5-Minute Gravy Making Technique for Beginners - 2 Methods with 5 Simple Ingredients, by The Sauce and Gravy Channel on YouTube. 8 min 3 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 3 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Warm 2 cups (500 ml) of stock or broth in a jug. Use chicken stock with chicken, beef stock with beef, or any liquid that matches your dish.
For the roux method, melt 3 tbsp (30 g) of butter in a saucepan over medium heat until it foams but does not brown.
Whisk in 3 tbsp (30 g) of flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the paste smells nutty.
Pour the warm stock in a little at a time, whisking hard after each addition so no lumps form.
Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, whisking now and then, until the gravy coats the back of a spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
For the cornstarch method, bring 2 cups (500 ml) of stock to a simmer in a saucepan.
Mix 3 tbsp of cornstarch with 4 tbsp (60 ml) of cold water in a small bowl until smooth.
Whisk the slurry into the simmering stock and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until it thickens and turns glossy. Season to taste.
Taste both gravies and adjust the salt and pepper before serving. Each method makes about 2 cups (500 ml).
Tips and common mistakes
Always add cold liquid to cornstarch and warm liquid to a roux, or the gravy turns lumpy.
Whisk constantly while the flour cooks so the roux does not catch and burn on the pan base.
If lumps appear, push the gravy through a fine sieve and return it to the heat.
Cornstarch gravy thins as it cools, so make it slightly thicker than you want.
Questions
What is the difference between a roux and a cornstarch slurry?
A roux is flour cooked in fat, which gives a richer, nuttier flavor and a matte finish. A cornstarch slurry thickens without fat and gives a glossy, lighter gravy.
Can I make gravy without stock?
Yes. Use the roasting juices from your pan topped up with water, milk, or a splash of wine. Any cooking liquid works as long as you season it well.
Why did my gravy turn out lumpy?
You probably added the liquid too fast or did not whisk enough. Add liquid in small amounts and whisk hard, or sieve the gravy to fix it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
