A Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy Recipe With Umami Richness (2024)

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American Food
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Jolinda Hackett

Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.

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Updated on 11/15/22

Tested by

Colleen Graham

Tested byColleen Graham

Freelance writer and co*cktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

A Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy Recipe With Umami Richness (2)

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 20 mins

Servings: 2 servings

Yield: 2 cups

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This easy recipe for a basic vegetarian and vegan mushroom gravy is surprisingly full of flavor. Mushrooms provide plenty of umami-like richness. Umami, or "pleasant savory taste," translated from Japanese, is one of the five basic tastes that includessweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness. It can best be described as meaty or brothy, which is why mushrooms are ideal for a meat-free gravy.

The mushroom gravy cooks up quickly on the stovetop. Compared to store-bought options, the taste of this fresh gravy makes that little bit of time worth it. Plus, there's no guessing as to whether your gravy is actually vegetarian or vegan because you know every ingredient that goes into it. Depending on your personal diet choices, both unsalted or vegan butter work out equally well.

Your Frequently Asked Holiday Questions, Answered

The addition of poultry seasoning in this vegetarian gravy recipe adds a familiar and delectable aroma. There isn't any actual poultry in poultry seasoning—it's completely vegan. Yet, the real secret to the gravy's ability to mimic a standard turkey gravy may be in the soy sauce because it adds just enough salty savoriness to complete the flavor. And while optional, the lemon juice gives the gravy a lovely brightness that makes it even better.

Your mushroom gravy will be a lovely addition pouredover whipped potatoes as a side dish. For a special occasion, this vegetarian gravy goes quite well with a Thanksgiving tofurky. Or pour it over a homemade lentil loaf. Got leftovers? Here's what to do with your vegetarian Thanksgivingleftovers, including gravy.

"It’s amazing how quick and simple it is to make a vegetarian gravy from scratch. This recipe is a keeper because it is so easy and tastes almost identical to turkey gravy. Beyond the mushrooms and onions, the soy sauce, poultry seasoning, and lemon juice really make this gravy delicious." —Colleen Graham

A Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy Recipe With Umami Richness (4)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, or vegan butter, divided
1/3 cup minced yellow or white onion
3/4 cup sliced white or button mushrooms
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste, optional

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter and add the onion and mushrooms. Sauté over medium-high heat until the mushroom is browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the flour and stir for a few minutes to cook the flour.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, then add thevegetable broth, soy sauce, and poultry seasoning, stirring or whisking to prevent any lumps from forming.
Bring to a simmer for just 1 to 2 minutes to help it thicken up, then reduce the heat again to low.Stir frequently.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow to cook for another few minutes, stirring regularly, until thegravy thickens. Finish by stirring in the remaining tablespoon of butter and a small squeeze of lemon juice to taste, if using.
Remove the gravy from the heat. The gravy will slightly thicken as it cools. You can always add a little water or vegetable broth to thin it out, or a bit more flour or a touch of cornstarch (whisked with a little cold water) and bring it back up to a simmer to thicken it up again if needed.

Tip

Don't have poultry seasoning? You can also use a 1/2 teaspoon each of dried sage, thyme leaf, and marjoram.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
377	Calories
30g	Fat
24g	Carbs
6g	Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories	377
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g	38%
Saturated Fat 18g	91%
Cholesterol 76mg	25%
Sodium 1874mg	81%
Total Carbohydrate 24g	9%
Dietary Fiber 3g	10%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 6mg	28%
Calcium 59mg	5%
Iron 3mg	17%
Potassium 438mg	9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

mushroom
brunch
american
christmas

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