Real Poutine (2024)

This indulgent poutine recipe is easy to make at home with just four ingredi

What Is Poutine?

Poutine, which was invented in Quebec in the 1950s, is a Canadian dish composed of fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy. "Poutine" is a Quebecois slang word that means "mess."

Learn more: What Is Poutine?

Poutine Pronunciation

Poutine is pronounced “poo-teen.”

How to Make Poutine

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

What Is In Poutine?

These are the four ingredients you’ll need to make this traditional poutine recipe:

  • Oil: You’ll need a quart of vegetable oil for frying.
  • Gravy: Use a store-bought can of beef gravy or make your own at home.
  • Fries: Russet potatoes work well for French fries, as they’re extra starchy.
  • Cheese curds: Cheese curds are key for authentic poutine. However, if you like, you can use shredded mozzarella cheese.

How to Make Homemade Poutine

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade poutine:

  1. Heat the oil to 365 degrees F.
  2. Warm the gravy on the stove or in the microwave.
  3. Fry the French fries and drain on paper towels.
  4. Place the fries on a serving platter, then top with curds and warm gravy.

Recipe Tip

Make this poutine recipe your own with these fun and tasty variations:

  • Add cut-up cooked chicken or hamburger.
  • Italian Poutine: Substitute marinara for gravy.
  • BBQ Poutine: Substitute a light BBQ sauce for gravy.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“After putting the cheese curds on the fries, put them in the oven for a short time under the broiler,” recommends NipsyLinz. “This melts the curds a bit. Then put the gravy on.”

“If you've never tried (or even heard of) poutine before, TRY THIS RECIPE,” says MaryG. “I live in Quebec and eat this very, very often.”

“This is delicious,” raves MIDNIGHTCAT. “Of course, it's not exactly good for you, but that's not the point. Finding cheese curds can be next to impossible in some parts of the United States, so take the time to order them online and do this recipe justice!”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Real Poutine (2024)

FAQs

Why was poutine mocked? ›

Poutine was largely perceived as an unsophisticated backwoods creation or unhealthy junk food to be consumed after a night of drinking. Montreal chefs would make poutine to feed their staff but had not dared to put it on their menus.

What the heck is poutine? ›

Classic poutine is made of a plate of hot and crispy French fries, topped with chunks of just melting fresh cheese curds, and smothered in a savory and salty brown gravy. It can be found in anywhere from fast food joints to gussied-up versions in more upscale restaurants.

What does poutine mean in french? ›

“Poutine” is not a metropolitan French word . In Quebec, “poutine” is a dish made of French fries and grated cheese. The word comes from the English “pudding” or “ put in” according to different sources. As a proper noun , it's the French spelling of the English written form of “Putin”, the Russian president.

What is poutine called in America? ›

In the United States, some restaurants of New York and New Jersey propose their own mix of fries, gravy and cheese, called « Disco Fries ». In Latin America, we can enjoy a poutine on the isolated beach of Zipolite island in Mexico.

What happens to your body when you eat poutine? ›

A starch-filled meal like poutine can actually make your blood sugar level skyrocket, making your pancreas (which secretes insulin to makes sure your cells can access glucose in your blood) respond in kind.

Why is poutine not healthy? ›

Not much healthier, but some. The French fries are loaded with fat from the cooking oil and near useless carbohydrates; the gravy probably has too much fat in it; there's likely too much salt in the dish; but the cheese curds do have some nutritional value.

Can you get poutine in America? ›

Simply put: Squeaky curds mean fresh curds. Though poutine may be difficult to find in the U.S., there are certainly fantastic options throughout the country. In fact, many restaurants kick up the classic poutine and make it into a truly crave-worthy meal. It may not be authentic, but it sure is delicious.

What is the gravy in 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.

What is the slang word for poutine? ›

Some assert that poutine is related to the English word pudding, but a more popular etymology is that it's from a Quebecois slang word meaning "mess." The dish has in recent years been making inroads on American menus.

What is Canada's national dish? ›

What is Poutine? Poutine is Canada's national dish, which usually consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy.

Why is poutine a must try? ›

It is simultaneously familiar (everyone knows and loves french fries, with a sauce to dip them in) and new (adding the twist of a seductive squeak against the tooth from that fresh cheese curd). It is also cheap, filling and infinitely adaptable, especially upmarket (well, you can't very well take it down).

Are cheese curds illegal in US? ›

At this point, the milk is legally pasteurized. (Raw or unpasteurized milk is banned in the United States, but luckily, cheese curds are 100 percent legal!)

What is America's national dish? ›

The United States does not officially have a designated national dish, but hamburgers and Apple Pie are unofficial national dishes of USA due to their popularity and widespread consumption across the country. Hamburger is the most popular dish in America due to its popularity.

Why is poutine only in Canada? ›

Poutine is a dish that is well known all over Canada and many are surprised to find that when they mention this dish in other countries they are met with confusion. Poutine originated in Quebec and has now become an iconic part of Canadian cuisine and seems to be important to Canadians everywhere.

What is the deal with poutine? ›

Poutine is an absolutely divine dish composed of fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy. Though it's not officially Canada's national food (this is actually the subject of some contention), it might as well be.

What is the story behind poutine? ›

A favorite version puts the birth in Warwick in 1957. The story is that at the request of a truck driver who wanted something hot to go, Fernand Lachance combined hot French fries and cheese curds and proclaimed "Ça va faire une maudite poutine!" or, in English, "It will make a damn mess!"

What does the poutine symbolize? ›

Canada's National Dish

For many years, it was perceived negatively and mocked, and even used by some to stigmatize Quebec society. Poutine later became celebrated as a symbol of Québécois cultural pride. It was consumed in small “greasy spoon” diners, pubs, hockey arenas and roadside chip wagons called “potato shacks”.

Why is Google celebrating poutine? ›

Google Doodles are often inspired by current events, a certain culture, or notable figures. In this case, Google chose a poutine theme to celebrate the day the word was added to the English Merriam-Webster Dictionary: May 19, 2014.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 5910

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.