For the past <mumble> years decades. I've made onion gravy the tradiional way (no, not Bisto), browning the onion in a saucepan, frequently adding a little water to dissolve and spread the fond. But just recently I discovered the easy way: just add a lot of butter (or other fat) at the start. You want enough butter that there's some left over after coating all the onion. The onion browns much more easily, you also get caramel from the butter, the onion doesn't burn so easily, and the process requires many fewer applications of water. Plus, when it's done, you just stir in flour and it makes the roux and you can then add water and other flavourings.
I'm a doofus!
I'm a doofus!