Turkey Giblet Gravy

Derf's Note:

Being so close to Canadian Thanksgiving, I thought this recipe might be handy. It is traditional in our family and served quite thick to pour over mashed potatoes. Left over gravy can be used up in a turkey casserole. We usually make a turkey shepherd's pie which can be frozen and add the mashed potatoes when defrosted and cooked.

• Total Time: 3 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 3 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 3 cups

• 1 turkey giblets, removed from bird, neck, gizzard and liver
• salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 -4 tablespoons seasoned flour
• water

Directions:

1. Remove giblets from bird.
2. Place in saucepan.
3. Add salt and pepper, sage, celery and onion.
4. Cover with water.
5. Bring to boil.
6. Simmer covered for 2 or 3 hours while turkey cooks.
7. When the meat starts to fall away from the neck bones, strain liquid into a blender.
8. Chop liver and gizzard and add to blender.
9. Pick meat from neck bones and add to blender.
10. Puree off and on until liquefied.
11. Add flour seasoned with salt and pepper.
12. Blend off and on a few times until flour is incorporated.
13. After turkey has been removed from roaster.
14. Pour fat off, leaving brown bits and juice and bits of stuffing or meat stuck to pan, but remove any skin stuck.
15. Whisk as much "stuck stuff" up that you can.
16. Pour contents of blender in roaster, whisking as you pour, if too thick add a little water and continue whisking and adding water until reaching consistency you want.
17. Don't add too much water at once.
18. Place roaster in 450-500 degree oven for 15 minutes.
19. Add more water and whisk if necessary, just before serving, but be sure it is bubbling hot.
20. Should be fairly thick.
21. Pour into gravy boat and serve hot.
22. Should be the last thing put on the table so that it is very hot.

Reviews

[spaceace]

I sauteed the giblets and vegetables before adding water to bring out the flavors, and discarded the giblets after the gravy was done instead of using it, but it turned out to be a rich, creamy gravy that everyone enjoyed! Great recipe!

[Gandalf The White]

Having read the recipe and the reviews, I was able to make the best gravy I've ever had (and the 15 guests felt the same way ... this recipe is now in 4 other household's recipe books!). I roasted the giblets (thanks, spaceace!) prior to covering them with chicken broth (thanks, chef #1267399). I did remove the giblet meat and puree it and the veg into the liquid (after defatting). All this was done while the turkey was cooking, so there was no additional net cooking time until step 14, when the turkey comes out of the oven and you incorporate the drippings. Even then, there's no added net time, because the gravy prep goes on while the turkey is resting ... In short, great results, great detailed instructions, and not just a keeper recipe, but THE gravy recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanks, Derf!!