Chef John’s Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

Description

This make-ahead turkey gravy frees up valuable kitchen time for Thanksgiving, plus it will look and taste even better than those frantic, last-minute versions.

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 2 large turkey wings
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 10 cups cold water
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 cloves garlic (Optional)
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  2. Combine onion
  3. carrots
  4. celery
  5. and vegetable oil in a large roasting pan and toss to coat. Place turkey wings on top of vegetables.
  6. Roast in the preheated oven until turkey wings are browned and vegetables are caramelized and softened
  7. 45 to 60 minutes.
  8. Transfer turkey wings and vegetables to a large stockpot. Place the roasting pan over a stovetop burner set to medium heat. Pour 2 tablespoons cold water into the pan and bring to a boil
  9. scraping up any browned bits. Transfer mixture to the stockpot and add 10 cups cold water
  10. thyme
  11. and garlic.
  12. Bring turkey wing mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer
  13. uncovered
  14. until meat falls off the bone
  15. about 3 hours. Skim off turkey fat throughout the process and set aside 2 tablespoons.
  16. Strain turkey stock and reserve 6 cups of stock; discard all the solids.
  17. Heat butter and 2 tablespoons reserved turkey fat in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour and cook
  18. whisking constantly
  19. until it begins to smell like cooked pie crust
  20. 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly pour in reserved turkey stock
  21. whisking constantly.
  22. Increase heat to high and simmer gravy until thick and warmed through
  23. about 5 minutes. Season with cayenne
  24. salt
  25. and pepper.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 3 hrs 55 mins

Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins

Servings: 8

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