TV chef James Martin has sparked a lively debate after revealing his surprisingly simple recipe for Christmas gravy on ITV's This Morning, leaving many viewers questioning his recommended portion sizes.
The surprising chef's secret
Appearing on the show with host Cat Deeley on 22 December 2025, Martin was asked for his favourite festive gravy recipe. His first tip raised eyebrows: buy ready-made stock from the supermarket. He urged viewers to purchase it immediately, warning that supplies would vanish in the week before Christmas.
Martin recommended using veal or chicken stock, explaining that veal stock is made from beef bones and delivers a superior flavour that turkey stock cannot match. "Very, very few make their own stocks anymore," he stated, noting that this is standard practice in professional kitchens, just on a larger scale.
A recipe rich in butter
The chef then detailed his method, which centres on reduction rather than thickening agents. For ten people, he starts with half a bottle of red wine in a pan, followed by about 1.5 litres of the pre-made stock.
The surprising element comes next: a "good knob" of butter, equating to roughly one third of a standard block. The mixture is then reduced down. Martin explained that the butter will initially sit on top but will emulsify into a rich, glossy sauce or jus as it reduces, creating a classic chef-style gravy without any cornflour.
The ice cube portion that stunned viewers
Martin's final instruction caused the most stir. He advised pouring the reduced gravy into ice cube trays to freeze. He then recommended using just two of these gravy cubes per person, simply warming them up in a pan when needed.
This suggestion prompted an immediate reaction on social media. Viewer Louise summed up the sentiment for many, asking, "2 cubes for 1 person?? What do I put on the rest of my dinner?"
Kelly agreed, joking: "Louise that's a portion for Southerners. For us Northerners it's the full tray." Jeff commented, "How many people up and down the country, including me, went, what???" while another viewer named Tracey said she'd need the whole tray, possibly more.
Patricia felt it was "not worth bothering if that's all you get." Not everyone was seeking complexity, however. Viewer Marc offered a simpler alternative: "There's no secret. There never was, Bisto and hot water, BOOM! Job done."
James Martin's festive cooking tip has certainly given Christmas dinner planners food for thought, proving that even the simplest advice from a top chef can generate a hearty serving of public debate.
