The Best Do Ahead Turkey Gravy Food

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange a single layer of turkey wings in a large roasting pan. Scatter the onions over the top of the wings. Roast in the preheated oven for 1-1/4 hours or until wings are browned.
• Place browned wings and onions in a 5 quart stockpot. Add water to roasting pan and stir, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Pour the the water from the pan into the stockpot. Stir in 6 cups broth, carrot, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 1-1/2 hours.
• Remove wings from the pot and place on a cutting board. When the wings are cool, pull off the skin and meat. Discard the skin and save the meat for another use. Strain contents of stockpot through a large strainer into a 3 quart saucepan. Press on the vegetables to extract any remaining liquid. Discard the vegetables and skim the fat off the liquid. Bring the contents of the pot to a gentle boil.
• In a medium bowl, whisk flour into the remaining 2 cups chicken broth until smooth. Gradually whisk the flour mixture into the simmering turkey broth; simmer 3-4 minutes or until the gravy has thickened. Stir in the butter and pepper. Serve immediately or pour into containers and refrigerate or freeze.

CHEF JOHN'S MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Combine onion, carrots, celery, and vegetable oil in a large roasting pan and toss to coat. Place turkey wings on top of vegetables
• Place roasting pan in the preheated oven and cook until the turkey wings are browned and vegetables are caramelized and softened, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Transfer turkey wings and vegetables to a large stockpot. Place the roasting pan over a stovetop burner on medium heat. Pour 2 tablespoons cold water into the pan and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer mixture to the stockpot and add 10 cups cold water, thyme, and garlic.
• Bring turkey wing mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until meat falls off the bone, about 3 hours. Skim off turkey fat throughout the process and set aside 2 tablespoons.
• Strain turkey stock and reserve 6 cups of stock; discard all the solids.
• Heat butter and 2 tablespoons reserved turkey fat in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour and cook, whisking continuously, until it begins to smell like cooked pie crust, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly pour in turkey stock, whisking continuously. Increase heat to high and simmer until thick and warmed through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.

EASY MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour.
• Cook over medium-high heat until flour is incorporated and white bubbles begin to form on the top of the roux.
• Cook the roux for 2-3 minute after the white bubbles have formed, whisking constantly.
• Gradually add the broth, whisking constantly until the gravy is thickened and comes to a boil.
• Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.
• At this point, you can cool, cover and refrigerate the gravy base for as long as 4 days. Reheat in a medium-sized pan. When turkey is done, skim off fat and pour drippings into gravy base and bring it to serving temperature.

THE BEST (DO-AHEAD) TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• In deep 12 inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot.
• Add turkey wings and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until golden on all sides.
• Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic, and cook 8-10 minutes or until turkey wings and vegetables are browned, stirring frequently.
• Transfer turkey and vegetables to a large bowl.
• Add wine to skillet, and stir until browned bits are loosened.
• Return turkey and veggies to skillet.
• Stir in broth, thyme and 3 cups water, heat to boiling over high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes.
• Strain into an 8-cup measure or a large bowl; discard solids.
• Let broth stand a few seconds until fat separates from meat juice.
• Spoon 1/4 cup fat from broth into 2-quart saucepan; skim and discard any remaining fat.
• Add flour to fat in saucepan; cook, stirring over medium heat until flour turns golden brown.
• Gradually whisk in reserved broth and cook until gravy boils and thickens slightly, stirring constantly.
• Pour gravy into a 2-quart container or medium bowl, cover and refrigerate.
• At serving time, reheat gravy and add pan drippings (and/or cooked diced giblets) from the roast turkey if you like.
• Gravy can be reheated in microwave prior to serving.

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the turkey pieces on a rimmed baking sheet, and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Roast until browned and cooked through, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the roasted turkey pieces to a medium saucepan; scrape up any brown bits from the baking sheet, and add them to the saucepan. Add the stock, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 30 minutes to enrich the stock with roasted-turkey flavor. Strain the liquid into a heat-safe bowl, and keep warm.
• Melt the butter in the saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour, and whisk until the mixture is smooth, toasted and a deep golden brown. Slowly pour in the warm broth, whisking continuously, and continue whisking until the mixture comes to a simmer. Continue to cook, still whisking, until the gravy is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Let the gravy cool to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag, label and date, and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve, reheat the frozen gravy in a saucepan or a microwave. Be sure to whisk vigorously as the gravy heats up to keep lumps from forming. Adjust the seasoning as needed.

MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons salt, the garlic powder, onion powder, sage and pepper. Use to generously season the turkey wings on all sides and use any extra to season the carrots, celery and onion.
• Place the turkey wings and vegetables in a Dutch oven and bake, uncovered, 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Transfer the Dutch oven to the stovetop on medium-high heat. Add the stock and bay leaves. Use a wooden spoon to break up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Bring to a low boil, reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the turkey wings and use a mesh strainer to separate the vegetables from the broth. Use a spoon to press out any liquid from the vegetables. Use a gravy fat separator (optional, but I like to do this step because I find the extra fat can cause the gravy to separate) or skim off the excess fat.
• In the same Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook until it starts to turn golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in the reserved broth, sherry and Worcestershire. Simmer until it thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary. If you have any lumps, pass through a fine mesh sieve. Let cool completely and refrigerate or freeze until use.
• Reheating Instructions: You may need to add a few tablespoons of stock and whisk vigorously to thin out the gravy.

MAKE-AHEAD DELICIOUS TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Cut the turkey wing into pieces with a heavy knife. (If using neck and giblets, cut the neck into three or four pieces. Trim the tough membrane from the gizzard. Rinse all neck pieces and giblets, and pat them very dry with paper towels.).
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter, and, when its foaming begins to subside, add the turkey pieces.
• Season with salt and pepper, and sauté over medium heat until golden brown - about 15-20 minutes.
• Add the coarsely chopped vegetables and garlic, season again with salt and pepper, and continue sautéing (add small bits of butter if necessary to prevent scorching) until vegetables begin to color slightly - about 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle over the flour, and continue sauteing, stirring constantly, until the floured vegetables turn brown - about 10 minutes.
• Add the thyme, bay leaves and water to the vegetables, whisking or stirring briskly to incorporate flavors and prevent lumps.
• When the liquid begins to boil, lower the heat and allow to simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Strain the sauce and discard the solids. Reserve the sauce. You should have about 4 cups of sauce.
• *This sauce may be made ahead to this point. It may be served as-is, OR thickened before serving.
• Alternatively, pan drippings may be added before serving and additional thickening may be added at that time.
• TO ADD PAN DRIPPINGS TO GRAVY:.
• Remove the roasted turkey and the cooking rack from the roasting pan; place the pan over two burners on the stove, heat adjusted to medium-high. Pour one cup of dry white wine (or dry vermouth) into the pan and bring the liquid to a simmer. With a wooden spoon or spatula, scrape the pan bottom to loosen the browned bits. Remove the roasting pan from the heat, and strain the liquid into a measuring cup, discarding the solids left in the strainer.
• Allow the liquid in the cup to stand so that the fat separates to the top - then, tilting the measuring cup, skim off the fat with a shallow spoon. Reserve the fat if you intend to thicken the gravy furthur while adding the pan drippings!
• De-fatted pan drippings (in the measuring cup above) may simply be added to the sauce, if no further thickening is desired. Whisk in the drippings, and allow sauce to simmer for a few minutes to develop flavors.
• *TO ADD DRIPPINGS AND ALSO THICKEN THE SAUCE AT THE SAME TIME:.
• Heat 4 tablespoons* of reserved turkey fat in a large saucepan until bubbling, then stir in an equal amount of flour (*use only half this amount of fat and flour if less thickening is desired for a thinner final gravy). Heat and stir the fat and flour mixture until bubbling - about 1 full minute, then gradually whisk in the defatted pan drippings, and finally, whisk in the finished sauce made ahead as described above. Reduce heat to a simmer, and simmer the drippings mixture with the sauce for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• NOTE: As the finished gravy is allowed to stand and cool, it will become thicker. To correct gravy that has become too thick, simply re-heat the gravy, adding water, turkey broth or chicken broth until it has thinned to desired consistency. Taste again for seasonings. A good idea: serve gravy in a warmed gravy boat or serving bowl.

DO AHEAD WHITE WINE AND SAGE TURKEY GRAVY - 2007

Steps:

• prep - 20 minute.
• cook - 2 1/2 hours.
• makes 4 cups gravy (without added drippings).
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• In a 15 1/2-inch x 10 1/2-inch jelly-roll pan or large roasting pan, place turkey wings, onions, celery and carrots.
• Roast for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until turkey wings turn a deep golden brown color.
• When wings are done transfer them and the vegetables to a 6-quart sauce pot, add 1 quart broth/stock, 4 cups of water and sage leaves; set aside.
• Place (used) roasting pan over two burners on top of range, add wine to roasting pan and cook on high heat, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan for 10 minutes or until wine is reduced to 1/2 cup.
• Add wine mixture to sauce pot with the wings; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low, and simmer, uncovered for 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Strain broth into an 8-cup liquid measuring cup, discard wings and vegetables, skim fat from broth and discard.
• If broth is less than 4 cups, add enough water to bring volume up to 4 cups (if broth is more than 4 cups, return broth to sauce pot, bring to boil, reduce heat and cook on medium-high until reduced to 4 cups).
• Return the 4 cups of broth to sauce pot; on high heat, bring to boiling.
• In a small bowl, add remaining 1/2 cup water to cornstarch, stir until well blended; using a whisk, blend cornstarch mixture into boiling broth and cook for 1 minute.
• Cool gravy, then transfer to plastic container with a tight fitting lid and refrigerate up to 5 days or freeze up to 1 month.
• Complete gravy after roasting the turkey: add strained and skimmed pan juices from the roasted turkey to the prepared (thawed, if was frozen) gravy, or thin with a bit of additional broth: heat well before serving.
• NOTE: For 24: Prepare gravy as above but instead use the following ingredient amounts: 4 turkey wings (3 pounds), 1 large red onion (12 ounces), 3 stalks celery, 3 carrots, 6 cups broth/stock, 6 cups water, 5 sage leaves, 1 bottle (750 ml) wine and 2/3 cup cornstarch.
• Reduce wine to 1 cup.
• Bring volume of broth to 6 cups instead of 4 cups.
• Dissolve cornstarch in 1 cup of water before stirring into simmering broth. Add juices from roasted turkey as above. Makes about 7 cups of gravy without drippings.

MAKE AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Arrange wings in a single layer in a large roasting pan.
• Scatter onions over top.
• Roast 1 1/4 hours until wings are browned.
• Put wings and onions in a 5-6 quart pot.
• Add water to roasting pan and stir to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom.
• Add the brown bits to the pot.
• Add 6 cups broth (refrigerate the remaining 2 cups) add carrot and thyme.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove wings to cutting board.
• Save wing meat for another use if you wish, or discard.
• Strain broth into a 3 quart saucepan, pressing vegetables to extract as much liquid as possible.
• Discard vegetables.
• Skim fat off broth and discard.
• If time permits, refrigerate broth overnight to make fat skimming easier.
• Whisk flour into remaining 2 cups broth until well blended.
• Bring broth in pot to a gentle boil.
• Whisk in broth flavored mixture and boil 3-4 minutes to thicken gravy and cook flour.
• Stir in butter and pepper.
• Serve now or freeze up to 6 months.

MAKE AHEAD TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Have a large roasting pan ready.
• Arrange wings in single layer in pan.
• Scatter onions over top.
• Roast 1 1/4 hours or until wings are browned.
• Put wings and onions into 5-6 quart pot.
• Add water to pan and stir to scrape up any brown bits on bottom; add to the pot.
• Add 6 cups broth (refrigerate remaining 2 cups), the carrot, and thyme.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove wings to a cutting board.
• When cool pull off skin and meat.
• Discard skin and save meat for another use.
• Strain broth into 3 quart saucepan, pressing vegetables to extract as much liquid as possible.
• Discard veggies and skim fat off broth.
• Whisk flour into remaining 2 cups of broth until smooth.
• Bring broth in saucepan to a boil, slowly whisk in flour mixture, boil 3-4 minutes to thicken and remove floury taste.
• Stir in butter and pepper.
• Refrigerate up to one week or freeze up to three months.