth. Gradually stir in the drippings mixture. Stir in the thyme, sage and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel most of the papery skin away from the garlic head. Place on a cutting board and cut off the top 1 inch. Discard the top. Place the garlic head on a small sheet of foil. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and lightly sprinkle with salt. Tightly wrap and place on a small sheet tray in case it leaks. Roast until golden brown and soft, 55 to 65 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile in a medium saucepot, combine the chicken stock, thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 30 minutes.
• Add the reserved drippings to the pot. Squeeze in the roasted garlic from the head. Stir and then remove from heat. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl, pushing the garlic through, then pour the strained stock back into a clean pot. Add in some freshly cracked black pepper and more salt, if needed.
• To make the slurry, combine 1/2 cup of the cornstarch with 1/2 cup cold water in a small bowl. Whisk together.
• Bring the stock back up to a simmer over medium. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry and then bring to a boil to thicken. If the gravy looks too loose, make another slurry with the remaining cornstarch and slowly whisk in a little bit at a time until you feel the gravy thicken. Taste for seasoning. Keep warm until needed.

Steps:

• The giblets and neck from a turkey make a great flavorful stock that helps ensure a rich, tasty gravy, but you may substitute more chicken broth if you prefer.;
• To make giblet stock: Place giblets (except liver), neck and water in a large saucepan. (Reserve the liver for another use or discard.) Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, skimming and discarding any foam, for 1 hour. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• To make gravy: After removing the turkey from the roasting pan, pour any pan juices and fat into a large glass measuring cup and place in the freezer so the fat rises to the top, about 10 minutes. Skim the fat off with a spoon and discard. (Alternatively, pour the pan juices and fat into a fat separator then pour the defatted juices into a large measuring cup.) Add any accumulated juices from the resting turkey to the defatted pan juices; add the reserved giblet stock plus enough chicken broth so the combined liquids measure 5 cups total.
• Whisk 1/2 cup chicken broth and flour in a small bowl until smooth.
• Set the roasting pan over two burners on medium-high heat. Add deglazing liquid; bring to a boil and cook, scraping up the browned bits from the pan, until the liquid is reduced, about 3 minutes. Add the 5 cups of liquid from Step 2. Increase the heat to high and return to a boil, whisking often and scraping up any remaining browned bits. Boil until reduced to 2 3/4 cups, 8 to 12 minutes. Whisk the reserved broth-and-flour mixture into the roasting pan. Boil, whisking constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the gravy through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup. Stir in herbs, if using. Taste and season with salt (if needed) and pepper.
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per 3-tablespoon serving: 34 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 2 mg cholesterol; 2 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 0 g fiber; 56 mg sodium; 11 mg potassium.
• 0 Carbohydrate Servings
• Exchanges: 1/2 fat
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare through Step 1 and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium high heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions, carrots, and celery until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add the garlic, herbs, salt and pepper and stir well.
• Stir the flour into the vegetables and stir to coat them.
• Whisk in the chicken stock, making sure to keep lumps from forming.
• Add the bay leaf and the Kitchen Bouquet and reduce the heat to medium low.
• Let the gravy simmer for 10-15 minutes, until thickened.
• Strain through a fine-meshed strainer and discard vegetables.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Mix together rosemary, parsley, thyme and garlic. Cut small slits over surface of roast and insert herb mixture into slits. Place in a roasting pan. Roast until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Remove roast from pan and let stand 10 minutes. Stir soup into pan drippings in roasting pan and heat over a medium flame. Gradually stir in skim milk. Continue to stir until mixture boils. Slice pork and serve with gravy.