Fragrant and full of flavour, this gravy will make your roast or holiday season dinner complete. The fact you can make it ahead will be a gamechanger and save you valuable time come the big day. Give those chicken wings a good, hard bash to get the most flavour out of your stock!
Make Ahead 5-Spice Gravy
10 chicken wings
2 onions
2 carrots
2 sticks of celery
3 whole star anise
2 tbsp vegetable oil
¼ cup Chinese Shaoxing cooking wine
3 tbsp plain flour
5 cups chicken stock
1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), mixed with 1 tbsp water (optional)
1 ½ tbsp hoisin
1 tsp soy sauce
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
- Roughly chop the vegetables into large chunks and place them in a large roasting tray. Cut the wings at their joints. Use a meat mallet or the bottom of a saucepan to smash the wings a little. Place these in with the vegetables. Add Chinese 5-spice, star anise, oil and season generously with salt. Roast in the oven for 1 hour.
- Remove the roasting tray from the oven and place over a medium-high heat. Bring the cooking juices to a simmer then add in the cooking wine. Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring for 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and stir well. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Use a sieve to strain the sauce into a clean saucepan, using the back of a slotted spoon to squish and push out as much flavour from the solids as possible. Discard solids. Place the sauce back on a medium-high heat. If the gravy is not thick enough for your liking, add the cornstarch mixture. Then add the hoisin and soy sauce. Taste and season with more soy sauce or salt to taste.
