First: The Thanksgiving Time Crunch. Thanksgiving dinner is a logistical problem. I’m cooking for twenty to thirty people instead of an eight or ten person gathering. The oven has a limited amount of space, there are only so many burners available, and time is of the essence. With the turkey pieces that are placed inside the cavity, giblet gravy can be prepared several days in advance. One less thing to worry about on T-Day.
Second: Mashed potatoes covered in gravy and grilled turkey are my two favorite Thanksgiving foods. Pan drippings and grilled turkey don’t go well together, so I might not have any gravy for Thanksgiving if I made my gravy solely from pan drippings. That would be a disaster. * I’ve lost pan drippings to burning from the grill’s high heat, ash from charcoal, and the thin aluminum foil pans I use underneath my turkey. In addition, I can’t get enough of drip-pan sweet potatoes—they absorb all the drips! This recipe is my workaround for those missing drippings.
I like the results of using a pressure cooker to make giblet gravy; it seems to extract more flavor from the giblets, so why not use one? It’s also quick; from start to finish, I can make gravy in an hour, with half of that time spent doing nothing. Easy, tasty, and premade using the bag of turkey pieces I used to remove from the cavity and discard What more could I ask for in a recipe? *You should still make giblet gravy even if you don’t have a computer. Check the notes section for instructions using standard cookware.
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food But with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday, it can be difficult to find the time to cook everything from scratch That’s where your Instant Pot comes in!
This versatile kitchen appliance can help you create flavorful turkey giblets broth and gravy in a fraction of the time it would take on the stovetop. Plus it’s a great way to use up those leftover turkey parts that you might otherwise throw away.
Instant Pot Turkey Giblet Broth: The Foundation for Delicious Gravy
Making turkey giblet broth in your Instant Pot is incredibly easy. Simply gather your ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Turkey neck, heart, gizzard, and butt (but not the liver)
- 2 pounds turkey wings
- 1 large onion, halved
- 1 stalk celery, broken to fit in the pot
- 1 large carrot, scrubbed
- 8 cups water
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 2 bay leaves
Then, follow these simple steps:
- Brown the turkey giblets: Heat the vegetable oil in your Instant Pot on the sauté setting. Add the giblets and cook until browned on the bottom.
- Add remaining ingredients: Place the turkey wings, onion, celery, carrot, water, salt, and bay leaves into the pot.
- Pressure cook: Lock the lid and cook on high pressure for 60 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 40 minutes.
- Strain and save: Remove the solids with a slotted spoon and discard. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer.
Your delicious turkey giblet broth is now ready to use! You can use it immediately for gravy, store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 6 months.
Instant Pot Turkey Giblet Gravy: The Perfect Thanksgiving Side
With your homemade turkey giblet broth as the base, creating mouthwatering gravy is a breeze. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Turkey neck, heart, gizzard, and butt (but not the liver)
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- ½ cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
- 1 quart water (or turkey or chicken broth)
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Follow these simple instructions:
- Brown the turkey and aromatics: Heat the vegetable oil in your Instant Pot on the sauté setting. Add the turkey pieces and onion and cook until browned.
- Deglaze and add liquid: Add the vermouth and bring to a boil, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the water, thyme, and bay leaf.
- Pressure cook the broth: Lock the lid and cook at high pressure for 30 minutes for a Stovetop PC or 36 minutes for an Electric PC. Let the pressure come down naturally for about 20 minutes.
- Strain the broth: Strain the broth, reserving the turkey heart and gizzard. Once they have cooled, remove the gristle from the gizzard and dice the heart and gizzard.
- Make the roux: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook until the mixture is the color of peanut butter.
- Make the gravy: Slowly pour in the strained broth while whisking vigorously. Increase heat to medium-high, bring to a boil, then decrease the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced by a third.
- Add the diced heart and gizzard.
- Season to taste: Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: If making ahead, let the gravy cool to room temperature and refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, boil for 1 minute. Stir in pan drippings from the turkey (if you have them) and serve.
Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Instant Pot Turkey Giblets
- No pressure cooker? No worries! You can still make delicious turkey giblet broth and gravy using a regular saucepan. Simply increase the cooking time and follow the same steps as above.
- Don’t have turkey wings? You can use turkey necks instead. They are usually cheaper and work just as well.
- Want a thicker gravy? Make a roux with more flour or cornstarch.
- Want a thinner gravy? Add more broth or water.
- Want a richer gravy? Add some pan drippings from your roasted turkey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why shouldn’t I use the liver in the broth or gravy?
A: The liver has a very strong flavor that can overwhelm the other flavors in the broth and gravy.
Q: Can I use chicken broth instead of turkey broth?
A: Yes, you can use chicken broth, but the flavor will not be as rich as turkey broth.
Q: How long can I store the broth and gravy?
A: The broth can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 6 months. The gravy can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Q: Can I make the broth and gravy ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can make the broth and gravy ahead of time. Simply reheat them before serving.
Making turkey giblet broth and gravy in your Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to add delicious flavor to your Thanksgiving meal. With these simple recipes and tips, you’ll be sure to impress your guests and enjoy a stress-free holiday.
Additional Resources
- Pressure Cooker Turkey Giblet Gravy: https://www.dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-giblet-gravy/
- Pressure Cooker Turkey Stock Revisited: https://www.dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-turkey-stock-revisited/
- Pressure Cooker Day-After-Thanksgiving Turkey Carcass Soup: https://www.dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-day-after-thanksgiving-turkey-carcass-soup/
Keywords
instant pot turkey giblets, turkey giblet broth, turkey giblet gravy, thanksgiving, pressure cooker, gravy recipe, broth recipe
Recipe: Pressure Cooker Giblet Gravy
Inspired By: Giblet Pan Gravy, Cooks Illustrated [November/December 2000]
