Recipe: Turkey Gravy

Active Work Time: 20 minutes

Making gravy is simple. But many of us serve gravy only during the holidays and could use a refresher on the technique. The secret to divine gravy is deglazing the pan and using all the browned bits stuck on the roasting pan, because they hold the flavor. One step that often intimidates beginning cooks is separating the fat from the drippings. Just remember that when drippings are poured into a clear container, the fat rises to the top. What frustrates most gravy makers is getting rid of the lumps. But if you make a roux, a gravy paste of flour and turkey fat stirred until smooth, that will help get rid of stubborn lumps.

Turkey Gravy

Active Work Time: 20 minutes

Total Preparation Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 2 cups of gravy

Note: Giblets may be omitted from gravy, and canned chicken broth may be substituted for homemade broth.

Neck and giblets from 1 turkey

6 cups water

1 onion, quartered

1 carrot, cut in pieces

1 celery stalk, cut in pieces

Black peppercorns

Drippings from roasted turkey

Butter, optional

3 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup whipping cream, optional

Salt, pepper

1. Remove neck and giblets from bird. Separate liver from other giblets and discard or save for another meal. (The liver, largest and softest of organ meats, clouds the broth.)

2. Place remaining giblets and neck in 2-quart saucepan. Add water, onion, carrot, celery and peppercorns and bring to boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Strain and reserve broth. Discard neck. Chop giblets, cover and refrigerate.

2. When turkey is roasted, remove from oven and transfer to platter. Lightly cover with foil and let stand about 20 minutes to allow juices to set before carving.

3. Meanwhile, add 1 cup reserved broth to drippings in roasting pan. Place pan over medium heat and scrape browned particles free from bottom with wooden spoon. Pour mixture into clear measuring cup and let fat rise to top. Skim fat off with spoon. Or use specially designed measuring cup that separates the fat.

4. To make 2 cups gravy, place 1/4 cup turkey fat in saucepan. (If necessary, add butter to make 1/4 cup.) Add enough reserved giblet broth to skimmed drippings to make 2 cups.

5. Heat fat over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring, until bubbly. Remove from heat. Gradually pour in dripping-stock mixture, stirring constantly with wire whisk. Return pan to heat, and cook, stirring, until gravy boils and thickens. Add whipping cream, if using, and heat through. For thinner gravy, add more broth. Stir in giblets. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Each tablespoon: 20 calories; 67 mg sodium; 3 mg cholesterol; 1 gram fat; 1 gram carbohydrates; 1 gram protein; 0.05 gram fiber.