Madiera Gravy

(Can be made two days in advance)

turkey neck, giblets and any trimming
1 rib celery
1 carrot
1 small onion
2 cloves
1 bay leaf
2 or 3 large sprigs of parsley
1 1/2 cups chicken broth (or Bowman & Landes Turkey Broth)
1 cup Madiera wine
additional water, to cover

for serving day
2 TB. Madiera wine
3 TB. butter or turkey fat
3 TB. flour

Place turkey giblets, neck and trimmings in a small saucepan. Break carrot and celery in half and place in saucepan. Cut onion in half, stick one clove in each half and add to saucepan. Add bay leaf and parsley. Add one cup wine and chicken broth and enough water (if needed) to cover. Bring to boil, lower heat to simmer, cover with lid slightly ajar and cook for two hours. Strain. You should have two cups. If not, add enough water to equal two cups. Chop giblets and add them back to stock if desired. Chill.

While turkey is sitting:

In saucepan, melt butter or turkey fat and stir in flour. Let cook over moderate heat until flour aroma disappears, about 1 minute.

Pour all juices from turkey roasting pan into tall narrow cup or fat separator. Let fat rise to top and pour brown juice underneath into saucepan with gravy. Put roasting pan over heat and deglaze with remaining 2 TB. Madiera and about 1/4 to 1/2 cup water. Let it boil, scraping up any brown bits to dissolve them. Add content to gravy and season with salt and pepper.

If gravy is too thick, add some stock or milk. If too thin, dissolve 1 TB. cornstarch in 1 TB. cool water and stir, a bit at a time, into simmering gravy until desired consistency is reached. Remember, it will continue to thicken as it cools.

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