Gravy

Gravy is a thickened sauce, usually made from a base of the juices and extractives which run from meat during cooking.

There are two basic types of meat gravy: thickened and unthickened. The unthickened gravy, in the case of red meats, is often referred to as a "jus". This is simply a cooked mixture of blood and tissue juices.

Thickened gravies are usually made starting with a roux (a mixture of fat and flour). The liquids from the cooked meat are added gradually, while continually stirring the mixture, to ensure that it mixes properly.

Many gravies contain milk or cream as well as meat or vegetable juices. Sometimes finely-cut pieces of meat are added back into the gravy.

A favorite American dish is mashed potatoes and gravy. Gravy is also commonly eaten with meat, American style biscuits, Yorkshire pudding, and stuffing.

Today, completely vegetable-based gravies are also made.

see also the Wikipedia Cookbook