What can I replace this with? Alternatives and substitutions.

MaggieBaking

zippychick wrote: »

Gravy is my nemesis you see, hence my panic and distress!:eek::D I've got meat gravy right but i have joints of meat so rarely - ie never - that I don't get practice. Veggie gravy is perfect in principle, just hope the taste is good!EEEKKKK! It's not often i get nervous about cooking something!!!:o

Forget about attempting to perfectly caramelise the onions - just aim to get a bit of colour on them in the first stage, then a bit more when you put the sugar in and they'll taste just lovely. Never had mine go watery though.

Just think of gravy as flavoured water - there's no need to stress - the longer you cook it for the more flavoured it will be as it dehydrates - intensifying the flavour. If in doubt with a gravy always reduce the water/stock in it so it's not so watery to start with and it'll taste lovely...

Hope it went ok!

zippychick

They weren't watery - there was just a tiny bit of liquid in the pan - the recipe said they were done when the liquid had all dried up. It was just driving me a bit insane last night! I am sure it will be ok.:D

Making the gravy tonight at his house - or i wonder should i make it and take it with me!!!! Arg:o:p

MaggieBaking

For the gravy - make it there, you'll do fine!!! Just tell him it takes twice as long to make it as it actually should do so you wont feel like you're doing it all wrong and taking it too long

zippychick

Ok, i cant wait to taste it! Would white wine go nice in it? Unlikely he will have red knocking about but i could take balsamic over ?

MaggieBaking

You wouldn't miss the Worcestershire sauce - it's just a little va-va-voom. Personally, I wouldn't put anything else in, but perhaps another half a beef oxo cube if you're worried about it being a little bland?

hotcookie101

zippychick wrote: »

thanks for the thought anyway! Ill have to get my hands on a bottle for the store cupboard! I wouldn't have known Worc sauce wasn't veggie friendly?

Worc sauce contains anchovies, but not that many people know that. Mushroom ketchup is supposed to be a good veggie sub for that unami taste (I'm not veggie, and the only ones I seem to cook for are those non veggie veggies who eat fish-in other words-they just don't eat meat!!)

zippychick

MaggieBaking wrote: »

You wouldn't miss the Worcestershire sauce - it's just a little va-va-voom. Personally, I wouldn't put anything else in, but perhaps another half a beef oxo cube if you're worried about it being a little bland?

They have beef fat and MSG in them !

I must seem really over anxious about this gravy - it's not cooking in my kitchen and cooking something new!!!. If i was making it here i have a storecupboard ready to grab stuff and play with but at his house i dont.

thanks hotcookie - funnily enough i looked up last night as i couldnt work out what made it non veggie friendly. Mushroom ketchup sounds vile but im sure he would like it!

zippychick

The gravy was SPECTACULAR!!!!!!! I thre the onions in a tiny bit of oil, added the flour, gradually added the veg stock and thyme , brought to the boil then simmered for 20-30 mins. I did add some soy sauce. Had the tiny leftover bit today for lunch with mashed potato. I added quite abit more water to thin it out. Totally delicious.!!!!!

Exceptionally impressed, so much so im making it again on sunday! Highly recommended especially if you like me have gravy angst:o:p:j

MaggieBaking

Awesome!!! So glad you've cleared your gravy phobia!!! Did the bf enjoy too?

zippychick

Ha ha thanks! Short of licking his plate, he certainly did!!!!!! We had a mountain of champ (buttery mash with chopped spring onions), quorn sausages, boiled mange tout and chantenay carrots and spectacular gravy! ! ! !

I hate mashing potatoes as i get all crazy about lumps, so thankfully it was lump free too . All in all a total success !

Any wonder he calls me a feeder:o:p