Ultimate Homemade Scratch Gravy

Ingredients

• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried Thyme
• 6-8 fresh parsley stems
• 8-10 whole peppercorn
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped carrots
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 cups broth (turkey, beef, chicken)
• cooking twine
• cheese cloth

Directions

1. Place the bay leaf, thyme, parsley, peppercorns on a square of cheesecloth and tie up with a bundle of cooking twine.
2. Heat the butter in the bottom of a pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions, celery and carrots. Saute them for a few minutes, until the onion is partially translucent. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to form a paste. Cook for 3 minutes, until the flour is lightly browned, stir often to avoid burning.
3. Whisk in 3 cups of the broth, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the heat to a simmer. Add the herb bundle and reduce the volume of the gravy by a third, about 20 minutes.
4. Remove the pan from heat and retrieve the herb bundle. Carefully pour the sauce through a mesh strainer.
5. Return sauce to the pan and stir in 2 cups of the broth and return the herb bundle to the pot. Bring back to a boil and then lower to a simmer. Simmer for about 50 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by half.
6. Discard the herb bundle. Strain the sauce through the mesh strainer one more time. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy that tasty homemade gravy!