Make White Gravy
Homemade white gravy is considered a staple in southern kitchens. It adds moisture and flavor to meat, chicken, bread and potatoes. Although white gravy can be made quickly and easily using prepackaged mixes, making it from scratch is relatively simple, and tends to yield a richer taste and texture. Cooks who choose to make white gravy from scratch also utilize food more efficiently, since they can mix the fat that dripped off their meat into the gravy instead of disposing of it. Basic recipes for white gravy tend to be similar to one another, but some cooks like to personalize their own white gravy recipes by adding in different combinations of seasoning.
Steps
- Heat about 4 tbsp. (57 g) of butter or oil in a large, deep skillet on a stove top set to medium heat.
- For best results, cook the meat you will be serving the gravy with first. Fry it in the butter or oil, then use the leftover pan drippings as the base for your gravy. This provides extra flavor by adding small pieces of meat and leftover seasoning to the gravy. If you are preparing the gravy by itself, use unsalted butter instead of oil.
- Whisk in 3 tbsp. (43 g) of flour until the oil is absorbed.
- Pour in 3 cups (706 ml) of milk slowly, while constantly whisking the mixture. Continue whisking until the mix is well-blended.
- Bring the gravy to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Season the gravy to taste with salt and pepper.
- Depending on your tastes, you may add additional seasonings for enhanced flavor. Commonly added seasonings in white gravy include cayenne pepper and parsley.
- Simmer the gravy over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Whisk constantly, making sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the skillet to blend thoroughly and prevent any gravy from sticking or drying out.
- Observe the thickness of the gravy. Cook longer if you prefer it thicker, and stir in water if you would like to thin it out.
Video
Template:Video:Make White Gravy
Tips
- Serve white gravy with country fried steak, grilled or broiled steak, chicken, sausage, mashed potatoes or biscuits.
Warnings
- Never leave gravy unattended during cooking, as it tends to burn and crust on the pan very quickly when not being whisked.
Things You'll Need
- Large, deep skillet
- 4 tbsp. (57 g) unsalted butter or leftover cooking grease
- Wire whisk
- 3 tbsp. (43 g) flour
- 3 cups (706 ml) milk
- Salt and pepper
- Extra seasoning (optional)
