Turkey Gravy
The Glue That Holds Thanksgiving Together
Ingredients
Turkey Stock
3.5 lbs turkey wings
2 large carrots cut in half
1 yellow onion halved
3 celery ribs cut in half
3 tbsp olive oil
4 parsley sprigs
5 thyme sprigs
3 rosemary sprigs
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
Gravy
2 cups of dry red wine (such as pinot noir or cabernet)
4 tbsp butter
¼ C all purpose flour
1 qt turkey stock
1 large shallot peeled and quartered
3 sprigs of sage
3 dashes of maggi seasoning
½ tsp fish sauce (Red Boat is best)
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp apple cider vinegar or black vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
If you have to nail one thing for Thanksgiving, make it the gravy. Nobody will care if the turkey is dry as long as the gravy is good.
Preheat oven to 400 F
Add the turkey wings, carrots, onion, celery and olive oil to a roasting pan and mix to coat with oil
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the turkey wings are a deep golden brown.
Transfer the turkey, veggies and rest of the stock ingredients to a large pot and set the roasting pan to the side (do not wash it yet!).
Fill the pot with cold water until it just covers the other ingredients.
Bring to a very slow simmer for 3-4 hours, occasionally skimming scum from the top, and then strain through a fine mesh sieve lined with a cheesecloth (REMEMBER TO NOT POUR YOUR STOCK DOWN THE DRAIN).
While the stock is simmering, place the roasting pan on the stove (only if it is stove safe) over medium heat and deglaze the pan with the red wine, scraping off all of the fond. Pour the wine into a bowl or container and set aside/refrigerate until ready to make the gravy. If your roasting pan is not stove safe, skip this step and add the wine at step 10.
For the gravy, add the butter to a large saucepan and melt over medium low heat. When the butter begins to foam, add the flour and whisk until smooth. Cook the flour for 2-3 minutes or until it starts to turn a very very light golden color.
Add the stock about ½ cup at a time while whisking constantly to incorporate the stock without forming clumps.
When all of the stock has been added, add the deglazing wine, shallot, and sage and simmer for 10-15 minutes adding a couple tablespoons of water if the gravy starts to become too thick.