White Gravy Recipe Without Milk (Easy and Vegan)

This white gravy recipe without milk is creamy and rich with a delicious kick of pepper – just like the classic Southern version, but completely dairy free! Ready in 10 minutes, it’s the perfect comfort food for topping biscuits, vegan fried ‘chicken’ or potatoes.

This vegan white gravy recipe delivers all of the rich, peppery flavour of traditional country gravy – without a drop of dairy. It’s smooth, savoury and super quick to make, so you can have homemade comfort food on the table in minutes.

We use dairy free butter, all-purpose flour and unsweetened dairy free milk to form the base of this dairy-free white gravy.

It’s seasoned generously with black pepper and a dash of garlic and onion granules, to make the perfect savoury topping for vegan biscuits, mashed potatoes or meat-free ‘chicken’.

You don’t need any special ingredients or equipment to make it – just a saucepan, whisk and 10 minutes of time.

I’ve been craving this vegan white gravy ever since I first poured it over a plate of crispy garlic-butter ‘chicken’ Kiev, creamy mash, and green beans! Check out the serving section below for more delicious dairy and meat-free pairing ideas for this delicious gravy.

We hope this easy vegan white gravy recipe will quickly become your go-to for cosy homemade comfort food. Enjoy!

Quick Links:

• The full recipe
• Why you’ll love this recipe
• Ingredients needed
• Step by step instructions with photos
• How to serve and store
• Success tips
• FAQs
• Other delicious recipes like this one

Here are some other classic vegan comfort foods that I think you’ll love:

• Easy Vegan Potatoes Dauphinoise
• Dairy Free Mac and Cheese (with a Crispy ‘Bacon’ Topping)
• Vegan Sausage and Bean Pasta Bake

What is white gravy?

White gravy, also known as country gravy or white pepper gravy, is a classic Southern-style sauce made by whisking flour and fat into a smooth roux (paste), then thinning it with milk (or in this case, a dairy-free alternative).

This creamy, savoury pepper gravy is then traditionally seasoned with plenty of black pepper, giving it a little kick! Compared to brown gravy, white or cream gravy has a lighter colour, creamier flavour and buttery, velvety texture.  Béchamel sauce is also similar, but tends to be creamier and thicker without that peppery kick that white gravy is so famous for.

Why you’ll love this white gravy recipe without milk

It’s creamy and flavourful – no dairy needed. This homemade gravy has all the rich, velvety texture of traditional white gravy, but it’s completely dairy free and vegan thanks to the magic of plant-based butter and dairy-free milk.  It’s pure comfort food!

Ready in 10 minutes. This vegan country gravy takes under 10 minutes to make, using pantry staple ingredients, a saucepan and a whisk. It’s perfect for weekend breakfasts, busy weeknight dinners and last-minute comfort food cravings alike.

Versatile and family-friendly. Whether you’re serving it over mashed potatoes, vegan biscuits, tofu ‘chicken’ or roasted veggies, this easy country gravy recipe adds a comforting, peppery touch to lots of dishes (you can reduce the peppery kick, if needed, for little ones).

How to make this white gravy recipe without milk

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this homemade country gravy:

Dairy free butter. You can use either vegan butter or margarine, both will work.

Dairy free milk. Pick an unsweetened dairy free milk. We like using almond or cashew milk for their neutral flavour, but oat or soy milk will also work well. If you’re in a bind, you could also use vegetable stock, although the result will not be as creamy and you’ll likely want to add less salt than the recipe calls for.

All purpose flour. Or ‘plain flour‘ if you’re in the UK.  You can substitute for gluten free flour but you’ll likely need more liquid.

Black pepper. We’ve written this recipe using finely milled black pepper. If you’re using coarsely milled (i.e. straight from a pepper grinder) you’ll likely need a little more.

Salt.

Garlic powder.

Onion granules.

Equipment

To make this vegan white gravy recipe, you’ll need:

• A medium saucepan
• A whisk

Step-By-Step Instructions

Here is a basic summary of the steps involved in this homemade white gravy recipe without milk. Make sure to head to the recipe card below for the full recipe and detailed instructions.

STEP 1. Add the butter to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat and let it melt.

STEP 2. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the flour to make a ‘roux’ (a thick paste) and allow that to cook for a minute in the sauce pan, whilst stirring.

Note:  Making a roux first and allowing that to cook for a minute before adding the milk, helps to remove any raw flour taste from the gravy.

STEP 3. Whisk in the salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion granules.

STEP 4. Add the dairy free milk a little at a time, whisking constantly until fully combined before adding more milk.

Tip: We add around 1/2 cup (or 100ml) of milk at a time.

STEP 5. Once all of the milk has been combined and you have a white sauce, gently simmer the gravy for around 5 minutes until it has thickened, whisking continuously.

Tip: It’s important to keep whisking the gravy as it cooks, to prevent lumps from forming.

Note: If after 5 minutes of cooking, the gravy isn’t as thick as you would like it, keep cooking it for another couple of minutes and it should keep thickening. Please note though that it will also thicken as it cools.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious white gravy hot with some of your favourite dishes, such as:

• Homemade biscuits and gravy – the most iconic combo!
• Southern-style fried vegan chicken – such a delicious pairing, you could even try a vegan chicken Kiev like I did (it was so good!).
• With fried crumbled vegan sausage – to make another classic; ‘sausage gravy’.
• Fried breakfast potatoes – gravy drizzled over extra crispy fried potatoes… pure heaven.
• Mashed potatoes, or vegetable sides such as roasted cauliflower or green beans
• Pasta sauce – this white gravy is the perfect base for a creamy pasta sauce!

How to Store

Here’s how to store this Southern white country gravy:

To refrigerate. This gravy can be stored in the fridge for up to three days. Once it has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container before refrigerating. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat and whisk to smooth out any lumps.

To freeze. This white gravy can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Once it has cooled, transfer it to a freezer-proof bag before putting it in the freezer. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating in a saucepan over medium heat. You’ll need to whisk it as it heats to smooth out any lumps.

Success Tips

Here are some success tips for making the perfect vegan white gravy:

Add the liquid gradually

Pour in the dairy free milk a little at a time (about 1/2 a cup or 100ml each time), whisking well between each pour to keep the texture smooth and lump-free.

Whisk constantly

The key to smooth, lump-free gravy is continuously whisking. Don’t walk away – it only takes a few minutes to make and the smooth result is worth it!

Simmer gently

Once all of the milk is added, gently simmer the gravy for around 5 minutes, until it is the desired thickness. Don’t boil it as this impairs the texture.

White gravy too thick or too thin? 

If your gravy becomes too thick, simply whisk in an extra splash of dairy free milk or stock. If it’s too thin, continue simmering until it reaches your desired consistency.

Note: If for some reason the gravy doesn’t thicken with additional simmering time, you could add a cornstarch ‘slurry’ to help thicken it – combine 1 tbsp corn starch (or cornflour) with 1 tbsp water to make a liquid, then pour this into the gravy and heat it through for a few minutes whilst continuously whisking. This shouldn’t be necessary as there should be enough flour in the recipe to create a nice thick gravy, but if you’ve accidentally added too much liquid, this is a good save.

FAQs

Is white gravy the same as country gravy?

Yes – the two terms are used interchangeably. Both refer to a smooth, creamy gravy thickened with a roux and flavoured generously with black pepper for that traditional Southern kick.  So, this white gravy recipe without milk is also a country gravy recipe without milk!

Is white gravy traditionally peppery?

Yes! The signature flavour of a classic white or country gravy is its peppery flavour, which adds warmth or depth. We’ve added a moderate amount of pepper in this recipe and you can adjust it to taste – add more for a bolder kick, or a little less for a milder version.

Is this vegan white gravy recipe easy to make?

Yes – this easy white gravy recipe without milk comes together in just 10 minutes, using simple ingredients you likely already have on hand. You only need a saucepan and whisk to make it.

Can you make white gravy without milk?

Absolutely! This recipe shows you how to make white gravy without milk by using unsweetened almond milk (or another plant-based ‘milk’). You can also use vegetable stock if you’re in a bind; it’ll give you a gravy that is less creamy and a lighter consistency.

Can you use water instead of milk for white gravy?

Ideally avoid using plain water to make white gravy as the result will be lacking in flavour and richness. Dairy free milk is the best option, but if you don’t have any, then you can use vegetable stock, which will add flavour (but will be less creamy than using milk).

Is gravy just flour and water?

Not quite! We use melted butter, flour and dairy free milk (plus seasoning) to make this rich and creamy white gravy without milk.

More comforting vegan recipes to try

I hope you LOVE this white gravy recipe without milk! Please share this recipe with someone you think will love it because it’s our goal to encourage as many people as possible to try plant based eating.

Also, don’t forget to tag @aveganvisit on social media when you make this recipe. I absolutely love seeing your re-creations! Enjoy 🙂 x

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The Written Recipe: