Vegan Gravy (Gluten-Free)

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Vegetable broth, tamari, dried oregano, dried thyme, onion powder, tapioca flour, vegan butter, Dijon mustard, and nutritional yeast in small bowls and jars on a white marble board. .

Tapioca flour (tapioca starch) is a type of flour that comes from the cassava plant. It is naturally gluten-free. It is used to thicken soups, stews, and gravies, or you can swap out wheat flour with tapioca for gluten-free baking.
Nutritional yeast is an optional ingredient, but a great addition as it adds a unique savory umami flavor to this vegan gravy. Plus, it is rich in vitamins including B₁₂.
Tamari (or tamari shoyu) is a Japanese sauce made from fermented soybeans. You can substitute tamari for soy sauce in most recipes. It has a thicker consistency and is less salty than Chinese soy sauce. It's an ideal gluten-free substitute for soy sauce as it's typically made without wheat, while soy sauce contains wheat. Make sure to check the label for gluten-free.
Vegan butter is a non-dairy butter substitute made by combining water with a plant-derived oil, or a combination of oils, such as olive, avocado, coconut, palm kernel oil. It thickens the gravy and adds body to the gravy. Choose a brand that is lower in sodium and saturated fats for a healthier option.

See recipe card for quantities.

🍶 Substitutions

Tamari - use an equal amount of soy sauce instead, but the vegan gravy will no longer be gluten-free

Tapioca flour - use ¼ cup flour instead, but the recipe will no longer be gluten-free

Nutritional yeast - omit as desired, but the gravy will be less flavorful

Visit my Vegan Side Dish Recipes page for more holiday side ideas.

📖 Instructions

Vegetable broth, tamari, dried oregano, dried thyme, onion powder, tapioca starch, and nutritional yeast in a white saucepan.

Step 1. Combine the vegetable broth, tamari, tapioca flour, nutritional yeast, Dijon mustard, oregano, thyme, and onion powder in a small saucepan. Stir until the tapioca starch dissolves.

Brown vegan gravy with vegan butter in a white saucepan with a whisk.

Step 2. Turn on the heat to medium and stir frequently until the gravy starts to boil. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds before removing the saucepan from the heat. Add the vegan butter and mix until it is fully incorporated.

Brown vegan gravy in a white bowl with fresh thyme leaves.

This easy gluten-free vegan gravy is delectably herby and packed with umami.

💡 Expert Tips

Mix the gravy ingredients (minus the vegan butter) in room temperature or cold vegetable broth until the tapioca starch is dissolved before turning on the heat.

Storage: Refrigerate any remaining gluten-free vegan gravy in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until warmed though. Add more vegetable broth or water as needed until the desired consistency.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

How is tapioca flour different from regular flour?

Tapioca flour is flavorless and mixes quickly, but all-purpose flour needs to cook a little longer to get rid of its powder-like texture. Plus, all-purpose flour is made from wheat and contains gluten, where as tapioca flour comes from the cassava plant and is naturally gluten-free.

Can I make this vegan gravy ahead of time?

Yes! It is easy to reheat this this gravy. Store the vegan gravy in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until warmed though. Add more vegetable broth or water as needed until the desired consistency.

What goes well with vegan gravy?

Serve it with vegan meatloaf, turkey, masked potatoes, roast potatoes, roasted veggies, or cauliflower or sweet potato mash.

📖 Recipe