Make Ahead Cider and Sage Gravy

make ahead gravy is the secret to stress-free holiday entertaining

I love a good make ahead recipe- like this cider and sage gravy – for so many reasons, not least of which is that you can prep (and eat) AS MUCH AS YOU WANT (!) and you can make it any time you want, even if you aren’t roasting any meat for drippings. 

If your holidays are anything like ours, there’s nothing that causes more tension than the last minute gravy making. Any kitchen’s a stressful place to be minutes before a big holiday meal, but no one has a more nerve jangling job than the gravy maker. Or I guess I should say gravy makers, because there’s usually at least 2 or 3 hovering over the pan as it bubbles away on the stove. And of course there’s always a problem ~ why is it so pale, or lumpy, or greasy?? Or the worst problem of all…there’s not enough!

upgrade your typical gravy with fresh fall flavors

Fresh apple cider lends a subtle hint of sweetness to this gravy which balances nicely with the savory flavors of browned onion and garlic, sage, and black pepper. The cider gives it a lovely golden color, too.

This cider and sage gravy is a simple recipe with an unexpected flavor profile, which is exactly the kind of recipe I love to share with you guys. 

how to make no-drippings gravy

No drippings gravy means there’s no roasted bird or joint of meat around to provide flavorful drippings and browned bits as a base for the sauce.

• An alternative way to get that flavor is to sub in something else to create the critical browning ~ you can use vegetables and/or a simple mixture of flour and butter to create a roux.

how to boost the flavor of no drippings gravy

• The key to dripless gravy is to take your time browning your ingredients. Get them as brown as possible without burning. With each shade darker you go, you’ll intensify the flavor.
• Use a good quality chicken or beef broth.
• Often I’ll add a fortified dry wine like sherry, marsala or vermouth. In this case I use fresh apple cider. Hard cider would work well too.
• Fresh herbs like sage add a brightness you can’t get from dried.
• Be sure to taste before serving, often an extra dash of salt or pepper is needed. I’ll sometimes finish with a splash of Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, or lemon juice to wake up the flavor.
• A no drippings gravy also means you can make it ahead, and that’s good because it allows the flavor to develop and deepen.

how to cook with fresh sage

Sage is one of the best fall herbs and it can add tons of character to your cooking right now.

• Sage has a beautiful earthy perfume, I can’t resist rubbing my fingers over the velvety leaves and drinking in that scent. It works really well with chicken, pork, and of course, lamb. Fresh sage features in my Homemade Chicken Apple Sausage, and I make a delicious Hard Cider Braised Pot Roast with lots of fresh sage.
• It adds a nice note to fall root veggies like carrots and parsnips, etc. (See my Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Browned Butter and Sage) It pairs perfectly with pumpkin and all other winter squash, andI love it in cream sauces and gratins. One of my favorite recipes on the blog is my Instant Pot Cheddar Risotto with Sage ~ it’s a super simple quick meal and the flavors are amazing.
• To use fresh sage remove any tough stem ends, and then either finely mince it, or stack the leaves, roll up like a cigar, and finely slice them into shreds. the fancy term is chiffonade, and it’s the same way you’d slice basil.
• Sage is one of the strongest and most pungent of all the herbs, so use a light hand with it at first. Some people find too much sage off-putting, but I can’t get enough!

what to serve with cider and sage gravy

• roast chicken or fried chicken
• roast pork
• ham
• beef pot roast
• your favorite meatloaf or salisbury steak
• roasted or mashed potatoes
• biscuits
• stuffing
• try using it as a base for casseroles, pot pies, cottage pie, or shepherd’s pie