FOOD NEWS
The Ingredient That Makes The Perfect Poutine
By Ashley Delmar
First invented in 1950s Quebec, poutine just might be the most delicious invention given to the world by Canada. Given the relative swift rise of poutine in the culinary world, it is not surprising that there have been many imitations made, but none of them can compare to the original Canadian dish, which features one crucial ingredient for the perfect poutine.
According to Canadian food blogger Seasons and Suppers, the secret lies in the unique variety of cheese found in the dish. Cheese curds — or squeaky cheese, as they are sometimes known — are small nuggets of goodness produced from the liquidy whey of cooked milk and stacked and salted to press out moisture.
This process lends to the unique taste and texture — as well as the signature salty and savory flavor that people love about poutine. Cheese curds are essential to the recipe and hard-to-replicate, but if you can’t find them at your supermarket, users on the r/cooking subreddit suggest halloumi as the closest substitute.