Vegetarian Poutine Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Fry

by: Heather Hands

January13,2014

4

5 Ratings

  • Prep time 1 hour
  • Cook time 1 hour
  • Serves 4

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Author Notes

Poutine is a common Canadian dish made by pouring steamy gravy over cheese curds and french fries. The cheese curds melt into the fries, and it is pure magic. For the longest time I could not find a vegetarian poutine anywhere—each time I would go back to visit my family in Canada, and waiters would inform me that the gravy was made with beef stock. I took matters into my own hands and developed a vegetarian version of my own, using vegetable stock instead. If I’m feeling extra classy, I will chop up some green onions and sprinkle them on top. —Heather Hands

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 4 small or 2 large Russet potatoes
  • 3 tablespoonsolive oil
  • 2 tablespoonsbutter
  • 2 tablespoonsall-purpose flour
  • 1 cupvegetable stock
  • 1/2 poundcheese curds
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 450º F.
  2. Scrub the potatoes and julienne with the skins left on. Place into a large bowl filled with cold water and then place into the fridge for 1 hour. This will remove some of the starch, making the french fries more crispy once baked.
  3. Drain the water, pat the potatoes dry, and then spread onto a baking sheet. Toss with olive oil and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy.
  4. Heat the butter and flour in a medium saucepan on low heat until it starts to foam. With a wire whisk, slowly add in the vegetable stock, stirring rapidly. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the gravy has thickened, stirring occasionally.
  5. Once the french fries have cooked, remove them from the oven and place onto a serving plate. Top with cheese curds and then pour gravy over top. Serve warm. Can be garnished with chopped green onions.

Tags:

  • Canadian
  • Quebec
  • Potato
  • Cheese
  • Serves a Crowd
  • Fry
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
  • Vegetarian
  • Entree

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Recipe by: Heather Hands

I was born and raised in a small town in Ontario, Canada. I ate corn on the cob, sour cherry pie, sweet peaches, and big Beefsteak tomatoes in the summer, and pancakes with maple syrup tapped from the trees out back, in the winter. I now live in Seattle, WA, a place I call home. My summers are now filled will blackberries from the vine, Rainier cherries, and foraged mushrooms in the winter. I am a dietitian, nutrition educator, and as of a few years ago, I'm now a food blogger. My hobbies include: gardening, making pie, and brewing beer. I'll never turn down a glass of wine or slice of cake. I like to cook with good olive oil, Maldon salt, and a whole lot of garlic. If I was stuck on an island and I could bring only one thing to eat, the answer would be pizza. The answer should always be pizza.

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5 Reviews

Tad March 2, 2016

No curd cheese in my area, took cut up mozzarella sticks instead. The gravy does the magic. I used half an onion cut up into small bits as a base along with the flour and a pinch of brown sugar. A glass of cold wheat beer alongside is mandatory.

Courtney C. August 12, 2015

This is comfort food at its best. I found the cheese curds at both Whole Foods and a local gourmet market in the area. The gravy is ridiculous - even my non-vegetarian boyfriend couldn't stop eating it.

burnicus January 26, 2014

another reason why I'm glad to be living in WI. .cheese curds e v e r y w h e r e. lol XD

sexyLAMBCHOPx January 13, 2014

Where do you buy your cheese curds?

Heather H. January 13, 2014

In Canada, you can buy them in almost every grocery store, but here in the US, I think it's a bit more difficult. There is a cheese company here in Seattle (Beecher's Cheese) that makes curds and sells them in a few grocery stores. If you can't find them in the grocery store, try a specialized cheese shop. Some people refer to them as cheese sqeaks or squeaky cheese.

Vegetarian Poutine Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is veggie poutine gravy made of? ›

Make gravy by sautéing diced onions then mushrooms for a few minutes. Add in seasonings and cook for 5 minutes until mushrooms are brown. Add in vegetable stock and corn starch and cook for another 5 minutes. Total cooking time for the gravy should be around 16 minutes.

Is Costco poutine vegetarian? ›

Yes, Costco Wholesale poutine is vegetarian-friendly, loaded with gravy and cheese curds.

What are the 3 things that poutine is made of? ›

The basic recipe only calls for three ingredients: french fries, cheese curds, and gravy. Unless you make your gravy from scratch you also don't need any kitchen equipment beyond a standard french fry cutter and commercial deep fryer.

Can I use mozzarella instead of cheese curds in poutine? ›

Yes! Shredded rotisserie chicken and green peas make this version of Canada's comfort food a full meal. Diced mozzarella is the dairy called for here, but by all means substitute traditional cheese curds if you have them.

What's the difference between gravy and poutine gravy? ›

Poutine sauce is another way Canadians say gravy. I kid, I kid – but really poutine sauce is essentially a brown gravy that's make from butter, flour, stock, and spices. Like gravy, it's rich and hearty, warm and full of flavor.

What is vegetarian gravy made of? ›

A delicious vegetarian gravy made with onions, garlic, vegetable broth, and nutritional yeast.

What is poutine called in America? ›

In the United States, some restaurants of New York and New Jersey propose their own mix of fries, gravy and cheese, called « Disco Fries ». In Latin America, we can enjoy a poutine on the isolated beach of Zipolite island in Mexico.

What is a good substitute for cheese curds? ›

If you can't find curd cheese then in the US farmer cheese is a good alternative or you could use Neufchatel cheese (which is different to European Neufchatel cheese).

What does poutine do to your body? ›

Your Arteries Will Clog

High triglyceride levels are a serious repercussion of high fat content in foods, and poutine is chock full of 'em. A large poutine, incredibly high in total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and refined carbs, can raise the triglyceride levels in your blood for 6-12 hours after consumption.

What do you eat with poutine? ›

Poutine is usually enjoyed as a main or as a side dish. Eat it with some roasted veggies, a side salad, or some freshly baked dinner rolls.

How to make poutine without curds? ›

Substitute for Cheese Curds in Poutine

If you can't locate cheese curds, use a block of low moisture mozzarella cheese, torn or chopped into large chunks, 1-2 inches. You don't want to use fresh mozzarella because it will be too watery and you don't want to use shredded mozzarella because it melts into the hot gravy.

Can you use Babybel cheese for poutine? ›

(as many as you want) Babybel, tear each in half and put them into the gravy to soften for a few mins.

What is vegan poutine made of? ›

Vegan poutine with crispy potatoes, savory mushroom gravy, and melty vegan cheese curds! The perfect plant-based alternative to this Canadian classic.

Is McDonald's poutine gravy vegetarian? ›

To make McDonald's Poutine, french fries are topped with a generous serving of cheese curds, which are small, fresh balls of curdled milk. The cheese is then covered with a rich, savory gravy, which is made from beef stock and other seasonings.

Is KFC poutine gravy vegetarian? ›

According to the KFC website the gravy isn't vegetarian. The direct quote from the FAQ page is, “We make our gravy the old-fashioned way.

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