Poutine
Poutine
I think there are two things (besides my occasional use of the word eh) that give away my true Canadian-ness. My love of everything Maple flavored and how I absolutely adore Poutine. I have always loved the combination of hot gravy poured over crisp french fries entangled with semi melted globs of cheese curds. Poutine IMO, is really more of a meal than a “side of fries” and the ratio of cheese to gravy is a very personal preference. So when assembling your Poutine adjust the amounts to your liking. Lastly, the most essential part of a Poutine are the cheese curds and although I have yet to find a true Vegan cheese curd here in the United States I find that using a soft Mozzarella makes a pretty tasty and respectable substitute.
Serves 2 - 3 (as a meal)
Ingredients
1 lb (453 g) Frozen French Fries
4-5 oz (141 g) Soft Vegan Mozzarella Cheese (I used Miyokos) torn into small pieces about 1” in size
“Beef” Gravy
1 Green Onion sliced (green part only) for garnish
Gravy
2 1/3 cups (552 ml) Vegetable or Beeflees Broth
4 1/2 Tbsp (70 g) of Vegan Butter
5 Tbsp (39 g) of Flour
2 tsp (10 ml) of Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp (15 ml) of Dark Soy Sauce ( found at Asian markets)
Few dashes of Liquid Smoke
Pepper to taste
Cheese Tip: Let the Mozzarella come to room temp before using. This will help it melt a bit more under the hot gravy
Directions
1. Bake the french fries according to package directions.
2. While the fries are baking make the gravy. In a medium sized pot, melt the butter on med low heat.
3. Add the flour to the melted butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Allow the mixture to cook for 2-3 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste and for it to darken a bit. Make sure to keep whisking so it doesn’t burn.
4. Slowly add about 1/2 cup of the broth at a time and whisk until completely mixed in. Repeat this step until all of the broth is used up.
5. Add in the worcestershire, liquid smoke, dark soy sauce and season with pepper.
6. Allow the gravy to heat through and thicken if necessary. If it’s too thick you can thin with a Tbsp or two of water. Cover and set aside on low heat until ready to use.
7. Once the french fries are ready, serve the desired amount per person. Top with your preferred amount of cheese and then pour on the gravy. Garnish with green onions and serve immediately.
