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Have some comforting gravy with a bowl of rice or a flatbread mix for the most scrumptious meal ever. A thick tomato and onion gravy goes a long way. One can throw in any type of vegetable, chicken, or paneer to make a soulful dish. But making a gravy dish is not as easy as it may sound. For some people, it can be extremely hard to crack the code of making a perfectly synthesised gravy with balanced flavours.
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When the gravy is too thick, it is obvious that one has to add a little bit of water. But what if the situation is vice versa? If the gravy is too runny, then it may become a little tricky for a person to adjust its consistency. In this case, here is what one can do.
* Reduce The Liquid
The first and foremost step that one should take is to simply take out the liquid from the saucepan. If one doesn't want to take out the liquid then the way to reduce the thin consistency is to heat the gravy on medium heat. If a person doesn't have the time to even simmer the gravy and let the water evaporate, then a simple way to add some more tomato paste. Remember that this is going to increase the amount of the gravy. So one must be mindful of the same.
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* Cornstarch
Cornstarch is an ingredient that helps in thickening different types of gravies and also acts as a binding agent. This is the reason why it is used as an outer coating for a lot of snacks. The best part about corn starch is it is also a gluten-free alternative that can be added to food without worrying about indigestion. Just 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for 1 cup of gravy goes a long way. Make sure that the cornstarch is instantly dissolved with the help of a whisker and that there is no formation of clumps.
* Flour
Even if you don't have cornstarch available at home then an alternative ingredient to use to thicken into gravy is all-purpose flour. Adding a little bit of all-purpose flour also works like magic. The only thing one has to be careful about is to make sure that the flour properly gets mixed with the gravy. One has to use 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour for every cup of liquid that they use in the gravy. To whisk it properly, a wooden spoon or a spatula is fine. Make sure that one constantly stirs the gravy so that there is not even one single clamp left in the gravy.
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* Potato Starch
Potato starch is another gluten-free alternative that is a thickening ingredient. One has to remember that it is a little bit sticky so it might impart a different texture in the food. 1 tablespoon of potato starch should be mixed with every 2 tablespoons of water to make a thick, slowly-like texture. One must make sure that the mixture is on medium to high heat while these two ingredients are being mixed.
* Tapioca
Tapioca pearls are a very famous ingredient that is used in bubble teas. What people don't know about them is that they are obtained from the root of the cassava plant. Tapioca is a very potent ingredient and just 1 ½ tablespoons of tapioca starch is enough to make the liquid more thick. One should be extremely careful about adding tapioca starch to the liquid and only slowly add it to avoid overuse. Adding too much of the starch might make the gravy too thick.
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* Puree of Vegetables
This is probably one of the easiest and most accessible ways to thicken the gravy of a particular dish. One can take any machine, vegetable, such as tomatoes, pumpkins, beetroot or even potatoes. These vegetables should be roasted so that they become soft and then the pulp of these vegetables has to be put inside the food blender. The pulp has to be made into a semi-solid mixture that can be added to the thin gravy. Different types of vegetables have their unique flavours. So while selecting the vegetable, one should be very careful as it will not only impart a different texture but also a very different flavour. One should only choose the type of vegetable that goes well with the other ingredients and spices that are being used.
