Easy Gravy Without Drippings, flavored with Juniper Berries, isn't just some fancy gravy that you find at Whole Foods. It's an easy gravy recipe that I make on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Especially when I make a Deep Fried Turkey, I don't have fat drippings, so this recipe works perfectly.
Some people don't like the fat content in traditional gravy, but still want to eat gravy. Using store bought gravy powder is very convenient, isn't your only choice to make gravy. I know you're thinking that a gravy recipe is pretty basic, and you're right. This gravy recipe has added exotic-ness of juniper berries.
What Can I Use Juniper Berries For?
Juniper Berries can be used fresh or dried, whole or crushed, to spice up your recipes. Add them to sauces, stuffings, and with any gamier meats such as venison, grouse, pheasant or just regular beef. Not all Juniper Berries are edible, so use the right ones. Don't go to your back yard and pick some Juniper berries, unless you know what you are doing. I buy dried juniper berries from a store.
Juniper berries add such a unique flavour, almost a piney-citrus, which changes regular gravy into something special. Smashing the Juniper Berries together with the peppercorns in a pestle and mortar is almost therapeutic. And that peppery juniper smell fills the room. Growing up on the West Coast of Canada, Juniper Trees with berries seem to grow everywhere, and this gravy reminds me of going home at Christmas.
Is this Gravy healthy?
I think this Juniper Berries recipe is more healthy compared to traditional drippings gravy, due to the lower fat content, but still full of flavor from the stock. Usually fat equals flavor, but this is no natural fat drippings in this recipe. This recipe uses Vegetable Stock to make a tasty Vegetarian Gravy, but you could use beef or chicken stock depending on what you are serving it with. A perfect calorie conscious gravy.
This Juniper Berries Gravy recipe makes a great tasting gravy with lower fat content, a healthier way to eat gravy. Whether poured over Oven Roasted Turkey, Smoked Turkey, or poured over steamed vegetables or on Garlic Mashed Potatoes, your family will love this pepper gravy recipe! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Easy Juniper Berry Gravy
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 4 cups vegetable stock or beef or chicken
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup sherry optional
- 2 bay leaves
- 5 dried juniper berries
- 15 peppercorns
- 2 sprigs of thyme
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Take 5 dried juniper berries and 15 peppercorns and smash them together in a pestle and mortar until it resembles coarse ground pepper. Set aside.
- Melt butter in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Stir in the flour and mix together (I used a wooden spoon). It will have a grainy texture. Cook for about 5 minutes until golden. If using, add the sherry and mix.
- Prepare the chicken stock and add the juniper mix into the stock. Slowly whisk in the stock, constanty mixing. Add tomato paste, bay leaves, thyme, juniper berry and black pepper mixture and salt. Turn up the heat to medium-high and cook until it thickens (about 5-7or more minutes).
- Strain though a sieve into a jug, to take out the lumps. Adjust seasonings if necessary and enjoy.
©PetersFoodAdventures.com
Rachel
Hi. Can this be frozen easily?
Thanks
Peter's Food Adventures
Hi Rachel, I have never frozen gravy before, but I don’t see why not? If you try it, please let me know!! 👍🏻
Lynne (Lynne' Recipe Trails)
Don't laugh at me, but I had to google Juniper Berries !!! I really did not know what they were. So.....now, thanks to you, I have learnt something today 🙂
Your gravy does sound amazing. I really am not into the bought ones or bought vegetables stocks. The good old genuine fresh veggie ones are the best !!! Now, for me to find Juniper Berries 🙂 Have a great day 🙂
PetersFoodAdventures
Haha! Thanks for your comment Lynne! It made me laugh/smile 🙂 Really the trick is to smash it to crush the juniper and peppercorn peppercorns together, which you can add to anything, even during the seasoning of the bird... I hope you can find the dried juniper berries! 🙂
Rotwein
Wondering what it tastes like....
PetersFoodAdventures
Lol - Gravy with a kick! 🙂
Rotwein
I didn't know juniper berry is edible - well, one of herbs - until recently. I thought it was just for essential/aromatherapy oil or sort 😀 It's still an unknown taste to me. Very curious....
PetersFoodAdventures
Hope you can find it and try it! It's a flavour quite prominent in Gordon's Gin.
Rotwein
Oh, Gordon's Gin contains the berries? Didn't know that. It seems sooner to taste the gin rather than the dried herb LOL
PetersFoodAdventures
Haha... well it's not that commonly used, it was the only thing I remembered that had the taste, as I know its hard for you to source certain things! 🙂