For A Bolder Gravy, Add This Pantry Staple

Gravy can make or break a dish. Thanksgiving Day turkey and mashed potatoes would not be the same without a thick, savory sauce. However, if you are looking for a way to elevate the flavor, you need to learn the best tricks for making perfect gravy. It starts by reaching for that bottle of Worcestershire sauce in the pantry that you use when making hamburgers, marinades, or even Bloody Marys. Worcestershire sauce is known for its umami punch. It's this same flavorful superpower that makes it perfect for enhancing a store-bought gravy or one that's homemade.

Whether it's turkey, beef, pork, or chicken, the savory dressing is generally made using fat, flour, stock, and pan drippings. Worcestershire sauce is a liquid condiment that is fermented. It is made from a base of vinegar, molasses, anchovies, onion, garlic, tamarind, and other seasonings. This sweet and tangy sauce adds a complexity to the fatty and rich nature of gravy that really highlights the layers of taste you would otherwise miss. But don't get heavy-handed with it.   

Worcestershire has a big flavor personality, and you don't want it to overwhelm your gravy. Start with a half-teaspoon. If you feel like you need a little more, work in half-teaspoon increments until you hit your taste buds' sweet spot. If you accidentally add too much Worcestershire sauce, you can neutralize it by blending in just a pinch of baking soda. This will help restore the balance that you know and love. The flavorful condiment is like salt. You don't want to taste it too much after you apply it to your food. It should be subtle.

Of course, timing is everything, and that includes when you add the Worcestershire sauce to the gravy. You want to wait until after you've made your roux, but before the gravy reduces. This will give all the ingredients time to mix together to form a unified-tasting gravy that everyone will want to drizzle over their chicken-fried steak or classic beef meatloaf. If you don't have any Worcestershire in the cabinet, you can use a little soy sauce. It will also give you that umami taste, but only add a few drops.