Cheese Potatoes Poutine Precurser Recipes

AUTHENTIC CANADIAN POUTINE

Steps:

• Prepare the gravy: In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the water and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook, stirring regularly, for about 5 minutes, until the mixture turns golden brown.
• Add the beef and chicken broth and bring to a boil, stirring with a whisk. Stir in about HALF the cornstarch mixture and simmer for a minute or so. If you'd like your gravy thicker, add a more of the cornstarch mixture, in small increments, as needed, to thicken. Season with pepper. Taste and add additional salt, if necessary, to taste. Make ahead and re-warm or keep warm until your fries are ready.
• For Deep-Fried Fries: Prepare your potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch thick sticks. Place into a large bowl and cover completely with cold water. Allow to stand at least one hour or several hours. When ready to cook, heat your oil in your deep fryer or large, wide, heavy cooking pot to 300° F.
• Remove the potatoes from the water and place onto a sheet of paper towel. Blot to remove as much excess moisture as possible.
• Add your fries to the 300°F oil and cook for 5-8 minutes, just until potatoes are starting to cook but are not yet browned. Remove potatoes from oil and scatter on a wire rack. Increase oil temperature to 375°F Once oil is heated to that temperature, return the potatoes to the fryer and cook until potatoes are golden brown. Remove to a paper towel-lined bowl.
• To Prepare Poutine: Add your fried or baked fries to a large, clean bowl. Season lightly with salt while still warm. Add a ladle of hot poutine gravy to the bowl and using tongs, toss the fries in the gravy. Add more gravy, as needed to mostly coat the fries.
• Add the cheese curds and toss with the hot fries and gravy. Serve with freshly ground pepper. Serve immediately.

CHEESE POTATOES (POUTINE PRECURSER)

Steps:

• Fry the bacon and remove to paper towel to drain.
• Pour all but a tablespoon of the fat from the pan and add the butter to get hot.
• Fry the onion until soft and golden, adding the garlic for a minute or two at the end.
• Deglaze with a splash of balsamic vinegar, if you like. Remove all to a plate.
• Add the oil to the pan to get hot.
• Cook the potatoes, seasoned with salt and pepper, until soft inside when pierced with a fork, and very crisp and golden on the outside. This will take a good 20 minutes, without stirring too much or they won't get brown.
• Return the onion, garlic, and bacon to the pan.
• Scatter the cheese over the top and leave the pan on the heat, covered, until the cheese has melted, about a minute.
• Serve with mixed salad greens.