Herbed Pumpkin Gravy Recipes

Steps:

• When your turkey goes into the oven, start the broth: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and turkey neck and giblets; cook, stirring, until the giblets are browned, about 15 minutes. Add the chicken broth, herb sprigs and bay leaf; cover and simmer while the turkey roasts, about 2 hours. Strain the broth and keep warm; reserve the neck and giblets, if desired.
• When your turkey is done, transfer it to a cutting board and pour all the pan drippings into a degreasing cup. Add 1/2 cup of the prepared broth to the roasting pan and scrape up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. (If the bits are stuck, put the pan over a low burner to loosen them.) Add the bits and liquid to the degreasing cup.
• Let the fat rise to the top of the degreasing cup, then spoon off 1/2 cup fat and transfer to a large saucepan over medium heat. Make a roux: Sprinkle the flour into the pan and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the flour browns slightly, about 4 minutes.
• Gradually add the hot broth to the roux, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low. Pour the dark roasting juices from the degreasing cup into the gravy, discarding any remaining fat. If desired, chop the giblets and shred the neck meat; add to the gravy. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until the gravy thickens, about 10 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the flavored butter, if desired.
• Start with cold heavy cream and mix on high speed.
• After about 3 minutes, you'll have whipped cream; continue mixing.
• After about 6 more minutes, the butter will clump and separate from the liquid. Strain and wrap the butter in cheesecloth, then squeeze out the liquid.
• Tip: To make perfect rounds, shape flavored butter into a log using parchment paper; wrap and chill, then slice.
• Pumpkin
• Mash 1/4 cup canned pure pumpkin, 1 stick softened butter, 1/4 teaspoon orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon each sugar and pumpkin pie spice, and a pinch of salt.
• Spiced Cranberry
• Simmer 1/2 cup cranberries with 1 tablespoon water, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 strip lemon zest, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 clove, 6 to 8 minutes. Discard the zest, cinnamon and clove; let cool. Pulse in a food processor with 1 stick softened butter and a pinch of salt.
• Bourbon-Raisin
• Microwave 1/2 cup raisins with 1 tablespoon bourbon, covered, 45 seconds; let cool. Pulse in a food processor with 1 stick softened butter, 1 tablespoon chopped chives and a pinch of salt.
• Sage Brown Butter
• Melt 1 stick butter over medium heat and cook until browned. Add 1/4 cup sage and fry 30 seconds; drain on paper towels, then chop. Let the brown butter cool; mash with 1 stick softened butter, the sage and a pinch of salt.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Preheat a 14-inch skillet or medium roasting pan over medium heat on your largest burner. Mix grill seasoning, cumin, paprika and coriander together. Place the thyme, cilantro or basil, parsley and pistachios in the food processor and process into a paste. Remove bowl from processor and remove blade from bowl. Have a rubber spatula on hand. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil generously over the breasts to coat the skin. Loosen skin of the breasts with a small sharp knife. Divide the herb and nut paste between the flesh and skin on each breast. Use your hands to move the paste around under the skin to evenly distribute the mixture. Coat the extra-virgin olive oil coated skin with the spice mixture. Set the coated breasts into the large skillet or roasting pan. Wash hands. Set a second slightly smaller skillet or pan on top of the breasts and weight down with a couple of bricks covered in foil. Crisp the skin 8 to 10 minutes then transfer meat to oven and roast 35 to 40 minutes, until an instant-read meat thermometer registers 165 to 170 degrees F.
• While turkey roasts, heat a second large, deep skillet over medium to medium-high heat with 5 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces. To melted butter, add bay, celery, apple, 1/2 of the onion and zucchini. Season the vegetables liberally with salt and pepper. Cook 10 minutes or until softened. Add crumbled muffins and sunflower seeds to the pan and combine with the vegetables. Season the stuffing with poultry seasoning then adjust salt and pepper. Dampen the stuffing with 1 1/2 to 2 cups of stock. Pile the stuffing into a serving dish. Place in oven to just crisp up the top along with turkey or, if the pan does not fit, when the turkey comes out, switch on the broiler and crisp the top of stuffing - it should only take a couple of minutes, tops.
• In a sauce pot, melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat and add the finely chopped remaining 1/2 of the onion. Sweat the onion out 5 to 6 minutes to make it nice and sweet. Add the flour to the skillet and whisk 1 minute. Add in the chipotles and their sauce then whisk in 4 to 4 1/2 cups chicken stock. Thicken the gravy 2 to 3 minutes then season with salt, to taste.
• Let turkey rest to distribute juices then thinly slice and serve with mounds of stuffing and gravy.

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 medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Stir in the flour until incorporated. Add the stock and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Add the oregano and thyme. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until thickened. Stir in the strained pan juices or apple juice and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Whisk in the butter, salt and pepper until smooth. Pour into a pitcher and serve.

Steps:

• In a large pan over medium heat add the bacon. Cook for 5 minutes until the bacon is beginning to crisp. Add the onions, garlic, 3 torn sage leaves, and the pumpkin. Saute until the onions caramelize, about 5 minutes. Pour the chicken stock into pan to deglaze and simmer until the pumpkin is completely soft, about 10 to 12 minutes. Once the pumpkin is tender, pour the gravy through fine mesh strainer, into a bowl. Press the solids with a spoon to extract all the liquid and pulp possible. Return the gravy to the pot and continue to simmer and reduce by half, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and add the remaining 3 whole fresh sage leaves. Stir in the butter and once combined pour the gravy into a serving bowl or pitcher.

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:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine olive oil, coriander, oregano, garlic, fennel, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a bowl. Add pumpkin pieces and toss with spice mix. Layer in a roasting dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until soft, about 30 minutes.

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.