This easy recipe for a basic vegetarian and vegan mushroom gravy is surprisingly full of flavor. Mushrooms provide plenty of umami-like richness, substituting for the animal fat which provides flavor in meat-based gravy recipes. Umami, or "Pleasant savory taste, " Translated from japanese, is one of the five basic tastes that includes sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness. It can best be described as meaty or brothy. Dried shiitake mushrooms, in particular, are especially full of umami. The addition of poultry seasoning in this vegetarian and vegan recipe adds a familiar and delectable aroma. There isn't any actual poultry in poultry seasoningit's completely vegan. Your mushroom gravy will be a lovely addition poured over whipped potatoes as a side dish. For a special occasion, this vegetarian gravy goes quite well with a thanksgiving tofurky. Or pour it over a homemade lentil loaf. Got leftovers? Here's what to do with your vegetarian thanksgiving leftovers, including gravy.
