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 vegetarian poutine made of? ›

Compile poutine:

Top fries with warm mushroom gravy, cheese curds or pieces of mozzarella, chopped chives and optional sauteed mushrooms. The cheese should start to melt from the heat of the gravy, however, if it doesn't, pop dish under grill for a few minutes.

Is poutine vegetarian friendly? ›

The ingredients of classic poutine

However, their vegetarianism can be compromised depending on the cooking method, especially if they are fried in an oil that is also used for meat products; The cheese curd, on the other hand, is clearly vegetarian but not vegan, as it contains milk.

Is Costco poutine vegetarian? ›

Costco in Canada is a treasure trove of the country's most popular goodies — including poutine. Costco reportedly has some of Montreal's best vegetarian poutine. I put it to the test. The meal was fine, but the environment was so stressful I'd never do it again.

Is McDonald's poutine veggie? ›

No products are certified as vegetarian; products may contain trace amounts of ingredients derived from animals.

What is the gravy of poutine made of? ›

Butter: Use unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt in the gravy. All-purpose flour: Equal parts flour and butter are combined to create a roux. This is what makes the gravy so thick and creamy! Beef broth: Use reduced sodium beef broth to prevent an overly salty gravy.

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.

Can vegetarians eat cheese curds? ›

Put simply: Any cheese containing "rennet" or "animal enzymes" to aid in coagulation—aka to separate milk into solid curds—is not vegetarian.

Why is gravy not vegetarian? ›

Traditionally, gravy is made with meat, which is naturally rich in umami. So a great vegan gravy also needs that deep savory, meaty quality if it's going to be included among your vegan Thanksgiving recipes.

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 classic poutine vegetarian? ›

Traditionally poutine is made with beef gravy, but we're going to swap it out for my favourite vegetarian gravy recipe instead. This poutine is made with cheese curds, but if you want to make vegan poutine, we'll discuss some options below.

Is Harvey's poutine gravy vegetarian? ›

Is Harvey's gravy vegetarian? Yes, our poutines are made with vegetarian gravy. However, there is a possibility of cross-contamination of fries with animal-based products through shared cooking equipment in our kitchen.

Does Five Guys make poutine? ›

Poutine* Canada's traditional gravy and cheese curds added to our freshly made boardwalk-style fries.

What is the vegetarian McDonald's called? ›

McPlant™: McDonald's Plant-Based Burger | McDonald's. Order Now. McDelivery®

Do vegetarians eat McDonald's fries? ›

While they may possibly be suitable for vegetarians, therefore, the chips are certainly not vegan. The fact that the fries contain the beef flavoring isn't widely known, and may come as a shock to some customers. In April 2023, a TikTok user named Jordan created a video on the subject, which went viral.

What is Wendy's poutine? ›

It's no wonder that Wendy's is stirring up a debate on Reddit this morning as users argue the definition of the dish described on the burger chain's menu as Poutine. The menu item is being made with “fries with sea salt topped with Canadian cheese curds and a rich poutine sauce.”

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

The basic recipe only calls for three ingredients: french fries, cheese curds, and gravy.

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