Gravy browning recipes (2024)

Made from caramel, molasses and spices, gravy browning is used for giving gravies in England an appetising brown colour. It comes as a dark-brown liquid or powder. It was popular in the first half of the twentieth century, but is not widely used nowadays. Do not confuse gravy browning with gravy powder.

Buyer's guide

Gravy browning is not widely available – many supermarkets have stopped stocking it. However, some still sell it labelled simply as ‘browning’; it is also available online.

Preparation

In addition to browning gravies, it can also be used to add colour to stews, soups, microwave-cooked meats, cakes, icing and home-brewed beers. Use gravy browning judiciously, otherwise the dish will become unattractively brown. If you cannot obtain it, substitute with caramel food colouring, Worcestershire sauce, instant coffee granules, dry-roasted plain flour or browned onions, depending on the dish you are colouring.

Gravy browning recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to get brown color in gravy? ›

You can use any type of stock or pan drippings for brown gravy. To make dark brown beef gravy, cook the roux even longer (but at a lower temperature) until it's a dark color with a nutty aroma. Then use beef broth or beef juices to make your gravy.

What can I use for gravy browning? ›

Two popular brands are Kitchen Bouquet and Gravy Master. If you can't locate browning sauce, you can make your own at home (more on how to do that in a minute!). You can also substitute store-bought gravy powder, make a dark roux or substitute other dark-colored liquids like Worcestershire, molasses or soy sauce.

What can you put in gravy to make it dark? ›

Add the chicken broth, beef broth, beef bouillon, onion and garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce to a medium saucepan. Stir to combine. Optional: If a darker color is desired, add 2-3 drops of Kitchen Bouquet browning and seasoning sauce. (Gravy Master works well too.)

How to darken gravy without a kitchen bouquet? ›

14 Best Kitchen Bouquet Substitutes
  1. Gravy Master: Enhance the flavor and color of your gravies, sauces, and stews with Gravy Master. ...
  2. Dark Soy Sauce or Tamari: Add color and umami flavor to your dishes by using Soy sauce or tamari. ...
  3. Worcestershire Sauce: Add a complex flavor profile to dishes with Worcestershire sauce.
Aug 30, 2023

What food coloring makes brown? ›

The easiest way to make brown food coloring is to mix equal amounts of red and green food coloring together. Adding a drop of blue food coloring if you want to make a cooler shade of brown.

Can I use Worcestershire instead of browning sauce? ›

Worcestershire sauce may not taste exactly like the original, but it is one of the better substitutes for browning sauce. Its distinctive umami taste and deep, dark color help to add color and character to a variety of dishes.

Is molasses the same as browning? ›

Although these two are similar in appearance and consistency, they are actually two different seasonings. Because browning sauce is water and brown sugar, it tastes similar to molasses.

What is gravy browning liquid? ›

Made from caramel, molasses and spices, gravy browning is used for giving gravies in England an appetising brown colour. It comes as a dark-brown liquid or powder. It was popular in the first half of the twentieth century, but is not widely used nowadays.

What can I substitute for brown gravy mix? ›

DIY Brown Gravy Packet Mix 2 Tablespoons equals one packet Ingredients 3 tablespoons beef (or chicken bouillon) granules 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS to make Gravy (for each batch): 4-1/2 teaspoons butter 3/4 cup cold water Directions In a small bowl, ...

How do I darken my gravy? ›

the traditional method for darkening broth, stock, gravy, and bouillon was to use burnt sugar. Just a little bit will do, depending on how large of a batch you are making. Heat sugar and 1 Tablespoon water over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved.

What is Gravy Master? ›

America's trusted browning & seasoning sauce, enhancing recipes since 1935. A convenient, quick, and reliable way to add color and flavor to gravies and marinades. Not just for gravy – perfect for soups and glazes for meats and vegetables.

What does Kitchen Bouquet do for gravy? ›

A kitchen staple, Kitchen Bouquet® blends vegetables, spices and herbs into a rich, flavorful broth and browning sauce. Only the finest natural ingredients make this the perfect addition to soups, stews, sauces, gravies and more — enhancing color and flavor while remaining low in sodium and gluten-free.

Why is my gravy not brown? ›

Make sure the flour has been cooked long enough: When flour is added to the pan drippings or butter, whisk constantly while the mixture cooks until it turns a deep golden brown and smells nutty.

What gives gravy its color? ›

When I make pan gravy, I pour all of the drippings into a shallow bowl and wait for the grease to rise to the top, so you can seperate the fat from the liquid for measurements. Pan gravy is best made in the pan that the meat was cooked in. All of that brown stuck on stuff adds flavor and gives gravy its golden color.

Why is some gravy brown? ›

It turns out, the biggest difference between the two is brown gravy is broth-based, while white gravy typically has a milk or cream base. Garcia said both types usually have flour or cornstarch for thickening and they both contain some sort of “fat or meat drippings.”

How do you make brown? ›

The fundamental answer for what colors make brown is the three primary colors—red, yellow, and blue. To make brown paint, mix and vary the amounts and ratio of red, yellow, and blue to alter the shade of brown you get. There are multiple shades of brown, from light, sandy beige to dark mahogany.

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