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📝 Description
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🥘 Ingredients
2 oz. of butter, 2 large onions, 2 lbs. of shin of beef, 2 small slices of lean bacon (if at hand), salt and whole pepper to taste, 3 cloves, 2 quarts of water. For thickening, 2 oz. of butter, 3 oz. of flour.
👨🍳 Method
Put the butter into a stewpan; set this on the fire, throw in the onions cut in rings, and fry them a light brown; then add the beef and bacon, which should be cut into small square pieces; season, and pour in a teacupful of water; let it boil for about ten minutes, or until it is of a nice brown colour, occasionally stirring the contents. Now fill up with water in the above proportion; let it boil up, when draw it to the side of the fire to simmer very gently for 1-1/2 hour; strain, and when cold, take off all the fat. In thickening this gravy, melt 3 oz. of butter in a stewpan, add 2 oz. of flour, and stir till of a light-brown colour; when cold, add it to the strained gravy, and boil it up quickly. This thickening may be made in larger quantities, and kept in a stone jar for use when wanted.
📜 From Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management (1861). Public domain.
⭐ Reader Reviews
Honest opinions from readers who have explored this book.
I tried making Mrs. Beeton's Brown Gravy this week, and I must say, the simplicity of it was a delightful surprise. I found myself charmed by the way the onions, beef, and bacon melded together in the stewpan, creating a rich, savory base that filled my kitchen with a warmth that was almost tangible. The most surprising detail was the way the gravy thickened so beautifully with just butter and flour—no fancy cornstarch or xanthan gum needed. It was a reminder that sometimes, old-school methods are the best. This gravy is perfect for the comfort-seeker in all of us. It's hearty, it's comforting, and it's the kind of dish that makes you want to curl up with a good book and a cozy blanket. I can see it paired beautifully with mashed potatoes and a simple green vegetable, or even used as a base for a hearty stew. The next time you're craving some old-fashioned comfort, give this gravy a try—your taste buds (and your soul) will thank you.
