Vegetable water.

I always make my gravy with veg water and meat juices. I used to do it the old fashioned way by deglazing the pan and adding cornflour but now I cheat and use gravy granules to thicken it.

I've always used the veg water for gravy, very often in the meat juices.. my mum used to as well.. and we both left the skin on veg if possible..

Mollygo

I used veg water for gravy, but now veg are steamed or roast there’s not much value in it. . I do use the water from the steamer, because it’s already boiling, but that’s a fuel saver.
Does any goodness percolate down into the steamer water?

The water from the steamer is worth using, I always add cauliflower/broccoli stalks etc to the water for extra goodness.
I use the old fashioned descaling method and add gravy browning and a little cornflour.

I just looked up the ingredients of gravy granules;

Ingredients
Potato Starch, Maltodextrin, Palm Oil, Salt, WHEAT Flour
(with added Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Colour (E150c),
Sugar, Flavourings (contain BARLEY), Flavour Enhancer.

We had a lodger who always drank the water which vegetables had been cooked in. I tried it once... yuk.

Probably, in small quantities.

I used veg water for gravy, but now veg are steamed or roast there’s not much value in it. . I do use the water from the steamer, because it’s already boiling, but that’s a fuel saver.
Does any goodness percolate down into the steamer water?

I use the water for gravy if we’re having it, I don’t add salt to veg being cooked.
I should say if not, I save the water to make soup, but that would be a fib, it goes down the plug hole!

When I use gravy granules I use the already boiling veg water to make it, I don't add much salt to the veg when cooking them so it is not too salty.

mumofmadboys

I use veg water to make gravy. Never add salt when cooking veg.
Whethertomorrow how come you've never boiled a veg in your life? How do you do mashed potatoes, or peas or carrots, or cauliflower cheese? I'm intrigued.

Some folk just buy Aunt Bessie’s roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese in a foil tray, processed mash ditto etc. 😮

grandMattie

Surely, vegetables should be cooked in the minimum amount of water if they are not steamed.
Is it an English custom to cover all vegetables with water then boil them for hours?

Just the sprouts grandMattie! I’ve got ours on a low light now so they’ll be reet by Christmas. 🤣

Whethertomorrow

I’ve never boiled a vegetable in my life!

Never even seen vegetable water!

Did your mother or father not cook 🤷‍♀️

Even if you use granules you have to mix them with something. Vegetable water seems the obvious thing. Already hot.
This. I steam veg and never add salt but always use the water to add to gravy granules and/or meat juices.

I use veg water to make gravy. Never add salt when cooking veg.
Whethertomorrow how come you've never boiled a veg in your life? How do you do mashed potatoes, or peas or carrots, or cauliflower cheese? I'm intrigued.

I boil the kettle and use gravy granules. I get lovely, tasty gravy every time.
I don't use veg water to make gravy because it is too salty.

If I don’t have vegetable water (eg because of steaming, roasting or microwaving the vegetables) I would use a stock cube/pot instead. Dissolved in water of course.

Even if you use granules you have to mix them with something. Vegetable water seems the obvious thing. Already hot.

A lot of the goodness of vegetables is lost in the water, so drinking it seems a healthy choice.

Surely, vegetables should be cooked in the minimum amount of water if they are not steamed.
Is it an English custom to cover all vegetables with water then boil them for hours?

I’ve never boiled a vegetable in my life!

Never even seen vegetable water!

I drink it if the veg are organic.

I use it for gravy and any surplus I pour over the dog’s kibble.
Dad used to insist pea juice and broad beans juice was saved for him to drink out of his special enamel mug. He lived to be 96.

My Mum used to fill a mug after draining the veg and drink the cabbage water while she was mashing the potatoes etc. Her ungrateful offspring were happy to decline a share. She often reminded us if you were huddled round the farmhouse kitchen with 8 siblings, parents and 2 resident grandparents you were happy to eat/drink whatever came your way as there might be nothing else on offer for the remainder of the day.

Gravy! An essential component

Sixty years ago my cousin was visited by her midwife as she was cooking dinner. The latter refused a cup of coffee and instead asked for a cup of the cabbage water that was bubbling away.

Wine reduction and stock - made with veg gravy if I have boiled any.