The British and Irish have a long-running love affair with meat, which is reflected in the difference between British and American gravy. British gravy is based on stock and uses melted butter as one of its main ingredients. In contrast, American gravy is made from drippings, stock, and sometimes cream.
Any combination of these three ingredients can be used to make a sauce that resembles British gravy. However, there are differences in the type of meat used to produce each one. If you’re curious about how these two types of gravy are made and what it means for you as a home chef, keep reading!
What is American Gravy?
American gravy is made with drippings, stock, and sometimes cream. The drippings are generally beef, and the stock is made from chicken or vegetable stock. American gravy is generally brown or dark-brown in color due to the meat used. This type of gravy is great with steak or other red meat. It’s also great with roast turkey and other poultry.
What is British Gravy?
British gravy is made from stock, drippings, and sometimes cream. It’s generally brown or dark-brown in color due to the meat used. British gravy is a thick and full-bodied type of sauce. It’s often served with roast beef and Yorkshire puddings, and is also great with turkey and ham.
The difference between American and British gravy is the type of meat used. American gravy is made with beef drippings and stock, while British gravy is made with beef drippings and veal stock.
How to Make Gravy:
Browning Meat:
The first step in making both types of gravy is to brown the meat. Browning meat means cooking it in a skillet or pan with some oil. This will help create flavorful juices, which will be used as part of the sauce. You can also use this process to roast vegetables, chicken or other meats.
For a thicker sauce, you can add some flour at this point as well, which will help thicken up the sauce as it cooks down during cooking time. Browning also creates a more savory flavor for your dish that isn’t present in a dish made without it.
American vs British gravy
When you think of gravy, you probably think of American gravy. However, there is also British gravy, which is a bit different. American gravy is made from beef drippings and is brown in color. It’s often served with steak or roasted meat.
British gravy is made from stock and is brown in color. It’s often served with roast beef or boiled meats like beef shank or beef short ribs. Depending on where you live, you may also be familiar with a Southern dish called “gravy”. This is a thick, brown sauce that’s served with fried chicken, collard greens, and cornbread.
Differences Between American Gravy and British Gravy
The main difference between American gravy and British gravy is the type of meat used. American gravy is brown or dark-brown in color due to the meat used. British gravy, on the other hand, is brown or dark-brown in color due to the type of stock used.
The gravy also tends to be thicker in British gravy than in American gravy. The other main difference between American and British gravy is the type of stock used. American gravy is generally made from beef or chicken drippings while British gravy is made from stock.
Popular uses for American gravy
American gravy is great with steak or other red meat. It’s also great with turkey and ham. It’s also a popular choice for making sandwiches like cornbread stuffing and pulled pork sandwiches.
Gravy also goes well with mashed potatoes and rice. Gravy also goes well with roasted vegetables, like potatoes, carrots, or Brussels sprouts. It also goes well with various types of meatloaf and meatballs.
Popular uses for British gravy
British gravy is great with roast beef and Yorkshire puddings, and is also great with turkey and ham. Gravy also goes well with mashed potatoes and rice. Gravy also goes well with roasted vegetables, like potatoes, carrots, or Brussels sprouts.
It also goes well with various types of meatloaf and meatballs.
The consistency of American gravy is thicker than that of British gravy. This is because American gravy is made from drippings while British gravy is made from stock.
The other main difference between American and British gravy is the type of stock used. American gravy is generally made from beef or chicken drippings while British gravy is made from stock.
Traditional variations of British Gravy
The traditional version of British gravy is made with the drippings of roasted meats, such as beef and pork. The gravy is thickened using flour. This type of gravy is usually served with roast beef, roast lamb, or steak and chips.
The traditional version of American Gravy
The traditional version of American Gravy is made from drippings from roasted meats and vegetables. The gravy is thickened using cornstarch or flour. This type of gravy is usually served with roast beef, roast lamb, or steak and chips.
Real British Gravy Recipe
This recipe for real British Gravy makes a wonderful dinner entree for four to six people. It can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to two days before serving it cold at dinner time.
The real British Gravy recipe makes a rich sauce that will thicken as it stands in the refrigerator. If you want to make the real British Gravy ahead, you can make it ahead and refrigerate until ready to serve at dinner time.
Final Tips
It’s important to note that there is no right or wrong when it comes to what kind of gravy you make. Gravy recipes tend to be very personal and subjective. What may be great for one person may not work for another.
There are a few things that may help make your gravy taste better and be more consistent. One of these is to add some lemon juice to the gravy before you serve it. This is because it tends to help cut down on the fat content in the sauce. It’s also a good idea to always use good-quality ingredients.
This will make a big difference in the taste and consistency of your gravy. As you can see, there is a lot to know about what makes American and British gravy so it’s best to be informed before you make it!
