Poutine a Delicious Homemade Spin on the Canadian Grand Prix Weekend

Tuning in to the Canadian Grand Prix with a side of homemade-ish Poutine.

Have you ever enjoyed a gravy-covered pile of French fries sprinkled with melty cheese curds? If not, don't feel bad ... I haven't either! I am the first to admit that Poutine is something I have yet to try but am up for the challenge in making this tasty snack at home in celebration of the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix.

Poutine has been a go-to snack that is enjoyed after a night of drinking since the 1950s. A great snack to soak up all the alcohol in your belly, it is 100% a Canadian comfort food staple.

Poutine is all about that gravy. While researching recipes, I quickly noticed that there are a million ways to make the Poutine gravy. Is there a right way? I have absolutely no idea and I am most definitely certain that I will offend someone with the recipe below. But one thing you will learn about me is that I just cannot take one recipe and believe it is the one and only way to make a delicious dish. So ... I did as I always do when tackling a dish I have never made before and took inspiration from several recipes. I hope you enjoy my version of a tasty Poutine snack to enjoy while you watch the Canadian GP. Now, let's get racing!

disclaimer: The recipe below is not tried and true, but more a place for me to document, inspire you and update in the future. So bear with me. ;-)

Homemade-ish Poutine

serves 4-6, as snack or appetizer

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoon unsalted butter [1/2 stick]

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 small shallot, finely minced [approx. 2 tablespoons]

• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced [approx. 1 tablespoon]

• 1 1/2 cups salted beef stock

• 1/2 cup salted chicken stock

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tablespoon ketchup

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1/4 chicken flavor bouillon cube [I used Maggi.]

• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 - 28oz bag of Frozen French fries [I used Lamb Weston Super Crispy Shoestring Fries.]

• Cheese curds

• for garnish plus adding a touch of color, sprinkle finely chopped chives and/or parsley over top of Poutine before serving

Method

Start by pre-heating the oven to the temperature specified by your choice of frozen French fry bag. Add your baking sheet to middle oven rack to heat while the oven is preheating, and give your French fries a little extra crunch.

To make gravy:

• Add butter to large pot on medium heat. Let butter melt bringing to a low sizzle, then add shallot and garlic into butter and sauté until translucent.

• Reduce heat to medium-low and sift flour over top of butter mixture. Whisk immediately until mixtures becomes a slightly thickened paste consistency.

• Then whisk in beef and chicken stock, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, bouillon cube and black pepper. Let reduce, keeping at very low bubble or boil stirring frequently -- approx. 20 - 25 mins. The goals is to achieve a gravy-type consistency without burning or sticking to the bottom of your pot.

While gravy is reducing, bake your French fries according to directions on the bag. Ideally you would time things perfectly so your gravy and fries are finished at the same time.

Homemade-ish Poutine Assembly

I served our homemade-ish Poutine on a small baking sheet lined in parchment paper. Add a serving of French fries, drizzle warm gravy on top of fries, sprinkle crumble cheese curds over gravy covered fries, garnish with finely chopped herbs to serve fresh and hot.

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Note from 4theloveF1:

If you decided to try this recipe, please comment below with your experience.

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Want to learn a bit more about the origin of Poutine? Here are a few articles I would recommend.

The Canadian Encyclopedia | History of Poutine

The Spruce Eats | What is Poutine? All About this Classic Canadian Dish

Farmers' Almanac | What the Heck is Poutine?

Recipe Inspo & Resources:

Seasons and Suppers Authentic Canadian Poutine The Modern Proper Homemade Poutine recipe

Halfbaked Harvest Authentic Canadian Poutine

Smalltown Woman Canadian Poutine