Vegan Thanksgiving Gravy Recipe

Gravy has been a part of Thanksgiving meals for generations, creating a sense of tradition and nostalgia. Many people associate Thanksgiving with the comforting and familiar taste of gravy, and it has become an integral part of the holiday's culinary heritage. You may think that since you live a vegan lifestyle and turkey is not going to be gracing your plate on Thanksgiving, that gravy is a thing of the past ... but not so. Today we bring you a delicious vegan Thanksgiving gravy that can pass as the real thing.

Wellness coach and recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe and says, "Even though I don't eat turkey, gravy with mashed potatoes is one of my favorite combinations. Once you try this gravy, you're going to want to make it all winter long. It's super easy and the flavor is rich, savory, and slightly salty. People will think you're lying when you tell them it's vegan."

To make this recipe there is one ingredient in particular that is crucial and that is the vegan chicken bouillon cube. "There are a few brands of vegan chicken broth available either in cube or liquid form, and you will get a better end result with these versus standard vegetable broth," Hahn explains.

The rest of the ingredients are pretty basic. Pick up some vegan butter, garlic, tamari soy sauce, nutritional yeast, onion granules, dried mustard, poultry seasoning, and potato starch. "You can substitute corn starch, or arrowroot powder for the potato starch but my first choice is potato starch here," Hahn shares. "I also prefer tamari soy sauce because it is richer in flavor and less salty than standard soy sauce. We will already have quite a bit of salt in the bouillon. Plus, added bonus — it's gluten-free," Hahn goes on to say.

Add the butter to a medium pot and bring the heat to medium.

Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.

Add 2 cups water, bouillon cube, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, onion granules, dried mustard, and poultry seasoning. Stir for 3 minutes or until the bouillon cube has dissolved.

Combine 1 cup of room temperature water with the potato starch. Stir with a whisk to combine.

Pour the starch slurry into the pot and reduce the heat to low.

Cook for 15 minutes stirring frequently or until the gravy has thickened.

The vegan gravy is ready to serve.

One of the best reasons to make this vegan gravy is that you can make it in advance. You're not waiting for a turkey to cook to use the drippings so add it to your list of things to be made the week leading up to Thanksgiving. "I always try to make as many things as possible ahead of time so I can focus on other essential tasks and reduce the last-minute rush in the kitchen. Also, it's important that there is plenty of time to hang out with family and friends on holidays," Hahn shares.

You can make the gravy up to 5 days in advance if you want to store it in the fridge and up to a month in advance if you want to freeze it. If you plan to freeze it make sure to leave plenty of room at the top of your container for expansion. For thawing it out, it's best to remove it from the freezer and place it into the fridge the day before you need it.

If you have leftover gravy, it will last great for 5 days if kept in an airtight container in the fridge.

Vegan gravy can be served with a variety of dishes to add a savory, umami flavor. Serve vegan gravy with a plant-based roast, such as a seitan roast or tofu turkey. Drizzle vegan gravy over a hearty vegan meatloaf made from ingredients like lentils, mushrooms, or grains. These options mimic the texture and appearance of traditional roast meats.

Vegan gravy pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, creating a classic comfort food combination. Pour vegan gravy over a generous helping of vegan stuffing to add moisture and flavor to this holiday favorite.

For some non-holiday ideas, serve vegan gravy over vegan biscuits for a satisfying breakfast or brunch option. Create nourishing grain or rice bowls with roasted or sautéed vegetables and grains like quinoa or brown rice, then drizzle with vegan gravy for added flavor. Fill savory vegan crepes with vegetables, tofu, or vegan cheese, and drizzle gravy over them for added richness. Pour vegan gravy over a shepherd's pie made with plant-based ingredients like lentils or mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables.