Happy Sunday guys!
If a vegan came to Canada what would they eat? Vegan poutine of course! And it would have to be made with locally grown sweet potatoes and topped with vegan "cheese curds" and gravy. A healthy vegan take on the Classic Canadian dish.
Poutine is actually Canada's national dish and originated in Quebec in 1957. The dish was initially rejected by the province’s upper class, and according to the merriam-webster's dictionary the word "poutine" comes from Quebecquois French slang for "a mess." Today poutine has become a trend all across Canada and around the world. So of course this would have to the the first thing a Vegan visiting our country would eat.
I made the vegan "cheese curds" with chickpeas which can be grown in various places throughout Canada. And I added some lemon juice, for more of a cheese flavour. Lemons can be grown here though it's not common. Then the gravy consists mainly of vegan "butter," onions, garlic and soy sauce, which can all be grown and found in Canada. And of course sweet potatoes are grown here as well.
Health benefits of sweet potatoes
The reason I used sweet potatoes here instead of regular potatoes was just a personal preference (and that's what I had in my pantry), but you could definitely opt for white potatoes here as well.
Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin C, which assists the body with digestion and healing, and helps protect against toxins, prevents aging and contributes to a strong immune system.
Health benefits of chickpeas
Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are packed with protein. They also assist with weight loss, because due to their high protein they increase that feeling of being full, which prevents the need for further eating. Chickpeas are a complex carb, which means that they break down slowly in the body. Unlike simple carbs like pasta, processed flour, and white bread, which break down very quickly in the body, creating a spike of energy and then a crash. Therefore chickpeas are a much healthier form of carbohydrate.
Here’s how I did it
Ingredients
For the fries
2 large organic sweet potatoes
1/3 cup organic avocado oil
sea salt and ground pepper to taste
For the vegan “cheese”
2 tbsp organic avocado oil
1 can organic chickpeas (398 ml)
1 lemon juiced
1/4 tsp sea salt
For the vegan gravy
1 onion minced
5 garlic cloves minced
1/2 cup vegan butter (I recommend Earth Balance)
1/3 cup organic flour
1.5 cups water
2 tbsp organic soy sauce
This recipe serves 3 large plates with approximately 590 calories per plate.
Directions
Cut your sweet potatoes into fries cover them in avocado oil and salt and pepper. Then bake them at 350 F for 10 minutes. Take them out, flip them, and add more salt and pepper to taste. Then bake again for 10 minutes or until they're crispy and have just started to brown slightly.
Then take a frying pan and place 2 tbsp of avocado oil, your chickpeas and their liquid and your lemon juice in the pan. Cook on medium heat for 5 - 10 minutes. Then mash your chicpeas in a large bowl.
Next in a saucepan on medium heat combine your butter, garlic, and onion. And cook for 1 - 2 minutes until the onions and garlic are golden brown. Then add your flour in gradually (so as to prevent lumps). Next add your soy sauce and water, and stir continually in the saucepan until well combined.
Then plate your fries, "cheese curds" and gravy on top, eh voila! Vegan Canadian Poutine.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe and feel inspired to make it at home. And if you do, I'd love your feedback.
Much love,
Natasha