The Olympics are upon us, lets celebrate with a food from the country that is hosting them this year, Canada! Poutine is a fun French-Canadian food, that is found only in Canada (unless of course you make your own). It may not be the food of Champions, but these fries smothered with gravy and cheese curds are one perfect way to celebrate Canadian heritage just in time for the Winter Olympics!
Serves 4
Time required 60minutes
Difficulty level 3
Cost of ingredients 8 USD
French Fries
- 4 large potatoes, peeled
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Oil for frying
- 1 cup cheese curds, or grated cheese if you prefer
Cut the potatoes in ½-inch long strips, making sure they are all uniform. Soak the potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes up to 1 hour, and drain. Pat dry with a kitchen or paper towels, to remove excess moisture.
Heat the oil in either a deep fryer or a skillet to 325F (163C), medium heat should be warm enough to keep oil from smoking. Fry potatoes in batches for about 3 minutes, they should not turn brown yet. Drain on paper towels, and allow to rest.
Make sure your oil is at 325F (162C) and fry the potatoes again, just as before, only this time for 4-5 minutes, or until they turn brown and crispy. Drain again on paper towels, add salt & pepper to taste.
If you don’t like frying, bake your fries in the oven at 400F(205C) for about 20 minutes, lightly coated with olive oil and on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Poutine Gravy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 Teaspoon thyme, dried and crushed
- Salt and pepper to taste
In a sauce pan, on medium heat, combine butter and flour using a whisk to make sure there are no lumps. Add in shallot and garlic, mixing well. Cook for about 10 minutes or until dark brown, stir frequently so it doesn‘t burn.
Stir in stock, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium low heat. Allow to cook for about 15 minutes more, or until thickened.
When fries are done pour gravy on top and sprinkle cheese on top, and enjoy!
Fri, Feb 12, 2010
Main Courses, Recipes