Vinnys Gravy Recipes

GRANDMA HAWLEY'S TOMATO GRAVY

Steps:

• Melt the bacon fat and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When the bubbles subside, pour in the tomatoes and stir with a wooden spoon until the fat has married with the tomatoes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring regularly, until reduced by half, 2 hours.
• Heat the evaporated milk and the whole milk in separate saucepans over low heat until they form a skin on the surface. Remove and discard the skin from the evaporated milk, then pour into the tomatoes; stir until incorporated.
• Put the flour in a large mixing bowl. Remove and discard the skin from the whole milk. Quickly pour the milk into the bowl with the flour, whisking vigorously (to avoid clumps). Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into the pot with the tomatoes. Stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated. (The consistency should be velvety.) Season with 2 tablespoons each salt and pepper.

GRANNY'S STEAK AND GRAVY

Steps:

• Sprinkle both sides of the steak with the salt, cayenne, and black pepper. Rub seasoning into meat. In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat until hot. Add steak and cook on high until browned, turning steak every 3 to 4 minutes. (Lower heat if necessary.) The steak should be well browned on both sides. Remove steak and add onions and bell peppers to pan. Cook until wilted. Place steak on top of onions and bell peppers and add 1/4 cup of water. Lower heat to medium, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, turning steak every 20 minutes. (Note: when lifting lid of pot, let the water from the lid drain into the pot.) When steak is tender, remove steak and place on a platter. Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and add to the pot. Stir to make a gravy. Serve gravy over hot rice with steak.

VITA GRECO'S GRAVY

Steps:

• Prepare the meats: In a large skillet, brown all the meats in the olive oil. There is no need to cook the meats all the way through. Remember to pierce the sausage before cooking to allow fats and water to be released. Set meats aside.
• Prepare meatballs: Combine all ingredients except the olive oil in a large bowl. Form the meatballs with your hands (there should be about 12). Fry in the olive oil over medium heat until browned, but not cooked all the way through. Set aside.
• Prepare the gravy: Saute garlic in the olive oil in the same skillet used to saute the meats. Add tomato paste and cook for a few minutes. In a large saucepot, combine the remaining ingredients except the meats and the tomato paste-garlic mixture and simmer. When the mixture begins to bubble, add all the meats and the meatballs and the tomato paste-garlic mixture. Stir about every 15 minutes, being sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent burning and sticking. If the gravy seems too thick, add a little water at a time. Simmer for about 3 hours, keeping the lid of the pot slightly askew to prevent condensation of the gravy.