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Gluten-Free Turkey Gravy

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(5)

Gluten free gravy being poured on mashed potatoes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich

Glutinous rice flour, also known as mochiko or sweet rice flour, makes an excellent gluten-free gravy for Thanksgiving or any holiday feast. Like wheat flour, mochiko can be toasted in fat to create a roux, which lends the finished gravy robust flavor that other starches, like cornstarch, just can’t match. This gravy also has a silky texture and great body like any gravy should. Here miso and apple cider vinegar extend the flavor, making it both brighter and more savory. Start by adding half the total vinegar since the wine may lend plenty of acidity. Taste, adjust, and taste again!

If you want to make this gravy without turkey drippings, use 6 Tbsp. butter in place of the turkey fat and increase the stock 1–1½ cups.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    10 minutes

  • Yield

    8–10 servings

Ingredients

5 cups turkey stock or low-sodium, gluten-free chicken broth
Roasting pan with drippings from turkey
½ cup glutinous rice flour
½ cup dry white wine or apple cider
1 Tbsp. white miso (optional)
1–2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring stock to a simmer in a small saucepan; keep warm over medium-low heat.

    Step 2

    Carefully tilt roasting pan to pour turkey drippings into a fine-mesh sieve set over a small bowl or measuring glass; discard solids. Let liquid settle, then skim fat from surface. Set 6 Tbsp. fat aside in another small bowl for making the roux; discard any remaining fat or save for another use.

    Step 3

    Place roasting pan over 2 burners on medium-high heat and pour in 1 cup stock, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Pour into bowl with drippings.

    Step 4

    Reduce heat to medium and heat reserved 6 Tbsp. fat in roasting pan. Whisk in rice flour and cook, whisking constantly, until roux is toasty-smelling and darkened to the color of peanut butter, 2–3 minutes.

    Step 5

    Pour in wine and cook, whisking constantly, until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in pan drippings, about ½ cup at a time, whisking until incorporated after each addition. Whisk in remaining stock in the same manner (you may not need all of it; you want the final gravy to be pourable but with some body) and bring to a simmer. Cook, whisking often, until gravy is thick enough to coat a spoon, about 5 minutes. Whisk in miso (if using) and 1 tsp. vinegar.

    Step 6

    If you prefer a smoother texture, strain gravy through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium saucepan. Taste gravy and season with salt and pepper if needed (if your turkey was brined, the gravy may not require more salt). If your gravy tastes flat, stir in up to 1 tsp. more vinegar to brighten. Keep gravy warm over medium-low heat until ready to serve.

    Do ahead: Gravy can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

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  • This was terrible. I needed a gluten free gravy for a family member, but this is inedible. The mochiko adds a rice flavor to the gravy, which is not enjoyable. You’d be better off just using cornstarch to make a slurry. I wasted all my homemade turkey stock on this and it’s going straight into the compost.

    • Anonymous

    • Boston, MA

    • 11/26/2021

  • Good stuff. My whole bird was lean, but thankfully I roasted some legs, wings & neck parts in the week prior so I had plenty of fat. Doing this in advance is highly recommended--it provides the essential fat in abundance and some really good fond. If one or more of your guests is gluten free, this will please everyone.

    • Duspin

    • Boston, MA

    • 11/26/2021

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