Savory Gravy

Flavor explodes in this easy stovetop gravy. So good, you'll want to slurp it like soup. Thickened with a butter-flour roux, and then seasoned with Worcestershire, garlic, onion, and tomato, this dreamy sauce delivers nuances from the entire flavor spectrum. Trust me, you’ll be pouring this gravy over everything from this day forward.

Do you think that statement is too bold? That you'll be pouring this gravy over everything...? Well, I can tell you, it's not. I probably make this gravy 3 to 4 times per month. We pour it over potatoes (roasted, mashed and fries), winter squash, pasta, rice, hamburgers, steak, meatballs, chicken, and pork. It never gets old. It's got so much flavor, you can easily turn a simple meat or vegetable dish into something truly savory and comforting.

And, I especially love that this gravy is made with pantry staples. Butter, flour, garlic, onion, Worcestershire sauce, and broth. There's also a little tomato paste, which always lives in my refrigerator (the variety sold in tubes lasts for months). If you don't have tomato paste, use a little ketchup instead. But buy tomato paste for the next time.

Clearly I wrote this blog because it's holiday season. Which means it's also gravy season. But don't relegate gravies to annual celebrations - especially when you have this quick, foolproof version in your arsenal now!

Thanksgiving tip: If you want to add drippings from your Thanksgiving turkey, feel free to do that. Add about 1/2 cup to the finished gravy and let everything simmer together for 5 to 10 minutes. 

Savory Gravy 

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken stock or chicken broth (I prefer chicken stock for this)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and ground black pepper
Drippings from your turkey, optional

Melt the butter in a small saucepan or skillet over medium heat. When the butter is bubbly, whisk in the flour until smooth. Whisk in the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and return to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. If desired, whisk in turkey drippings as the gravy simmers.

Makes 1 1/2 cups