Elegant Mushroom Gravy Recipe

Sometimes a traditional mushroom gravy recipe may be too heavy for your meal. Or perhaps you're worried the elegant chanterelle mushrooms that you found will be overpowered in such a recipe. It must be time for lighter gravy!

This lighter mushroom gravy is a perfect partner with fish, chicken, or vegetables such a broccoli. The softer flavor makes it ideal for showcasing delicate wild mushrooms.

Part of this recipe involves making roux, which is a cooked combination of flour and fat, usually butter. Used as a thickener for gravies and sauces, it's not difficult to make with a whisk and some flour.

For a classic, thicker homemade mushroom gravy recipe click here.

Recommended mushrooms: Black trumpets, chanterelle mushrooms, or anything flavorful and delicate. Stronger-tasting gourmet mushrooms such as morels or porcini are also a great choice.

• 1 lb mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
• 1/4 cup butter, olive oil, or meat drippings
• 1 cup broth or water
• 1/2 cup light cream
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons flour
• Salt and pepper to taste

It doesn't take long to sauté the chanterelle mushrooms here, so we'll set them aside while we make the roux:

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add the mushrooms and sauté until they have started to brown, around 3 - 5 minutes. Chanterelles are more delicate, and should not be sautéed here longer than 5 minutes. If you're using a heartier type of mushroom such as porcini it's ok to cook them a little longer.

Transfer the mushrooms and garlic from the skillet to a plate or a dish and begin making the roux. Melt the remaining butter or oil over medium low heat. Whisk in the flour, allowing it to cook for a minute or two.

Slowly whisk in the broth, wine, lemon juice, and cream. Do it thoroughly, as you want the whole mixture to be smooth, not lumpy.

Add the mushroom/shallot mixture to the roux. Stir and simmer until the final result has the desired gravy consistency, about 5 minutes. Don't let it simmer for too long. Add a little water or broth if it becomes too thick.

Enjoy your delicate homemade gravy with gourmet mushrooms!

Variations:

• Add any spice you like towards the end. Start with only 1/2 teaspoon at a time. Parsley is a good choice for this mushroom gravy.
• Use cornstarch or arrowroot to thicken the gravy instead of making a roux. The result is often smoother.
• Add 1/4 cup of sherry instead of white wine.

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