Classic Mushroom Gravy Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat butter over medium heat in a saucepan until it foams. Stir in mushrooms. Season with salt. Simmer until liquid evaporates, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the flour, cooking and stirring for about 5 minutes. Add about 1 cup of beef stock, stirring briskly until incorporated, then pour in the remaining stock and mix thoroughly. Season with black pepper and thyme. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes, stirring often.

CLASSIC MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring stock to a low boil over medium heat; cook until reduced by half, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place porcini in a small bowl, and cover with boiling water. Let soak until porcini are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove porcini, and gently squeeze out excess water; finely chop. Set aside.
• Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until foamy. Add white mushrooms, and season with salt and pepper. Add reserved porcini. Cook, stirring, until white mushrooms are soft, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle flour over mushroom mixture, and cook until flour starts to brown, a few minutes more. Add wine; deglaze pan, scraping up browned bits on bottom and sides with a wooden spoon.
• Stir stock into mushroom mixture. Bring to a gentle simmer over very low heat, and cook until thickened slightly, about 30 minutes. If gravy thickens too much, thin with a little water or stock. Season with salt and pepper; serve hot.

CLASSIC MOCK MEATLOAF WITH MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Toast the bread slices either in the toaster or on a baking sheet placed under the broiler. Let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Generously butter a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, then line the bottom with wax paper and butter the paper.
• Tear up the toasted bread slices and make crumbs out of them in a food processor. Place in a large bowl.
• Process the walnuts until finely ground and mix into the breadcrumbs. Combine the eggs and onions in the processor and process until fine but not liquefied. Stir into the breadcrumbs. Place the green pepper, celery, parsley, tomatoes, and oil in the processor and grind until fine but still with some texture. Stir into the loaf mixture along with the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix this all very well until evenly moistened. (The mixture may be prepared to this point and refrigerated up to 8 hours in advance.) Scrape it into the prepared loaf pan and smooth over the top. Cover the loaf with foil.
• Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center of the loaf comes out dry. Let sit 5 minutes, then run a knife all along the sides of the loaf to help loosen it. Unmold the loaf onto a platter and remove the wax paper. Let the loaf cool 20 minutes or so before slicing it. It's best to serve the loaf warm and the gravy hot.
• Melt the butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and saute until brown, about 7 minutes. Stir in the flour; it will become very pasty. Cook this roux for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. It will stick to the bottom of the pan a little bit; that's okay.
• Stir in the stock, wine, soy sauce, and pepper, and bring to a boil. Cook the sauce at a lively simmer for 5 minutes, stirring almost constantly and scraping any crusty bits that adhere to the bottom of the pan. Serve in a sauceboat.

MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Melt butter in a heavy 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and shallot. Saute, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons flour; cook until incorporated, about 1 minute. Add beef broth; cook, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in half-and-half, black pepper, and salt. Cook for 30 seconds more.

CREAMY MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until dry and tender, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add the broth and sherry and continue to cook until it comes to a boil and thickens, about 5 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and thyme and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.