When the McDonald's Poutine first came to Canada, I did not know what to expect. But you know, when you're dealing with the World's best French fry, it is hard to mess up. It is surprisingly good and now one of my go-to menu items. This recipe comes very close and dare I say you won't be able to tell a difference.
Can't get enough of McDonald's? Try my copycat McChicken Recipe next!
🍟 About This Recipe
Poutine is very easy to make at home and I think there are a few key ingredients to make it taste like McDonald's.
Firstly, McDonald’s fries are very crispy and thin. I do not recommend making your own fries for this. Storebought fries are crispier and it is better to let the factory cut them thin for you. McCain’s frozen French fries are my favorite. In my opinion, they actually taste very close to McDonald’s. I’m cooking mine in the air fryer today, but if you have a deep fryer, I would recommend that.
Secondly, the McDonald’s gravy is not flour-based. It is made with cornstarch. I say this because it has a translucent color and is a little more glossy. You can make a flour-based gravy if you want but cornstarch is actually a lot quicker.
🧂 Ingredients
- Frozen French Fries: I'm using McCain's brand. Frozen fries have already been fried once, so you basically get the benefits of a double-fry when you fry them. Double fry = extra crispy.
- Gravy: This is made with beef stock, cornstarch, black pepper, and salt. For the beef stock, I'm mixing 1 tablespoon of Better Than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base with 2 cups of water.
- Cheese Curds: Traditionally, poutine is made with white cheddar cheese curds, but I'm using mozzarella cheese instead. I didn't notice any issues and it tastes the same to me.
🔪 Instructions
Before starting, take the cheese curds out of the fridge. They taste the best when they are at room temperature, and plus, we want them to melt when we pour the gravy over them.
STEP 1: Cook the fries according to the package instructions. I'm using an air-fryer for an today, but you can bake or deep-fry them.
STEP 2: In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the water and set aside.
STEP 3: In a large pan, bring 2 cups of beef stock to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, then whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes until the gravy thickens. Add black pepper and season with salt to taste. If your fries are still cooking, keep the gravy warm on low heat until they finish cooking.
STEP 4: Add the fries to a large bowl. Add a ladle of hot gravy and toss the fries until evenly coated. Then, add the cheese curds and toss gently. Add another ladle of gravy and serve immediately!
📋 Recipe
McDonald's Poutine Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ bag McCain Frozen fries
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup cold water
- 2 cups beef stock
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese (torn into chunks)
Instructions
- Cook the fries according to the package instructions. I'm using an air-fryer today, but you can bake or deep-fry them.
- In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the water and set aside.
- In a large pan, bring 2 cups of beef stock to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, then whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes until the gravy thickens. Add black pepper and season with salt to taste. If your fries are still cooking, keep the gravy warm on low heat until they finish cooking.
- Add the fries to a large bowl. Add a ladle of hot gravy and toss the fries until evenly coated. Then, add the cheese curds and toss gently. Add another ladle of gravy and serve immediately!
Notes
- For the beef stock, I'm using 1 tablespoon of Better than Bouillon beef base mixed with water.
- The mozzarella cheese can be substituted with white cheddar chunks.
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