Grandma's Hamburger Gravy {Paleo, Whole30, Keto Option}
This recipe is healthier version of a classic rich and savory ground beef gravy.
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet
- measuring cups and spoons
- 1 large wooden spoon or silicone spatula
- 1 Slotted spoon
- 1 Medium bowl
- 1 small bowl
- 1 fork
- 1 large pot with lid
- 1 potato masher
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 1 lb ground beef 85/15 is what I used
- several pinches salt
- 3 dashes black pepper
- 1 large onion small diced
- ½ batch Homemade Beef Bouillon Powder* about 2 teaspoon and a heaping ½ tsp
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups water
Slurry
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot flour also called powder
- ¼ cup water**
Optional Mashed Potatoes
- 5 large russet potatoes*** peeled and 1-2" cubed
- 4-6 tablespoon reserved potato water may sub preferred dairy free milk
- 4-8 tablespoon dairy free butter or ghee****
- ½ teaspoon salt
- several dashes black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, cover diced potatoes in cool water covered over HIGH heat. Continue with hamburger gravy instructions. When water begins to boil, remove lid. Boil 10-15 minutes until potatoes are very tender. Reserve ½ cup cooking water, drain the rest. Add reserved potato water, butter, salt, and black pepper. Mash with a potato masher and stir to combine. Start with 2 tablespoon of reserved water and add to the consistency you prefer. Start with 4 tablespoon of butter and add to your liking.*****
- In a large deep skillet add neutral oil and turn burner to MEDIUM. When skillet is warm add ground beef breaking up with wooden spoon. Season with 2 pinches of salt and 3 dashes of black pepper.
- Brown ground beef until no pink remains about 3-5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl to catch drippings.
- Add onion and 2 pinches of salt to hot pan containing rendered meat fat. Sauté stirring often until onion is very browned almost burnt looking around the edges 8-10 minutes.
- Add Homemade Beef Bouillon Powder and salt. Cook stirring constantly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. If pan looks dry add additional oil ½ tablespoon at a time.
- Add ground beef and accumulated juices back into the pan and stir to combine.
- Add 1½ cups water to the pan and stir to combine.
- In a small cup or bowl add ¼ cup water and arrowroot starch. Use a fork to mix until starch is completely absorbed and no lumps remain. Add to pan, stir to combine.
- Turn heat to MED-HIGH and bring to a boil. Reduce to MED-LOW and simmer until gravy is thickened and reduced down by ¼ or to your liking.
Notes
*Here is my recipe for Homemade Beef Bouillon Powder. It makes the equivalent of 2 beef bouillon cups. Half the recipe is 2 ½ + 1/16 teaspoon or simply 2 teaspoon + heaping ½ tsp. Feel free to use a beef bouillon cube if you have no dietary restrictions!
**Use cool or room temperature water to make the slurry. Warm/hot water seems to make arrowroot powder clump.
***You could also use yellow or red potatoes. You'll probably need to use about ⅓ more of them as russet potatoes are quiet a bit larger than red or yellow. When using these varieties, I typically leave the peel.
****It can be hard finding a good dairy free, soy free butter alternative, but this dairy free butter is one my favorite finds. The base of it is cashews, so it is a no go for those of you with nut allergies. Earth Balance and Country Crock also offer good quality plant based butters that are nut free. However, it’s important to note they both contain soy and/or legume products.
*****For the russet mashed potatoes in this photo I used 4 tablespoon reserved cooking water and 4 tablespoon of butter. For this recipe I typically go lighter on butter. I think it gives the hamburger gravy a better canvas on which to shine!
Note: Nutritional information does not include mashed potatoes.
Nutrition
Calories: 279kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 16gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 301mgPotassium: 311mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 132IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!