Sauces, Dips, and Salad Dressings

Vegan brown gravy is a delicious and versatile sauce that can take your plant-based meals to the next level. With its rich, savory flavor and smooth, creamy texture, it’s the perfect topping for mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted veggies, and more.

Traditional gravy recipes often rely on animal fat, broth, or meat drippings for their depth of flavor, but vegan brown gravy uses plant-based alternatives to achieve the same richness without animal products. Not only does this make it an ideal choice for vegans, but it also caters to those with dietary restrictions, like dairy allergies.

The beauty of vegan brown gravy is in its versatility; once you master the basics, you can adjust it to suit your taste or meal. With just a few tweaks, you can create a lighter, more herbaceous gravy for summer meals or a deeply savory one for holiday feasts.

What makes vegan brown gravy so irresistible? It’s all about the rich and savory flavors that come together to create a velvety-smooth sauce that’s perfect for drizzling over potatoes, tofu, vegetables, or whatever else you fancy. Whether you’re hosting a holiday feast, preparing a cozy Sunday dinner, or simply craving some comfort food on a chilly evening, this gravy is sure to hit the spot.

This sauce tastes a lot like regular savory brown gravy but it’s gluten-free, dairy-free and cholesterol-free. The pepper gives this a little spice that your kids may not love (like mine). Feel free to leave it out.

Ways to Customize Creamy Brown Gravy

This creamy gravy/sauce can be used in many ways. Use it as the “soup” or “glue” for a casserole, pour it over pasta, top a baked potato, pour it over veggies or any other way your heart desires. Here are some simple recipe variations to try depending on your use for the brown gravy:

1. For a richer and creamier gravy, add a splash of coconut cream.
2. Experiment with different herbs and spices to customize the flavor of your gravy. Fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, or parsley can add a burst of freshness, while ground spices like smoked paprika or cayenne pepper can add depth and complexity.
3. If you prefer a smoother gravy, you can use an immersion blender or transfer the gravy to a blender and blend until smooth before serving.
4. Feel free to adjust the consistency of the gravy by adding veggie broth or more rice milk if it’s too thick, or simmering it longer if it’s too thin.

Serving Suggestions

Vegan brown gravy is wonderfully versatile and can be paired with many dishes. Here are some ideas:

• Mashed Potatoes: A classic combination that never fails. Vegan brown gravy over fluffy mashed potatoes is a staple side dish for holiday dinners and cozy meals.
• Stuffing and Roasted Vegetables: Drizzle your gravy over stuffing or roasted carrots, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts for a comforting plate.
• Vegan Meatloaf: Enhance a slice of lentil or nut-based loaf with a generous helping of gravy for a satisfying main course.
• Savory Bowls: Use vegan brown gravy as a sauce for savory bowls with grains, roasted veggies, and tempeh or tofu.
• Shepherd’s Pie: Add a layer of vegan brown gravy to the base before adding mashed potatoes on top. It adds extra flavor and moisture to the dish.

How to Make Creamy Vegan Brown Gravy

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 2 Tbsp brown rice flour (other flours may be substituted)
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp white pepper (black pepper may be used)
• 1 dash of sweet (not smoked) paprika (may be omitted)
• 1 Tbsp Braggs Amino Acids (tamari or soy sauce can be used but it is NOT gluten-free)
• 1 ½ cup Rice Milk

If you aren’t familiar with Bragg Liquid Aminos,  nutritional yeast or brown rice flour, don’t get nervous! Bragg Liquid Aminos taste similar to soy sauce but is gluten-free. Nutritional yeast is something that most vegans use to get a cheesy or savory flavor. Brown rice flour is a gluten-free flour that I often use in sauces. Try them! most people love them, and you’ll find they aren’t intimidating at all.

If you still aren’t convinced about the brown rice you can also make this with corn starch. The taste is the same but the consistency varies slightly. It’s still delicious. I’ve also made it with wheat flour.

Instructions

Step 1 – Toast Dry Ingredients

In a skillet, add the dry ingredients and cook for a few minutes to toast the dry mixture on medium heat.

Step 2 – Add Liquids

Once you start to smell the dry mix toasting, add the rice milk and Braggs. Stir regularly with a whisk.

Step 3 – Stir

After the gravy starts to thicken switch to a silicone spatula and stir gently so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Continue cooking until it reaches a perfect gravy consistency.

Step 4 – Serve

Serve while warm, if gravy gets too dry add a little rice milk

Storage and Reheating Tips

If you make a big batch, you can store leftover vegan brown gravy in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It also freezes well, so consider freezing single servings to reheat later.

To reheat, warm it slowly on the stove, adding a bit of vegetable broth or water if it’s too thick. Whisking it as it heats helps maintain the smooth texture.

Vegan brown gravy is the perfect addition to any plant-based meal, adding a rich, savory flavor that satisfies cravings for classic comfort food. Whether it’s for a holiday feast or a cozy dinner, vegan brown gravy is sure to impress both vegans and non-vegans alike!

More Plant Based Sauces

If you like this recipe, you’ll love these plant based sauces too:

• Homemade BBQ Sauce
• Spicy Vegan Ranch
• Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
• Creamy Italian Dressing (Oil-Free)
• Homemade Vegan Ranch