THE ONE GRAVY TO RULE THEM ALL!!! aka GRAVY MASH-UP!!!!

Gravy is one of those culinary glues that hold things together. Mashed potatoes for one without gravy is just, well mashed potatoes! The inherent problem with most gravy is the obvious grease that makes for the base of the gravy. I have a few really great recipes for gravy. The first of note is from Jill Nussinow. Her Golden Gravy uses a combo of tahini and soy with some flour for a really nice, simple, creamy gravy. Super easy to make and hard to screw up.Next up is a more complex, more savory gravy from Japanese vegan chef Miyoko Schinner. Her Poultry-type Gravy employs a yeast flavoring powder made from Nutritional Yeast (aka vegan crack) and various herbs and spices. I like this one because the yeast and spices really give a warm, savory, chicken like flavor. It is a fuller bodied, rounder gravy than the simpler golden gravy.Lastly Mary McDougall's Rich Brown Gravy employs a whole onion for the base and I am just crazy about using onions for the foundation of so many dishes.


Of course being the extremist that I am I decided to mash-up all these recipes to create the ultimate gravy. Its rich, savory, full bodied, tastes like onions and chicken and everything good in gravy. It has very little fat. 2 tablespoons of tahini for 5-6 cups of gravy is pretty good! It employs the yeast concoction from Miyoko's Poultry-type gravy, the tahini from Jill's golden gravy, and the onion from Mary's Rich Brown Gravy.


WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...


THE ULTIMATE VEGAN GRAVY

Preparation Time: 20 minutes 
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Servings: makes 6 cups

1/4 cup water
1 onion, chopped 
1 cup whole wheat flour 
5 1/2 cups water 
2 tablespoons light miso
2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons tahini
½ teaspoon celery seeds
3 tablespoons light yeast flavoring powder*(recipe follows)

Dry saute the onion in a medium saucepan. As it starts to brown and stick after a minute of two add the 1/4 cup of water and continue to cook until soften and starting to change color about 5 minutes. 

Add the flour and mix in well. 

Continue to cook for another 3 minutes, stirring constantly. (This is an important step as toasting the flour deeply without burning it helps develop the rich flavor). The flour and onions will clump together. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Blend with an immersion blender. If you don't have one turn off the stove and go to TARGET and get one for 20 bucks. You are worth it. :)

Pour gravy into a clean skillet or saucier (if you are fancy). 

Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until gravy thickens, about 10-15 minutes. Season with fresh ground pepper to taste.

Hint:
If the gravy fails to thicken to your satisfaction, you may want to add an extra thickener to the gravy. Use a mixture of 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed in 1/4 cup cold water. Add a small amount to the gravy while stirring until it is thick enough for serving.

Light Yeast Flavoring Powder
By Miyoko Schinner

1 cup nutritional yeast flakes
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons celery seed
2 teaspoons dried sage
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon powdered ginger
½ teaspoon turmeric

Pulverize all ingredients in a blender until powdered.  Store in a covered jar in a cool place.