How to Make the Perfect Gravy: Regular and Vegan Recipes for Every Occasion

Gather Your Drippings: After roasting your meat, collect those glorious drippings left in the pan. If there’s too much fat, skim off some, but leave enough to add flavor to your gravy. If you’re missing drippings, don’t worry — just use butter as the base and proceed as usual!

Create a Roux: In a medium saucepan, melt your butter (or leftover fat) over medium heat. Once it’s hot and bubbly, add your flour. Stir constantly for about 2-3 minutes until it forms a thick, golden paste — this is called a roux! Keep an eye on it, so it doesn’t burn.

Whisk in the Broth: Slowly pour in the broth, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. This is the magic moment when your gravy starts to take shape. Keep whisking until it comes to a gentle simmer.

Season: Add your garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you like your gravy with a little more kick, a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of soy sauce can add depth.

Finish and Serve: Let the gravy simmer for another 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it thickens too much, you can always thin it out with a bit more broth. When it’s smooth, velvety, and luscious, it’s ready to serve!

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, but so good)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Sauté Your Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and golden, about 5-7 minutes. Toss in the minced garlic and cook for another minute or two, just until fragrant.

Create a Roux: Sprinkle in the flour and stir it into the onions and garlic. Cook this mixture for about 2-3 minutes to remove the raw flour taste, stirring occasionally.

Add the Broth: Slowly whisk in the vegetable broth, a little at a time, ensuring everything is well combined. Once it’s smooth, bring it to a simmer.

Season: Stir in the soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free), dried thyme, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes until it thickens up to a luscious consistency.

Finish: Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you prefer a thicker gravy, let it simmer a little longer; for a thinner gravy, add more broth.

Serve: Pour your rich, savory vegan gravy over mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, or anything else that could use a drizzle of deliciousness!