This is a basic homemade vegetarian and vegan gravy recipe. What exactly is gravy, and why isn't it vegetarian? Gravy is traditionally made from the fat which drips off of meat when cooking with little more than a thickener added. Vegetarian gravy, however, adds flavor with a few seasonings and uses vegan margarine or a non-dairy vegan butter substitute as a fat. Along with margarine (or, use butter if you prefer and you aren't cooking for vegans), this vegetarian gravy recipe calls for onion, flour, garlic salt, and soy sauce. Many vegetarian gravy recipes call for mushrooms, which add a great "Meaty" Flavor, but this one does not, so it's perfect for people who hate mushrooms, want to add a little more flavor? Add a touch of liquid smoke while you stir it all up. Making a vegetarian gravy can be a bit more of an art than an exact science, since timing, stirring, and heat are everything, just like when making a meat-based gravy. You'll need to stir plenty in order to avoid those pesky lumps, just like when using the fat drippings from the meat. So, stay close to your gravy while it's stove-top, and don't be afraid to stir quite a bit. Feel free to add more or less liquid as needed, but remember, your vegetarian gravy will thicken slightly as it cools just like a non-vegetarian gravy. Use your homemade vegetarian and vegan to top off a homemade vegetarian lentil loaf, a pile of mashed potatoes, or to accompany your vegan turkey at a vegetarian thanksgiving.
