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? ›

Made with crispy oven fries, homemade vegan gravy, and authentic cheese curds, this vegetarian poutine recipe is where it's at for healthy-ish veggie comfort food.

What fast food poutine is vegetarian? ›

At Harvey's Restaurant, we make it with high-quality ingredients. We use skin-on fries made from 100% Canadian potatoes, 100% Canadian dairy cheese curds and vegetarian gravy. The best fast-food poutine in Canada.

Is poutine Vegetarian friendly? ›

Usually, no. The cheese curds are made from dairy, and the gravy is normally made from meat stock or broth. Luckily, this recipe is completely vegan!

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 poutine gravy vegetarian or vegetarian? ›

For the record--for those who are unaware--it's the gravy that potentially makes poutine not vegetarian. Most gravies are made with a animal stock or animal fat. The cheese curds aren't vegan, but are vegetarian so that's not where the problem lies.

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.

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.

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.

Is Harvey's poutine gravy vegetarian? ›

Is Harvey's gravy vegetarian? Yes, our poutines are made with vegetarian gravy. However, we cannot guarantee cross-contamination with fries in the fryer.

Can vegetarians eat cheese curds? ›

Many cheeses contain the animal rennet — an enzyme that helps milk separate into curds and whey. That enzyme is typically derived from the stomach of calves killed for veal, so most vegetarians see it as off-limits.

What gravy can vegetarians eat? ›

Bisto Meat-Free Range

Our new meat-free and vegan gravies are perfect for vegetarians and vegans, or anyone trying to eat less meat. With two flavours to choose from – Beef and Chicken – our delicious gravy still has the rich roasted flavour everyone loves, all while being totally meat free.

What is a good substitute for poutine cheese? ›

If you can't get cheese curds for your poutine, then just use mozzarella cheese which is close to cheese curds. The only difference is that when you bite into cheese curbs it makes a squeaky sound. It won't be traditional Quebec poutine, but very close. Also if you can't find smoked meats, use pastrami as a topping.

Does Five Guys make poutine? ›

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

Is beavertails poutine gravy vegetarian? ›

That gravy, by the way, is not made of meat byproducts, but is made from a powder base of dehydrated vegetables like onion, garlic, tomato and beet.

Is Costco good for vegetarians? ›

The good news is that Costco carries a variety of items that can lend nicely to a delicious vegetarian meal. And best of all, you won't rack up a huge credit card tab in the course of bringing them home. If you're a vegetarian, here are some tasty meals worth checking out.

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.

What is real poutine made of? ›

Poutine (Quebec French: [put͡sɪn]) is a dish of french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy.

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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