Poutine

[thedooku]

This is for Norm and anyone else interested in clogging their arteries with this French Canadian delicacy.

Montreal Poutine

Fries are actually the least important part of a good poutine, but better fries always make for better poutine. If you're going the frozen fry route, avoid "extra cripsy", crinkle cut, and any other abnormal or seasoned fries.

Cheese is very important. As the link above mentions REAL poutine is made with FRESH cheddar cheese curds. If you don't have access to a local cheese factory (which most don't) shredded cheddar will substitute just fine. Cheese curd is basically cheese that hasn't been pressed to remove the extra moisture. Fresh "squeaky" cheese curd is the best, but regular cheddar (I recommend mild/medium, not old/sharp) is fine.

Sauce is THE most important part of a good poutine. The powdered gravies in a packet work well for homemade poutine. Look for St. Hubert or Swiss Chalet (both Canadian) Poutine sauce. If that's not available, get homestyle gravy in those brands. If you can't find those brands get any good homestyle chicken gravy. There's some recipes for authentic sauces in the link, but unless you have real cheese curd and are going for the gusto, stick with the packet gravy.

Construction is important too. You want your gravy hot and ready at the same time the fries are done. Cheese should be closer to room temp than fridge temp if you want it to melt well. Place your hot fries in a mound on a plate, sprinkle a nice layer of cheese on top, then a nice layer of gravy over everything.

All this description is making me crave some poutine, sounds like I have dinner planned for tonight :D

Enjoy

[keyser28146]

Rockin.

Thanks man, great post, and I'm all over it.

[norm]

this is the best hangover food ever

[thedooku]

LoL, you said it Norm! you like?

[FunkyFaulc]

You want to send me some St Hubert Poutine sauce packets? I've yet to find a good homemade sauce recipe.

[thedooku]

I found this website CanadaOnly.ca that sells the sauce, and it's only 50 cents more than in-store. I'm assuming you can't get any in your local California grocery stores, so buying online is an option. I checked ebay, and they have poutine sauce for sale as well. You've had the good stuff Funky, it's going to be hard to match at home, unless you can get some fresh cheddar cheese curd ;)

[RaTix]

Go to your local diner and ask for Disco Fries, this is what you'll get. I find the gravy is the most important thing for the taste.

[FunkyFaulc]

Oh.. I have a tip on the curds. I wanted to make some poutine for my family when I go back from Canada. I went to the local Whole Foods Market and they special ordered some for me.

The only other place you can get them from is maybe directly from a dairy farm if you have one near you. I met a girl here in Sacramento from Quebec when I was in school and she told me that's what she did.

Thanks for the post on the sauce.