Are you looking for a new way to serve tater tots? This Tater Tot Poutine recipe borrows from the Quebecois classic dish of fried potatoes, served with gravy and cheese.
Whether you're a die-hard poutine fan or a curious foodie looking to try something new, this recipe will get you pretty close to the beloved Canadian comfort food.
The inspiration for this recipe came from our favorite local brew pub that serves a heaping portion that could easily feed two hungry adults (or one teenager) for dinner. The menu describes it as:
Tater Tots, White Cheddar, Duck Confit Gravy, Sunny-side Egg, Green Onion
I can already hear the traditionalists screaming. Duck Confit?! Sunny-side up Egg?! Where are the fries and cheese curds?
The restaurant takes a few more liberties with the classic dish than I do below. This version is a little closer to the original Canadian dish. But, you can make it the way you want including making your own duck confit gravy.
What is poutine?
Poutine originated in Quebec in the 1950's and is traditionally French fries, topped with a beef and chicken gravy and cheese curds.
There are oodles of online debates about the definitive poutine recipe. Does the gravy needs to be homemade or can be from a powdered mix? Is it all beef broth or a combination of beef and chicken? If you use a combination of broth, what ratio? What kind of fries to use?
Ingredients for Tater Tot Poutine
The ingredients for this version should be easy to find at most American and Canadian grocery stores:
- tater tots (or go traditional with thick cut French fries)
- unsalted butter
- all purpose flour
- beef stock
- chicken stock
- Worcestershire sauce
- white cheddar cheese (curds if you have them)
- green onions (optional - for garnish)
While crispy thick-cut fries are traditionally used for poutine, we love the added crunch and convenience of tater tots. Plus, you can fry or bake them to your liking.
And let's address the elephant in the room - cheese curds are nearly impossible to find in California grocery stores. So, I went with a mild white cheddar like the restaurant serves.
The Worcestershire sauce is there for the umami. It adds a depth of flavor to the gravy without overpowering it.
More Tater Tot Recipes from #OurFamilyTable
Tater Tots are a versatile potato treat that can be used in a variety of dishes:
Best Recipes with Tater Tots
- Baked Tater Tots from Magical Ingredients
- Taco Tot Casserole from Creative Cynchronicity
- Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole from Art of Natural Living
- Tater Tot Tatchos from Jen Around the World
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen tater tots (or thick-cut French fries)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- 12 ounces white cheddar cheese curds or mild white cheddar cheese (at room temperature and crumbled into bite sized pieces)
- chopped green onions (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook tater tots according to package directions.2 pounds frozen tater tots
- While fries are cooking, prepare gravy. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly golden, about 2 minutes.¼ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Gradually whisk in beef and chicken stocks. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until reduced to 2 cups, about 10 to 15 minutes.2 cups beef stock, 1 cup chicken stock, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper to tastesalt and pepper to taste
- Place tots in a shallow bowl or dish, top with cheese, and ladle on hot gravy. Sprinkle with green onions, if desired, and serve.12 ounces white cheddar cheese curds or mild white cheddar cheese, chopped green onions
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Until next time, happy eating!
~Audrey
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