Can I eat gravy during Daniel Fast?

November 20, 2025 •

2 min read

Gravy is a staple on many dinner tables, but the rules of the Daniel Fast can be confusing. The short answer is yes, you can eat gravy during Daniel Fast, but only if it's made from approved, plant-based ingredients. The key is avoiding traditional meat-based drippings, dairy, and processed thickeners.

Quick Summary

Gravy on the Daniel Fast is possible if made from plant-based ingredients like vegetable broth and compliant thickeners. Avoid traditional gravies made with meat drippings, dairy, or refined flours. Create a delicious, spiritually aligned sauce by using whole foods.

Key Points

Ingredient is Key: Store-bought gravies are not allowed, but a homemade, plant-based version is perfectly acceptable on the Daniel Fast.
Avoid Animal Products: All animal-based ingredients, including meat drippings, bouillon cubes containing meat, and dairy, are strictly prohibited.
Substitute Fats and Thickeners: Use unrefined oils like olive or coconut oil minimally for sautéing, and thicken with compliant agents like arrowroot powder or cornstarch instead of white flour.
Enhance Flavor Naturally: Create a rich, savory flavor profile by sautéing mushrooms, onions, and garlic, and adding herbs, spices, and nutritional yeast.
Read Labels Carefully: Always check the ingredients list on pre-packaged vegetable broths or other products to ensure no hidden sugars, additives, or preservatives are present.

Understanding the Daniel Fast Food Guidelines

To determine if a food is acceptable, it's essential to understand the core principles of the Daniel Fast. This spiritual fast is based on the Prophet Daniel's experiences, where he ate only vegetables and water for a period. Modern interpretations generally follow a vegan-based diet with even stricter limitations, emphasizing whole, unprocessed, and plant-based foods. Key restrictions include no animal products, no added sugars, no refined flours, and no solid fats like butter.

Prohibited Gravy Ingredients

Traditional gravy is made with ingredients forbidden on the Daniel Fast. This includes meat drippings (beef, chicken, turkey), butter, refined white flour, dairy products, and bouillon cubes or store-bought mixes which often contain prohibited items.

Creating a Daniel Fast-Friendly Gravy

You can create a compliant gravy by using plant-based alternatives and natural thickeners.

Step-by-Step Guide to a Compliant Gravy

Start with a flavorful liquid base: Use low-sodium vegetable broth as your base. Compliant liquid aminos or a splash of wine alternative can also be used, keeping in mind some interpretations avoid wine.
Sauté aromatic vegetables: Brown finely diced onions, mushrooms, and garlic in a little olive oil to build flavor.
Use a compliant thickener: Thicken with arrowroot powder or cornstarch by whisking it into cold broth before adding it to the hot liquid to prevent lumps.
Incorporate savory seasonings: Add dried herbs, spices, nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor, and coconut aminos for salty sweetness.
Simmer to thicken: Simmer and stir until the desired consistency is reached, then season to taste.

Comparison Table: Compliant vs. Traditional Gravy


Feature	Daniel Fast-Compliant Gravy	Traditional Gravy
Base	Vegetable broth, sautéed mushrooms & onions	Meat pan drippings
Thickener	Arrowroot powder, cornstarch, whole-grain flour	Refined white flour
Fat	Minimal unrefined oil (olive or coconut)	Solid fats (butter, lard, shortening)
Flavor Enhancers	Herbs, spices, nutritional yeast, coconut aminos	Bouillon cubes, MSG, pre-made mixes
Overall	Whole food, plant-based, unprocessed	Processed, animal-based, refined ingredients

Serving Your Daniel Fast Gravy

A compliant gravy can enhance many Daniel Fast dishes, such as mashed cauliflower or sweet potatoes, lentil loaf, or vegetable and grain bowls. Making your own ensures all ingredients meet the fast's requirements.

Conclusion

While traditional gravy is prohibited on the Daniel Fast, a delicious and compliant version can be made with whole, plant-based ingredients. Substituting vegetable broth, natural thickeners, and savory herbs for animal products and processed items allows for a satisfying sauce that adheres to the fast's guidelines.

Optional Outbound Link

For additional resources and more compliant recipes, consider visiting the Daniel Fast Journey website, a trusted source for fasting guidance and inspiration: https://www.danielfastjourney.com/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conventional gravy is typically made with animal products like meat drippings and dairy, as well as refined flour and solid fats like butter, all of which are prohibited on the Daniel Fast.

Yes, but you must read the ingredients label carefully to ensure it contains no hidden sugars, meat-based ingredients, or artificial preservatives. It is best to choose a low-sodium or unsalted vegetable broth.

Yes, cornstarch is a compliant thickener for a Daniel Fast gravy, as it is a plant-based product. Just be sure to create a slurry with cold water or broth first to avoid lumps.

Soy sauce is sometimes acceptable, but you must check the label for added sugars, which are not allowed. A better alternative that is generally compliant is tamari or coconut aminos.

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that provides a savory, cheese-like flavor and is permitted on the Daniel Fast. It is a great way to add depth to your gravy.

Yes, you can use unrefined oils like olive or coconut oil minimally for sautéing vegetables, but you should avoid deep-frying foods entirely.

Yes, a popular compliant recipe involves sautéing mushrooms, onions, and garlic in olive oil, then adding low-sodium vegetable broth and thickening with an arrowroot slurry, seasoning with herbs, salt, and pepper.