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

Jump to Recipe

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.

Popular on Food52

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 in Canada? ›

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.

Is Canadian poutine vegetarian? ›

Is the Canadian poutine vegetarian? It IS possible to make it vegetarian. You would just need to substitute the beef, pork or chicken gravy used with a vegetable broth based gravy.

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.

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.

Is McDonald's poutine vegetarian or non 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.

Does Costco cheese have animal rennet? ›

All Kirkland Signature (Costco) cheeses EXCEPT PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO AND MANCHEGO are made with microbial rennet and are suitable for vegetarians. All Laughing Cow cheeses are suitable for vegetarians!

Does Burger King have vegetarian poutine? ›

A: The basic version of Burger King Poutine is vegetarian-friendly. However, please note that the gravy contains animal-derived ingredients.

What is poutine called in America? ›

Poutine can be found on menu restaurants in states along the northern border of the United States. A variant of poutine called Disco Fries is considered a classic New Jersey diner dish, using shredded Cheddar cheese or mozzarella in place of cheese curds.

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 does poutine mean in french? ›

“Poutine” is not a metropolitan French word . In Quebec, “poutine” is a dish made of French fries and grated cheese. The word comes from the English “pudding” or “ put in” according to different sources. As a proper noun , it's the French spelling of the English written form of “Putin”, the Russian president.

Is classic poutine vegetarian? ›

Classic Poutine. Crispy, golden skin-on fries made with 100% Canadian potatoes, topped with savoury vegetarian gravy and Canadian cheese curds.

Can you make poutine without cheese curds? ›

If you can't get cheese curds, the closest possible substitution if you want the poutine experience, would be torn chunks (not shredded!) of a full-fat block mozzarella cheese (NOT fresh mozzarella – use the kind you'd shred to put on top of pizza). You want it in chunks so it doesn't melt completely.

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.

What is vegetarian gravy made of? ›

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

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.

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