Gravy is a
sauce, made often from the juices that run naturally during cooking and often thickened with
wheat flour or
cornstarch for added texture. In
North America the term can refer to a wider variety of sauces. The gravy may be further colored and flavored with gravy salt (a simple mix of salt and caramel food colouring) or gravy browning (gravy salt dissolved in water) or ready-made
cubes and powders can be used as a substitute for natural meat or vegetable extracts. Canned gravies are also available. Gravy is commonly served with
roasts,
meatloaf,
rice, and
mashed potatoes.