The Perfect Turkey Gravy Recipe

A must see Thanksgiving video from Top Chef Hosea Rosenberg and Whole Foods Market, a perfect, simple, classic turkey gravy recipe.

Read on for the written recipe
Recipe as adapted from the video:

Perfect Turkey Gravy
Chef Hosea Rosenberg

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups homemade (or storebought) chicken or turkey broth / stock, heated to a simmer
Pan drippings from one turkey, with the fat poured off (in the roasting pan)
1/2 cup red or white wine (Hosea uses white, and actually appears to use a bit more than half a cup)
Sea salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste

Heat butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat until foaming. Add flour while whisking and cook for one minute, whisking continually as you form a paste.  This is known as a “roux”, a common French culinary term meaning flour mixed with fat.  You may cook the roux down for longer for a darker colored gravy if desired.  Next, slowly add warm chicken broth (Hosea uses low sodium) , while stirring, eliminating all lumps.   At this point, the roux plus the stock becomes a “velouté sauce“.   Bring this to a boil and let simmer for a 1-2 minutes.  You can make this part of the gravy recipe up to two days ahead of time, reserving it in the fridge until you are ready for the final steps.

When you are ready to finish the gravy, reheat it over medium heat. When turkey is done, remove from the roasting pan to rest, and pour or skim off the excess fat from the pan, leaving the drippings.  Place the drippings into the roasting pan on the stove burner over medium to high heat.  Deglaze the drippings by adding the wine, stirring and scraping  to loosen browned bits.  Do not allow wine to completely cook down, but do cook it until alcohol smell has dissipated, Hosea recommends about 5 minutes, stir and scrape the bottom of the pan while cooking.  Next mix in  your veloute sauce from the first step.  Season to taste with salt, pepper, and the fresh herbs of your choice.  If you wish to have a smooth gravy, strain the herb bits out with a strainer, although this is not necessary.  Finito!

Be sure to visit our other Thanksgiving recipes, and for more holiday tips from Top Chef Hosea, watch this video with his easy technique for carving a turkey.