Rex Trulove
There are a great number of delicious dishes that are made even better with some gravy. It is easy enough to make gravy if you have meat drippings to work with. However, this isn’t always possible, so people often buy packets of powdered instant gravy mix. If you want to save money and have better tasting, healthier gravy, though, you can easily make your own powdered gravy mix.
The savings are very real. Gravy mix that is purchased in a store usually costs about a dollar for the cheapest brands, for enough to make a cup of gravy. Yet, gravy mix is very little besides flour and flavoring.
This means that most of that dollar is being paid for flour. There are about four cups of flour per pound, so this translates to $20 for a 5-pound bag of flour! Most people who are on a budget wouldn’t think of paying that much for flour, thus it makes sense to make your own gravy mix and simply store any excess in a jar with an air-tight lid. It is even extremely easy to make.
Powdered gravy mix ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/4 cup bouillon of choice (chicken, pork, or beef)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Powdered gravy mix instructions:
Simply mix all ingredients together thoroughly and store in a jar with an air-tight lid.
To make the gravy, stir 1/4 cup of the powdered gravy mix into a cup of cold water in a sauce pan, blending until smooth. Add a tablespoon of butter. Heat until it is boiling, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Cook until thickened; one or two minutes.
For variations, add a tablespoon of dried, chopped chives to the mix. If you are wheat intolerant, you can easily make a gluten-free version by using oat or rice flour. This will still be cheaper than the store-bought packets.
Onion gravy mix is also easy; use onion powder or dried onion flakes instead of bouillon. Without bouillon, this gravy mix would be vegetarian.
If thinner gravy is desired, simply increase the amount of water. Adding more of the mix results in thicker gravy.
Since you control what goes into this powdered gravy mix, it can be free of preservatives and such things as silicon dioxide that is often added to the store-bought mix. This means that it is tasty, healthier, and far less expensive.
I will try it. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
You are quite welcome.
I always make my own gravy but as I go…powders don’t store well here..too humid. But we don’t have gravy every day so no great shakes to make as I go. But as you say handy if you go camping:)
I can understand about the humidity. We dry and store a lot of things here, but it is seldom humid. The past week, our humidity has been between 15% and 25%, with lots of heat (which makes it hard on the people fighting forest fires). I usually make up the gravy mix by the quart, which lasts anywhere from 4-6 months around here. lol
I don’t cook anymore and feel better when I mostly eat yogurt/cottage cheese/oatmeal and fruits and vegetables. I do understand that most families do eat meals that include gravy, so this is a great post to help them.
My diet isn’t restricted, so we do eat gravy frequently. However, we don’t eat it every day. It is more like once every week or two. I do like the mix for taking camping, though. It is very helpful for stretching meals.
I am glad you posted this, I lost it but I will bookmark this page now.
You are quite welcome. I need to make up a batch, but right now I’m in the middle of making un-Hawaiian/mock pineapple. lol
Thank you.
Well, that makes us even hungry.
It usually doesn’t take much to make me hungry. Just thinking about food will usually do it. LOL
Great idea, never would have thought of that!
I usually make up quite a bit at a time because there are some meals that we have that are mostly gravy and something, without any meat. For instance, gravy and rice or gravy and biscuits. The mix makes it really easy and we even take it out with us when we go camping.
Well thats a good idea. Honestly at home I don’t use gravy for anything. But would be helpful for if I did!
I’m still trying to figure out a way to dehydrate the turkey gravy we always have with Thanksgiving dinner. lol It is delicious, there is usually a lot of it, but dehydrating it is a bit of a bother.
Wow instrusted post
Thank you. It is easy and good tasting.
Gravy is the best. Homemade, once you learn how to make it, is the only way to go!
I agree. Thankfully, it is quite easy to learn how to make it.
Yes indeed, I learned years ago.
I’m not a good gravy maker, so I’ll try to keep this in mind. Maybe mine will improve!
Actually making the gravy from this mix is no more difficult than making it from store-bought powdered mix, but it tastes better and is healthier.
Rex this is a great tip and recommendation! If you like gravy!! (sadly i do) it is the featured addition that makes Loco Moco go!
It is so easy, yet almost every time I go to the store, there is someone buying one of the packets of instant gravy mix. Unbelievable but true.