If your ideal Thanksgiving feast hinges on a ladle-full of hot gravy cascading over slices of turkey or soaking into a mountain of mashed potatoes (and really, whose doesn't?), then this post is for you. Our feeling? Gravy doesn't need to be complicated, but it does need to be perfect.
The first and most important thing to know is that good gravy begins with good stock. At least one day (and up to four days) before the feast, make your own rich turkey stock. Use our Do-Ahead Turkey Stock recipe (in a pinch, you can use store-bought low-salt chicken broth, but the results with homemade are incomparable).
When you're ready to make the gravy, bring 4 cups stock to a boil in a medium pot. (We give these measurements based on a recipe that serves 8-10.) Remove from heat and keep warm. Then follow these steps:
More from Bon Appétit:
28 Delicious Thanksgiving Side Dishes
10 Snacks You Thought Were Healthy But Really Aren't
Avoid These Common Turkey Mistakes
