50 Shades of Gravy

Introduction

Welcome to 50 Shades of Gravy, a fantastic mix of classic, posh, chunky, sweet and show stopping gravies from around the world.

Nothing perks up a meal better than a hearty, taste-filled gravy and the following recipes show you how to create some really amazing ones to satisfy even the most choosy of gravy connoisseurs.

You’ve witnessed the crazy, now whip up the gravy.

Have fun with these 50 saucy sauces for the sexiest of socialites.

Enjoy!

FANTASTIC TIP: Many gravies start out life as flavoured water from cooking another component of the meal. Our first rule is, when draining water from vegetables, always save it in a separate pan.

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Chapter 1: Classic Gravies

Tickle your tastebuds with these classics. Rescue a dry roast dinner or simply make it into a seductive moist treat with these great gravies

FANTASTIC TIP: Did you know that you can freeze vegetable gravies? We freeze two-person servings in bags and warm them through when we need them by putting them into a water bath until the bag becomes unstuck, then reheating the gravy gently in a pan. We do not advise you do this with meat or fish gravies.

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Fantastic Roast Beef Gravy

Ingredients

2 level tablespoons plain flour

3 tablespoons beef fat (preferably harvested from the roasting tin)

2 and 1/2 cups, 500ml (20 fl oz) carrot water (drained from boiled carrots)

Black pepper to taste

Method

Heat the fat in a frying pan on a moderate heat.

With the carrot water hot and on standby, begin to stir in the flour a little at a time.

You should now have a light brown paste in your frying pan.

Add the carrot water a little at a time, stirring continuously.

When you have the consistency you want, add a little more carrot water and continue to stir.

You need to cook the gravy for at least 10 minutes (to cook the flour) or it will taste uncooked.

FANTASTIC TIP: This recipe can be made without beef fat by using the equivalent amount of your favourite oil with a beef stock cube. When creating this gravy, always make it a little runnier than you want it as, during the cooking process, the gravy will reduce.

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Fantastic Roast Pork Gravy

Ingredients

1 slice streaky bacon (unsmoked)

2 level tablespoons plain flour

4 or 5 leaves of fresh rosemary (finely chopped)

3 tablespoons olive oil (corn or vegetable are fine too)

2 and 1/2 cups, 500ml (20 fl oz) vegetable water (drained from boiled/steamed veggies)

1 small sprig of mint (about 6 little leaves)

1 vegetable stock cube

Method

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the bacon. Cook until it is extremely crispy on both sides but not burnt.

Remove the bacon and add the finely chopped rosemary to the hot oil.