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You only need 3 simple ingredients to make my easy vegan poutine recipe - French fries, vegan gravy, and vegan cheese curds! It's ideal for anyone looking for the ultimate plant-based comfort food with just as much flavor as the traditional version. Plus, it is the perfect way to use up leftover gravy! Serve as a main dish, tasty side, or hearty snack.
Originating in Quebec during the 1950s, poutine has since gained popularity throughout Canada and eventually made its way to the United States and around the world.
Is poutine vegan? Well, not traditionally! The typical brown gravy served over the fries is made with beef or chicken broth, flour, and butter. Then, you toss on some cheese curds which are, of course, made with dairy. Plus, the fries might not even be vegan depending on what they have been fried in!
Unlike the original version, my ultimate vegan poutine uses all whole food plant-based ingredients! With a savory broth, gooey, soft cheese, and crispy fries, it is loved by my whole family. I love making it year round but find it especially great during the holiday season when I have leftover ingredients handy. It also happens to be naturally gluten-free and dairy-free too!
🥘 Ingredients
Feel free to buy everything at the store to make this vegan poutine super easy, or make homemade French fries, vegan cheese curds and gravy for a healthy snack you won't stop eating!
French Fries: I usually just buy frozen french fries to bake but if you make them from scratch feel free to cut into whatever style you'd like such as shoestring or potato wedges.
Vegan Gravy: I prefer to make my own easy vegan onion gravy at home for the healthiest option but you can just buy some at the store too.
Vegan Cheese Curds: Use my vegan cheese curds recipe to make your own at home! You can also use any cheese or vegan cheese you like. It's best to rip chunks off a larger block with your hand to recreate the curd shape and size. I like Miyoko's vegan mozzarella for this recipe!
🔪 How To Make My Vegan Poutine Recipe
Making healthy vegan poutine is so easy! Everything comes together super fast, even if you make each part from scratch. Here is what to do:
Bake Fries: First, I bake my frozen french fries, following the package directions. Alternatively, slice russet potatoes, toss in some oil, arrange in a single layer on a baking tray, and bake until fork tender and golden brown. Divide the fries onto four plates.
Assemble: Next, I top with hot onion gravy and plant-based cheese curds. I like to garnish with parsley and chives, but choose whatever toppings you prefer - fresh thyme or rosemary would also be delicious!
📖 Variations
With Dairy: If you are not vegan, feel free to use real cheese curds for a more authentic dish!
Spicy Gravy: Sometimes I like a kick of heat to my gravy sauce. I add in red pepper flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, or a dash of hot sauce to taste. This is a fun way to switch things up a bit!
Vegetable Poutine: Mix in some sauteed or baked veggies of your choice for more nutrients, flavor, and texture. I like red bell pepper, red onion, cremini mushrooms, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and zucchini. You can also top with a mushroom gravy for additional veggies here!
Poutine Without Gravy: While the gravy plays a key role in a classic poutine dish, you can switch things up if you don't like gravy, can't find any, and don't want to make it from scratch. Try adding a different sauce over top of the fries like my vegan cheese sauce or vegan tartar sauce.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
My dairy free poutine can be served as a main or side dish! Here are some of my favorite pairings:
Healthy Sides: To make a filling meal, I typically serve these poutine fries with an apple walnut salad and cheesy baked asparagus. I sometimes also add a side of vegan gluten free chicken nuggets for my kids!
Toppings: When I am craving some meaty texture I make my portobello mushroom steaks, slice them, and add to the top of the poutine. Other simple topping ideas include fresh cilantro, basil, parsley, chives, green onion, shallots, or sunflower seeds.
🫙 Storage Instructions
Make Ahead: This vegetarian poutine recipe can be prepared ahead of time, but I recommend waiting to assemble until right before serving for the best texture. When I want to make this in advance I prepare the gravy, vegan cheese curds and wash, cut, and soak the fries (or just make sure I have frozen fries on hand!). I store each component in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. When stored separately:
- Gravy can be kept for up to 4 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
- The vegan cheese curds can be made up to 5 days ahead of time.
- The potatoes can be stored in their soaking water for up to 24 hours max, but the less time the better.
Refrigeration: I do not recommend storing prepared poutine as the gravy will make the fries soggy, but if you have leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. The texture won't be as good but the flavor will still be great! If you are able to, it will be best to store each component separately!
Reheating: I reheat leftover poutine in the microwave or in the oven to crisp up the fries a bit.
❓Recipe FAQs
How do I avoid soggy fries?
While it is likely that some of the fries will be a bit soggy in texture due to the gravy, there are a few things you can do! First, I like to make my gravy a bit thicker in texture. If the gravy is too liquidy and runny, the fries will soak it up much faster and get more mushy. Second, make sure to store the fries and sauce separately and assemble with the gravy right before serving.
How do I assemble and serve poutine properly?
It is important to assemble and serve poutine in a specific way for best results. Start with your preferred portion of fries, warm out of the oven, and then drizzle over hot gravy. Add the cheese curds over the warm fries and gravy so that it gets nice and melty! Make sure the ingredients are evenly dispersed so you get a little of everything with each bite.
Can I adapt poutine for a larger group or party?
Want to make a bigger serving of my veggie poutine recipe? I got you! This recipe serves 4, but can easily be doubled or tripled depending on your needs. Keep in mind, each guest might have different preferences on the amount of gravy and cheese curds for their poutine. I recommend setting up the prepared ingredients and letting your guests assemble their own plate.
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