Delicious rich Vegan Mushroom Gravy made with simple dairy-free and gluten-free ingredients! This incredible mushroom gravy recipe is easy and full of flavor. Use it for soup, shepherd’s pie, mashed potatoes, and more!
Good Gravy! You’re Going to Love this Recipe
Gravy is an essential component to so many of our favorite comfort foods! However, it’s not always easy to find a recipe that fits everyone’s needs, especially around the holidays. How do you satisfy the meat-eaters in your family while also meeting the needs of those who are dairy-free, gluten-free, or vegan? Easy! You make this Vegan Mushroom Gravy!
I’ve served this to countless people paired with all kinds of main dishes and sides, and the results are unanimous. This mushroom gravy is a winner. Not to mention, it’s super easy to make! Whether you’re preparing for the holidays or need a warm dinner, this recipe can be whipped up in minutes with just a few simple ingredients.
Gravy vs. Sauce
Often described interchangeably, gravy and sauces are actually 2 different things! However, given that a gravy is always a sauce, but a sauce isn’t always a gravy, the confusion is understandable. So, let’s clarify the difference once and for all.
Gravy
Gravies are sauces typically made from meat juices combined with a liquid such as broth, wine, or milk and thickened with flour or cornstarch. In some cases, a gravy is also simply the juices leftover from cooking meat, poultry, or fish.
Note: To make a vegan gravy, we used juices released from onions and mushrooms sauteed in butter or oil instead of meat.
Sauce
The word “sauce” stems from the French language meaning to relish or make food more appetizing. Unlike gravies, sauces do not typically require the use of meat juices.
Fun Fact! Did you know there’s much debate about what constitutes a sauce and what is a gravy? The exact origins of both terms remain debated.
Vegan Mushroom Gravy Ingredients
Unlike other gravies, this recipe calls for no meat! Instead, we’ll use simple pantry staples and fresh produce to create a rich flavor both meat-eaters and vegans will love! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Olive Oil or butter (vegan “ghee” or plant based butter may be used) – Adding oil or butter to the saucepan helps create a roux for the base of the gravy.
- Shallots (or white onion) – When paired with oil, shallots caramelize and create a rich, bold flavor that pairs deliciously with mushrooms.
- Mushrooms – The star of the show, mushrooms help form the “meat” of this gravy!
Nutrition Note: While the nutritional benefits of mushrooms vary slightly, they are great sources of fiber, B vitamins, copper, and potassium. They can also be used to add a bit of plant-based protein to any meal!
- Dry White Wine – An optional ingredient, white wine helps release the juice from the mushrooms. Don’t worry, the alcohol cooks out!
- Tamari – Tamari is a gluten free soy sauce alternative that elevates the umami flavor of mushrooms. However, if you don’t have a gluten intolerance, soy sauce or liquid aminos can be used in its place.
- Broth – Vegetable broth helps smooth out all of the ingredients and combines the flavors.
- Slurry – A crucial thickening agent, vegan slurry is made by combining equal parts arrowroot starch or cornstarch and water or broth.
- Extras – For added flavor, this mushroom gravy recipe also uses fresh herbs and spices including paprika, salt, pepper, and parsley.
How to Thicken Your Gravy
If your mushroom gravy is too thin, the easiest way to thicken it is to let it simmer on the stovetop a bit longer. Or, add an additional serving of slurry!
How to Make Easy Mushroom Gravy
Unlike some traditional gravies that can take hours to make, this vegan gravy comes together in under an hour with just a few simple steps!
- Sauté. To start, heat the oil or butter in a pan, and sauté the shallot until soft before adding the mushrooms and white wine. Once the mushrooms are soft, add the garlic and paprika, cook for another minute, and stir in the tamari.
- Simmer. Pour in the broth, and let the mixture simmer for 10-12 minutes.
- Make the Slurry. In the meantime, combine the slurry ingredients in a small bowl.
- Thicken. Once the gravy has simmered, reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the slurry, mixing until well combined. Let the gravy cook for an additional 2–3 minutes until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- Season. To finish, season to taste, garnish, and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
While the original recipe is great, we all love options! Am I right? So, feel free to switch up and experiment with this vegetarian mushroom gravy to fit all your taste bud and dietary needs! Here are a few options to get you started:
- Alcohol-Free – For an alcohol-free mushroom gravy recipe that has just as much flavor, try replacing the wine with vegetable broth instead!
Pro-Tip: Another option to help sweat your mushrooms without the use of wine is to add them to a hot pan without any other butter, liquid, or oil. They will naturally “sweat” or release the trapped moisture. Then, you can add in butter and any other ingredients!
- Creamy – For a creamy mushroom gravy option, stir coconut cream into the final mixture for a super rich taste and thicker texture.
- Smooth – Create a smooth vegan gravy recipe without any of the mushroom chunks, blend the finished recipe in a food processor or high-speed blender.
easy ways to use
Mushroom Gravy
The great thing about this vegan gravy recipe is that it can be used on both meat and plant-based options! Some of my favorite ways to use it are with:
- Meat like Pork Chops or Lamb Chops
- On side dishes like Mashed Potatoes
- In casseroles, soups, and bakes like Shepherd’s Pie
How to Store Vegan Gravy
Make this gravy ahead of time for tasty meals all week long! All you have to do is let it cool completely, add it to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can I Freeze Mushroom Gravy?
Yes! The best way to freeze this recipe is to blend it first. Then, just pop it in the freezer for up to 3 months, and thaw it in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to use it.
Vegan Mushroom Gravy (Gluten-Free)
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4–5 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Vegan Mushroom Gravy is a glutenfree recipe made with simple ingredients for an easy way to add flavor to any meal in minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon pure olive oil or butter (or plant based ghee/butter)
- ⅓ cup diced shallot or white onion
- 2 cups sliced cremini or baby portobello (about 8-10 ounces)
- ¼ cup dry white wine (optional)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 small cloves)
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon tamari (gluten free soy sauce) (*See notes)
- 1 ½ – 2 cups vegetable broth
- Slurry: 1 Tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot starch mixed with 1 Tablespoon water or broth *See notes for thicker gravy
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 ½ Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil or butter in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot or onion, and cook for about 4 minutes, until softened.
- Add the mushrooms and optional white wine (if using). Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are soft and any liquid has reduced.
- Stir in the garlic and smoked paprika, and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the tamari and mix well.
- Pour in the vegetable broth, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer uncovered for 10–12 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the broth to reduce slightly.
- While the gravy simmers, prepare the slurry by whisking together the cornstarch or arrowroot starch with 1 tablespoon of water or broth until smooth.
- Once the gravy has simmered, reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir the slurry into the pan, mixing until well combined. Let the gravy cook for an additional 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- Season the gravy with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
Too thick? Just add 1-2 tablespoon hot broth or water, and cook the gravy until is is heated through.
*Too thin? Let the gravy simmer on the stove longer to allow it to reduce and thicken. Or, add another teaspoon of slurry.
For the Whole30 option: Use coconut aminos in place of tamari and omit the wine.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Condiments
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 58
- Sugar: 1.7 g
- Sodium: 492.8 mg
- Fat: 2.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 5.2 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
This recipe is great, and was a huge hit. I loved it even more than my beloved NYT make ahead mushroom gravy recipe. It got compliments and was all eaten – I will probably double for future holidays.
I do want to say the instructions on the slurry are confusing. Once I mixed the 1 tbsp of arrowroot with 1 tbsp water, and put that in a sauce pan to simmer, it immediately turned into a near solid mass. When I added this to the gravy, it didn’t disperse or thicken well. I had better results with just mixing arrowroot and water in a little bowl, not heating it and adding it a little at a time to my heavy until it was the correct thickness. Flavor and consistency still turned out perfect. I will make this again and again.
Hi Julie, thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! I apologize for any confusion regarding the instructions. You’re absolutely right—working with arrowroot for a slurry can be a bit tricky. I’ll make sure to revise the instructions to provide better clarity.
if substituting for white wine how much coconut aminos? I’m bringing GF dishes to a large group gathering and will make a big bowl of this gravy.
Hi Judy! The wine is optional but I think adding 1 tbsp coconut aminos would still add great flavor!
Love this mushroom gravy! Thank you! I love mushrooms and my family doesn’t . So now that I’m retired I can eat all I want! I’m gluten and dairy free and found this a perfect fit plus easy to make.
So glad to hear! I love mushrooms too. My husband doesn’t but liked this 👍
This gravy is delicious! The perfect savory sauce for my holiday meals.
so glad! Thanks for feedback
Amazing! Thank you so much for this recipe!
My pleasure!