Crispy fries piled high with beef and mixed vegetables, smothered in Guinness gravy and topped with cheese curds make for one awesome Shepherd’s Pie Poutine.
Can we just take a moment of silence to say goodbye to the recipes, for this year, for St. Patrick’s Day? I saved the best for last. This Shepherd’s Pie Poutine is errthing. If you look at my homepage right now, 3 out of the 4 photos have alcohol in them. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is. It was only right that I ended these themed recipes with Guinness. After all, it is the beer of choice in Ireland and a damn good one if you ask me!
Let me also say, I’ve never had poutine before I made this. I’ve always wanted to go somewhere so I could have delicious fries, smothered in gravy with ooey, gooey melty cheese curds on top but I’ve never had the chance. The next best option, make it yourself. And that is just what I did.
When I start thinking of recipes, I always start with the twist. Like these Arnold Palmer Cheesecake bars. I want to make lemon cheesecake bars, but how could I elevate them to the next level? For some reason, I always think this way. I should also realize that not all people what to “kick it up a notch” and should just do the basics but I’m a really complicated girl so it only makes sense for me to spin a dish from its original.
For this Shepherd’s Pie Poutine, I started with the Guinness gravy. I didn’t want to make mashed potatoes with Guinness gravy and although I thought about making Irish Nachos, it’s already been done before. I also try to steer clear of what’s already been done so I can make my own mark in this vast food blogging World.
What’s better than nachos? Fries. Fries smothered in gravy, beer gravy. And what do you call fries with gravy? Poutine. It’s a Canadian dish that originated in Quebec. Now there are a ton of versions of poutine, I mean it’s just fries, gravy and cheese curds so you could spin it a thousand ways and never get tired of it.
So I started with the classics of shepherd’s pie. Mixed vegetables, beef (or you could use lamb, which is traditional of Shepherd’s pie; beef is when you make Cottage pie) and a few sauces and seasonings to bring the flavors to life. I crisped the fries in the oven until golden brown and then got to work on the Guinness Gravy. This gravy is your typical brown gravy but I swapped in some Guinness for the beef stock. Easy peasy. This entire meal was ready in time it took to cook the fries.
Can I just say, it’s sometimes so hard being a food blogger? As I was making the dish, plating it, styling it (I’m terrible at this), I was starving. Every time I lifted that fork to take a “fork shot” I wanted to shove that fork right into my mouth but then I’d leave a gaping hole. THEN, when I was all finished and happy with my pictures, I dove in face first. And did.not.stop.
You guys, I’m suppose to be on a “lifestyle change” here. What in the hell have I just done? Not only didn’t I make Shepherd’s Pie Poutine last weekend, I also made Baileys Mint chocolate chip dip AND Chocolate Guinness Mini Cakes with Baileys Buttercream. The gym is going to see my butt March 19th! (No, not on the 19th, who goes to the gym on a Sunday?! Oh, dedicated people that’s who…yeah I’m not there yet.) I’m still in the corner eating the last bites of lightened up cheesy tuna noodle casserole in hopes that it’ll cancel the St. Patrick’s Day belly I’ve formed. ?
Shepherd's Pie Poutine
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 4 servings
Crispy fries piled high with the beef and mixed vegetables, smothered in Guinness gravy and topped with cheese curds make for one delicious Shepherd's Pie Poutine.
Ingredients
- 24 ounces french fries, cooked according to package directions
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil.
- 1 cup onions, diced
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn)
- 1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Guinness Gravy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1/2 cup Guinness Stout
- 1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 5 ounces cheese curds, I used white cheddar
Instructions
- In a medium pan, cook beef until browned and drain. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, add in oil and when hot, stir in onion and mixed vegetables. Saute until tender.
- Place beef back into the pan and add worchestershire and season with salt and pepper.
- Guinness Gravy
- Heat a medium stockpot over medium high heat and add butter. When melted stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in beef stock and Guinness, whisking constantly.
- Add in Worcestershire sauce, dijon, ketchup, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until thickened about 5 minutes.
To assemble
Place your fries onto a plate, top with beef/veggie mixture, gravy and some cheese curds. Repeat the layers so every fry is smothered in everything.
Courses Breakfast
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 4 servings
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 537 | ||
% Daily Value | ||
Total Fat 23 g | 35% | |
Saturated Fat 12 g | 60% | |
Cholesterol 88 mg | 29% | |
Sodium 435 mg | 18% | |
Total Carbohydrates 49 g | 16% | |
Dietary Fiber 3 g | 12% | |
Sugars 6 g | ||
Protein 27 g | 54% | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Talk about this Shepherd’s Pie Poutine being the best comfort food ever. It’s cheesy, rich, meaty and crispy and down right amazing! You’ve got to try this dish! May require a fork and self-control! But that gravy? They’ll be extra so save that for extra fry dipping, mashed potatoes or some corned beef hash, with a fried egg on top! YUM!
still hungry for more?
follow me on facebook, pinterest and instagram for more deliciousness!
pin this recipe on pinterest!
subscribe! sign up for easy + delicious recipes delivered weekly-straight to your inbox!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
This is such a creative mashup of classic recipes! Beautiful photos, too!
Hanady @ Recipe Nomad says
You are ridiculously awesome! These fries look so good! I love shepherds pie. I love curds. I love fries! I love this!! Yummy!
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says
I’ve always thought I wanted to try poutine since it sounded like everything I love. I mean fries covered in gravy..What’s not to love. This is such a great recipe and you have now inspired me to try it 🙂
Reesa Lewandowski says
This is genius!!! Here in NJ we call these disco fries, But boy oh boy do I love poutine!!! This is a great idea for leftovers too!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
I’ve never had this combination before but it certainly sounds delicious. And yes, I can imagine how difficult it was not to keep doing a quality control check with the dish. I guess the saying should be don’t go to the grocery store hungry or take food photo shots.
Veena Azmanov says
This is so creative – I must admit I have never had a Guinness Gravy before so this would be so interesting.
Anya says
Such a genius way to enjoy Shepherd’s Pie. Any kid will eat those peas and carrots when they’re smothered in that yummy gravy.
Meg | Meg is Well says
This looks so amazing! You definitely saved the best for last. I still haven’t made poutine but it’s been on my radar for a while because a lot of bloggers have been doing so many yummy versions of it. I grew up with a fondness for fries smothered in white peppered gravy from the Southern side of my family so I’m sure I would love it A LOT. And I know exactly what you mean! I have a lot of shots with the fork and food going towards the camera that look stylish but are actually me taking pictures as I eat ?
Kim says
I am Canadian. I live in the states now. Traditional poutine doesn’t even have beef gravy, but poutine sauce. A super good one is at burger King (weird and shocking I know) and there’s is actually vegetarian. Anyway, I needed to say one thing:
Fries
Cheese curds
THEN
Gravy/sauce. You want the cheese to melt under that hot gravy.
Other than that (oh and the peas and carrots and the beer in the gravy) this looks good. I may try it sometime.
Dang. One last thing. Shepherds pie is made with lamb. Cottage pie with beef. NOW I’m done.
Happy St. Pat’s day. ?
Megan Marlowe says
Thanks so much for the info! This is just my take on a poutine. I did state shepherds pie is lamb and cottage pie is with beef in my post. ?
Srivalli Jetti says
Never made a Pie Poutine myself, however with all that assembled components, it looks such a crowd pleaser…very sinful!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Now this sounds like a very interesting poutine variation. I happen to love shepherds pie. The flavour combination sounds amazing and would make any poutine foodie happy.
Byron Thomas says
I have no idea what to say about this beautiful creation! You have completely blown regular poutine out of the water for me – and that’s a lot coming from a Canadian. You know how much us Canadian’s love our poutine??? LOL. Can’t wait to try this!
Megan Marlowe says
Lol! Aw, thanks Byron! Coming from you, that’s a huge compliment! Thank you! ?
Christine McMichael says
Oh, yum! This Shepherd’s Pie looks HEAVENLY. So beautiful and delicious! Pinning to make very soon. Sounds like the best comfort food ever!
swathi says
Anything with french fries is my weakness, I agree with food styling is difficult part because after every styling amount of food int he bowl decreases. I will try this recipe as soon as I buy Guniness. because I need to find another recipe to finish Guniess I don’t like to drink it but love it when I make any dish with it.
Natalie says
Heheh I’ve learned – never EVER do photo shooting on a empty stomach. You may end up eating your food before photo shooting is done heheh This pie looks amazing Megan. Guinness gravy sounds dreamy. My hubby will go nuts about this one 😀
Daniela anderson says
This is what l call comfort food, a fantastic combination of flavours. LOVE the fries with gravy, l could eat the whole thing up
Jennifer A Stewart says
I loved each and every one of those St. Patrick’s Day recipes! Poutine is something that I have always been a fan of because fries ARE better than chips any day! Not a big ketchup fan so that gravy is the best kind of dipping sauce around!
Monika Dabrowski says
I haven’t had proper poutine ever since I left Canada about 20 years ago (!) Yours looks super tasty!