EQUIPMENT:
- A heavy based saucepan
- A wooden spoon
INGREDIENTS: to make enough for 4 people
- 2 large red onions – don’t worry of you only have ordinary onions; they’re fine too – finely sliced
- A large sprig of fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 heaped teaspoon of plain flour
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- a knob of butter
- half a glass of red wine
- About 1/2 a pint of vegetable stock, or water
METHOD:
- Heat the oil and butter and when hot, add the onions and stir well.
- Reduce the heat, put the lid on and allow to cook for about 5 mins until the onions are soft, stirring occasionally.
- Add the chopped thyme and stir it in
- Turn up the heat slightly, and add the flour.
- Using quick movements stir and move the onions about until the flour is absorbed.
- Allow to cook, still stirring, for about 1 minute, then add the wine. Allow to bubble up and reduce. The gravy will start to thicken at this stage, so keep it moving all the time.
- add the stock, and stir well to combine
- Reduce the heat so that the gravy does not bubble too vigorously.
- Check that the consistency is correct, if it is too thick, add a little water, if it is too thin, allow to reduce for a little longer
- Check the seasoning, and add salt and pepper as needed.
- This gravy can be made ahead of time, and reheated when needed
NOTES:
- Try serving this with that old family favourite Toad-in-the-hole https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/toad-in-the-hole/
- Or even with Venison Sausages and individual large Yorkshire puddings https://eatingforireland.com/2018/03/18/posh-sausages-in-yorkshire-puddings-with-red-onion-gravy/
I started writing down recipes in an old copybook when I was about 16. With 6 children at home, my Mother was always glad of a hand in the kitchen, and really allowed us to experiment - as long as we washed up afterwards, and left the kitchen immaculate! Having a tidy kitchen has followed me through my life, as has the habit of writing down my favourite recipes; except that these days I write them for my website, and add photographs when I can. The website really started when it occurred to me that my daughter might like to have these recipes when I've forgotten them. In my early days of cooking for family and friends, I used to phone my Mum all the time to ask her for the recipe for some of our favourite family dinners. She rarely had a recipe to hand - I think, like me, she made a lot of it up as she went along.. So welcome to Eating for Ireland - these are the recipes that my friends and family having been eating these past 40 years.. yes, I truly am ancient! They are tried and tested, and have worked for me for all that time - I have updated them as new ingredients became available - I really hope you'll find something that you can make into a family favourite of your own. You don't have to tell anyone where you found these great new dishes that you're serving up - it can be our little secret, but I'd really love it if you could give me a sneaky 'follow' on Facebook and Instagram.. So off you go - have a good rummage around, you're bound to find something new! My sincere thanks to all of you who have found a recipe that you liked and dropped me a line to tell me - I really do love to hear from you! Happy Cooking! Becks xx