Vegan Loaded Rainbow Poutine

A regular addition to roundups of the most-loved Canadian foods, poutine is legendary. The combination of crispy fries, rich gravy, and melty cheese curds has delighted our country for decades. Since its inception, many iterations of this dish have been born. Tater tot poutine, breakfast poutine, loaded poutine, and more. Some people add sour cream to their poutine, others a few dashes of hot sauce. Some even like to increase their potato intake and add a scoop of mashed potatoes to the mix. Dressed up or dressed down, there’s really no wrong way to enjoy this Canadian classic.  

What is Poutine?

Poutine is an iconic Canadian food that originated in Québec. It consists of a pile of crispy French fries smothered in savoury gravy and squeaky cheese curds. It’s decadent, delicious, and a beloved staple of Canadian cuisine. Many have laid claim to being the inventors of this delectable dish, but one story seems to be the most widely accepted. In the 1950s, a restauranteur in Québec prepared the cheesy favourite at the request of a regular customer. And voila! A star was born. 

The Three Major Ingredients in Poutine

Poutine is comprised of three core ingredients: French fries, gravy, and cheese curds. Crispy fries are first placed on the bottom of the dish and then topped with cheese curds before being covered in hot gravy. The effect of the gravy on the cheese causes them to become melty and stretchy without rendering them into a blobby mess. The fries are crispy enough to hold their shape without becoming soggy under the weight of all those delicious toppings. 

French Fries

Poutine is a pretty relaxed dish, and that’s true when it comes to their base of French fries as well. If you’re opting to make your own French fries, you’ll want to use russet potatoes, which hold up well to the hot temperatures of frying oil and don’t get mushy. If you’re in a pinch and need to satisfy your craving ASAP, go for frozen! Our line of fries is pre-cooked and expertly coated for maximum crispiness and crunch. This loaded poutine recipe uses a blend of carrots, parsnips, and beetroot for an added twist. 

Gravy

Gravy is the next step in preparing the best poutine. The type of gravy is entirely up to you and your dietary preferences. Many traditional poutine recipes opt for classic beef gravy, either made from scratch or from a package. Others are adamant that turkey or chicken gravy made from chicken broth is the way to go. For this vegan loaded poutine recipe, we wanted everyone to be able to enjoy this taste of Canadiana and chose our savoury Vegan Brown Gravy Mix. Simply add water, stir to combine, and heat until thickened. 

Cheese Curds

This is the one ingredient about which Canadians are adamant: when it comes to poutine, it must be cheese curds. You can add other cheeses in addition to cheese curds, but for authentic poutine, these squeaky little guys have to be present. Otherwise, you have gravy cheese fries, which are simply not the same and aren’t worthy of the exalted poutine name. There are plenty of varieties of cheese curds, from cheddar cheese to sour cream and onions, depending on availability. If you’re living your best plant-based life, do what we did in this loaded poutine recipe and opt for our Vegan Poutine-Style Curd Cheese Alternative to enjoy classic poutine flavour without the dairy. 

Loaded Poutine Flavour Variations

There are plenty of ways to load up your poutine for even more flavour. While you can’t go wrong with the classic version, there’s plenty of topping variations you can add to dress things up. A few of our loaded poutine recommendations are: 

• Teriyaki Poutine: In addition to your regular poutine, add sliced grilled chicken breast tossed with Farm Boy™ Teriyaki Cooking Sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. 
• Pulled Pork Poutine: Top classic poutine with BBQ pulled pork and switch up your standard gravy for a smokier, BBQ-infused gravy. Our fully cooked Maple BBQ Pulled Pork makes this loaded poutine extra easy. 
• Breakfast Poutine: A favourite for Canadian mornings, top fries with gravy, a fried egg, crumbled bacon, green onions, and a drizzle of Hollandaise sauce. 
• Butter Chicken Poutine: Swap out the traditional gravy for a tomato-based butter chicken sauce. (We have a shelf-stable Spicy Butter Chicken Cooking Sauce and freshly prepared version in our Chef’s Market.) Mix in chunks of real chicken and ladle it over crispy fries and cheese curds. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro. 
• Montreal Smoked Meat Poutine: Add even more Canadiana to your poutine with Montreal-style smoked meat! If you can’t make it to the Québec hotspot, our New York Deli Style Smoked Brisket will do the trick. Chop it up and add it on top of your regular poutine for a gourmet experience. 

Tips for Making the Best Loaded Poutine

1. If you’re making your fries from scratch, soak them in cold water for the crispiest texture. Pat them dry before frying to prevent oil spatter and possible injury. (You can also use any of our expertly coated French fries, which are pre-cooked and are guaranteed crispy!) 
2. For from-scratch French fries, cut them into similar sizes so that they cook evenly.
3. Season your fries once they’re cooked. Whether making your fries from scratch or cooking from frozen, toss your fries with salt, pepper, or the seasonings of your choice immediately after they’re done cooking. The heat and oil allow the seasoning to stick better to the fries for maximum flavour.
4. Cheese curds are a must. We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: it’s not poutine if there’s no cheese curds. Shredded cheese is not the same thing. Cheese curds are arguably the star of the dish and they’re not an ingredient with which to take a shortcut.
5. Prior to cooking, remove your cheese curds from the fridge so you’re not dousing hot gravy over cold curds. This will help them to melt faster to get that ooey-gooey cheese pull that’s so perfect in poutine.
6. Prep your toppings ahead of time. Have your garnishes cooked, chopped, or otherwise ready to go so you can assemble your poutine immediately after your fries are done.