Traditional Beef Gravy

By
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 03/27/21
Traditional Beef Gravy in a gravy boat

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
29 Calories
1g Fat
1g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 29
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 4mg 1%
Sodium 119mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 124mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Traditional beef gravy is the best accompaniment to roast beef and Yorkshire puddings, the national dish of Great Britain. There's no need to serve ready-made gravy when making it is so simple and tastes so much better than anything you can buy.

There are a few tricks to making a great gravy. If you can, always use the delicious pan juices from your roast, and homemade stock will almost always be tastier than store-bought stock. It doesn't matter what type of red wine (or port) you use in the recipe. As long as it is a wine you'd drink, that works fine. In fact, it's a nice conversation starter to use the wine you are serving at dinner. Then all you need are a few ingredients, and your Sunday roast or supper dish will be transformed by tasty homemade gravy. 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup roast meat pan juices, such as beef or lamb

  • 1/3 cup red wine, or port

  • 2 cups beef, chicken, or vegetable stock

  • 1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into very small cubes

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Traditional Beef Gravy ingredients

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Place the roasting pan with the pan juices on the stovetop over high heat until the meat juices begin to bubble, taking care not to burn the juice as it bubbles up quickly.

    roasting pan with the pan juices on the stovetop

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Pour in the red wine and scrape all the bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon or spatula.

    Pour the red wine into the roasting pan and scrape all the bits from the bottom of the pan

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Allow this mixture to bubble until it is reduced to a sticky, concentrated glaze. Do not leave the pan unattended, as the reduction happens very quickly and can quickly burn.

    Allow this mixture to bubble until it is reduced to a sticky, concentrated glaze

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add the stock to the sauce and stir thoroughly to incorporate the stock into the reduced glaze.

    Add the stock to the sauce, incorporate the stock into the reduced glaze

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Once it is fully mixed, strain the gravy through a fine sieve into a saucepan. Bring this mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat and reduce it by one-third.

    strain the gravy into a saucepan

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Once the gravy is reduced, add the butter in tiny pieces, shaking the pan gently until all the butter is melted and fully incorporated into the sauce. Adding the ice-cold butter not only adds flavor and richness, but it also gives the gravy a glossy shine. 

    gravy with butter in a saucepan

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Check the resting meat to see if it has given up any more meat juices (beef and lamb often will as the meat relaxes). Add these juices to the gravy and give it another quick boil. 

    add additional meat juice to the gravy in the saucepan

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Keep the gravy warm until needed, then strain into a gravy boat or bowl and serve.

    Traditional Beef Gravy in a gravy boat

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

How to Store

  • Store any leftover gravy in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Once it cools, the fat will likely separate. Gently stir it as you warm it in a saucepan to reheat it.
  • Leftover gravy can also be frozen. Defrost it in the refrigerator and then gently rewarm it.
  • Serve the leftover gravy with any leftover meat or give it a new life as a dressing for tasty sandwiches or a decadent topping to homemade steak fries.

Tips

  • Once the roast meat is cooked, remove it from the roasting pan to a cutting board or platter. Wrap it loosely in aluminum foil and leave it to rest as you make this gravy.
  • Pour away any excess fat from the meat juices before beginning this recipe.

Are Beef Consommé and Beef Stock the Same as Gravy?

Beef stock is a flavored liquid made using beef bones and often aromatics like onion. After simmering for some time, the liquid is strained, and the stock can be used to make soups or add flavor to a wide range of dishes, including gravies. Consommé is made with stock that is clarified using egg whites and is enjoyed as a light dish on its own. Gravy is thicker and often more flavorful than stock or consommé and is used as a sauce to top meat dishes, mashed potatoes, and more.