Turkey Giblet Gravy Recipe (no drippings) (2024)

FAQs

What to do if turkey has no drippings? ›

So how do you make turkey gravy without drippings? It's all about finding a replacement for the browned, complex meaty flavor the drippings offer. For a no-drippings gravy, aromatics such as onions, celery, carrot, bell pepper, and/or garlic, can help, as can umami-rich elements like mushrooms.

(You can also start with a slurry of flour and water—equal amounts flour and cold water whisked together—if you want.) Whisk the gravy while slowly adding liquid: Slowly add stock, water, milk, cream, or a combination to the pan, whisking vigorously to dissolve the flour into liquid.

Turkey Gravy Ingredients

Butter: Salted or unsalted butter can be used, but I would not use a butter substitute. Flour: Thickens the gravy by combining with the butter to make a roux. Some turkey gravy recipes call for cornstarch, but I prefer to use flour.

Add about 1/2 inch of liquid (water or stock) to the roasting pan. This will keep the oven moist and the turkey juicy. This aromatic liquid can be used to baste the turkey while it cooks (there is a debate about whether basting does anything, but it's part of the tradition).

To collect the drippings, place a large drip pan filled with a liter of water, beer, wine, or juice underneath the turkey while it is cooking. You will want to make sure that they turkey is not sitting in the pan, you can put the pan below the grate or use a roast holder for the turkey.

A traditional roux uses roughly an equal amount of flour and fat, but gravies often call for a bit more flour than that, to ensure the gravy is thick enough. (The classic ratio for gravy is three:two:one, so 3 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons fat, and 1 cup of hot stock.)

Carefully whisk in the flour to help avoid clumps. Cook until the mixture darkens in color, about 1 to 2 minutes. This step is called making a roux. Whisk in the pan juices (or broth/stock) and bring to a light boil. Cook while whisking occasionally until the gravy reduces and thickens.

I recommend real butter here if you don't have any dietary exceptions that prevent that. You could also use turkey fat here, but I prefer the flavor of the butter. If you're making any sort of bacon-wrapped meat, bacon grease works beautifully as a gravy starter as well.

Add an umami-rich condiment.

Just as you might add condiments like soy sauce, miso paste, Worcestershire sauce, or even a splash of sherry or cider vinegar to your favorite gravy recipe, incorporate them into store-bought gravy for a more complex flavor.

What to use instead of butter in gravy? ›

If you need to keep the gravy dairy-free, you can use your favorite vegan butter, olive oil, or avocado oil in the same amount. Flour: this recipe calls for all-purpose flour but you can easily swap it for gluten free flour. Pan Drippings: pan drippings are what help to give your gravy its delicious flavor.

Thanksgiving Help Line

You can use either stock or broth for keeping dressing moist or as a basis for gravy, but a strong flavor will give you better results.

If your gravy is on the skimpy side, you can thicken it quickly with flour or cornstarch. But don't add your thickener directly to the gravy, which will create lumps. Instead, try stirring in three or four tablespoons of flour or cornstarch into a small amount of cold water until you have a smooth paste.

Cook the gravy longer.

If the consistency of your gravy isn't what you want, try simmering the gravy a bit longer to help evaporate some of the liquids. If the gravy still hasn't thickened to your liking after about 10 minutes or so, it's now time to try a thickening agent.

Juices start to build up in the roasting pan fairly late in the roasting process. Turkeys are big, and so it takes a while for the inner parts to heat up to the point where they release moisture.

"When the juices run clear, and no longer reddish or pink in color, it's a good indication that your turkey is done."

This is what the pan should look like after roasting, there will be about 4 cups of drippings if you use our turkey recipe!