Serves: 2–3 as a main course | 3–4 as a side dish
Continuing our theme of national dishes, last month we explored the Americas—focusing on the 3 host countries of the World Cup: Mexico, the USA, and Canada.
- Mexico: Mole (meat covered in a rich chilli and chocolate sauce).
- USA: The classic Hamburger.
- Canada: Poutine.
What is Poutine? Originating in Quebec in the 1950s, Poutine is a famous comfort food consisting of crisp chips topped with cheese curds and smothered in rich beef and chicken gravy—or "cheesy chips and gravy" in UK chip shop parlance!
Note: Cheese curds are hard to find in the UK, but torn full-fat mozzarella makes a great alternative for texture and flavour. We topped ours with crispy bacon lardons!
Ingredients
- 500g good quality frozen chips, potato wedges, or French fries
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
- 250ml beef stock/broth + 1 chicken stock cube
- 125g cheese curds (or torn lumps of full-fat mozzarella)
- 100g bacon lardons
- Small handful of fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Flavours: Onion/garlic powder, dried marjoram/oregano, or a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Method
- Cook the Fries: Prepare your fries in the oven or air-fryer according to pack instructions.
- Crisp the Lardons: Fry the lardons in a pan until crispy. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
- Make the Gravy:
- Heat 1½ tbsp oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for ~2 minutes until a light brown paste forms (add the remaining ½ tbsp oil if too dry).
- Slowly whisk in the beef broth and cook for 3 minutes until thickened and smooth.
- Stir in the crumbled chicken stock cube and optional seasonings (Worcestershire sauce, herbs, garlic/onion powder). Taste and adjust salt/pepper. (The gravy should be thick; loosen with a splash of hot water if needed).
- Assemble & Serve: Place the piping-hot fries in a shallow dish and scatter with cheese curds or mozzarella. Pour the HOT gravy generously over the chips so the cheese begins to melt. Top with crispy lardons and fresh parsley. Serve immediately!
ENJOY!
— The Come Dine With Us Team