My 6 Essential Ingredients for Poutine

Not to start off politically, but I am concerned about the current relationship between the United States and Canada right now. In addition to affecting my cost of living, it makes me really concerned about the possibility of having a wedding in Canada. Considering it is a few years away, I am hesitant about putting a deposit down, since I don't know what the relationship will look like by then.

That being said, I guess I will figure it out when I visit Canada for a wedding this summer. For now, I will have to try and focus on the moment and doing what I can at this point in time. Which is imagining what being in Canada will be like.

The one thing that comes to mind? Poutine. You might remember that last summer, I wasn't able to go to Canada as a result of the Crowd Strike situation. So instead, I tried to cheer my fiancé up by making a whole Canadian inspired menu. One of the recipes that stuck with me is the one I used for poutine, which I thought I would highlight again for National Poutine Day.

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Original Poutine Recipe: Queenslee Appetit

Since I'm not Canadian, I had to look up a recipe for poutine. It isn't something that I have had before, so I also cannot say to what scale that my recreation of it was accurate. I can say that I thought that it was delicious, and simple for a beginner like me to follow. And isn't that enough, if we're embracing the idea that anyone can cook?

Link: Authentic Canadian Poutine Recipe | Queenslee Appétit

1. Russett Potatoes

Normally, I don't keep Russett potatoes in my pantry, but I have made sure to keep them in stock ever since I tried this recipe. Following the Queenslee Appetit method, I can make fresh, crispy French fries any time I want now.

2. Corn Oil

Her recipe calls for vegetable oil, but I have found that the potatoes get crispier when I make them with corn oil. So that is why I note it as an essential ingredient, especially if you prefer a crunchier fry. Moreover, I feel a little healthier about it, because the bottle of my corn oil always advertises "Heart Healthy," which might be inaccurate, but I will delude myself just to claim it. How else am I going to justify eating all of the French fries that I want?

3. Seasoned Salt

Some people would say that pre-mixed seasonings really show the state of the economy, but I think premixed seasonings work for a reason. I am not the girl who wants only salt on my fries--and that is the nice part about having an already seasoned salt. Whether you don't want to think about it too much, or already know you want a garlic and herb flavor for your potatoes, there is probably a pre-existing blend somewhere. It just makes life easier, and time is a precious resource.

4. Gravy Packet

In the vein of keeping life easy, I have found that it is easier for me to use a gravy packet instead of going through the steps of the recipe to make the gravy. I also don't know if it has to do with how much taste testing that I do (okay, snacking), but I always end up with way more gravy and not enough fries. For quantity control, I have found using a gravy packet easier.

5. Beef Stock

This is an essential that I took away from the recipe. Instead of using water to cook my gravy packet, I use beef stock because it will give it more of a hearty flavor. This also then helps me in seasoning the gravy, because it will already have a good foundation for flavor.

6. Worchester Sauce

Another way of seasoning the gravy properly: Worchester sauce. I only use it for one other recipe, so I don't really need to restock it in my pantry very often. It also is a way of changing up the flavor palette I am serving up because of how unfamiliar I am with it. For poutine, I think it add just the right amount of robust flavor.

Surprised that cheese isn't on the essentials list? My family isn't really a big cheese family, so for us, it isn't an essential after we did it the first time. Plus, I could eat all the potatoes in this recipe alone and be content. Making poutine is just a way for us to change up the normal way we eat in this house. How else should we keep our lives interesting?