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A healthy breakfast take on the iconic Canadian poutine. This breakfast poutine features crispy baked potatoes topped with protein-rich tofu curds.
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I may eat yesterday’s leftovers for dinner. But when it comes to breakfast, I take my time to prepare something filling and appetizing to start off the day. This breakfast poutine is a delicious way to have a savory and filling breakfast…with a plant based twist.
Table of Contents
What is poutine?
Poutine is a Canadian dish consisting of fries, cheese curds, and gravy. While these are the three main components of poutine, there are no restrictions when it comes to add-ons. You can top your poutine with anything you like, including veggies, various sauces, meat, etc.
Here are some reasons why you’ll love this recipe:
- Crispy poutine without all the fat. Instead of frying the potatoes in heaps of oil, this recipe tells you to bake them. The potatoes turn out crispy without all the unhealthy fats and unwanted calories.
- Vegan. Cheese curds are the main ingredient in traditional poutine. For this recipe, we have swapped it for tofu. Tofu curds have a similar texture to cheese curds and are equally as delicious.
- A hearty breakfast. The potatoes in this breakfast poutine will give you a boost of energy to start your day, while the protein in the tofu ‘curds’ will keep you full for a good few hours.
Ingredients needed
If you have decided to start your day with the vegan version of breakfast poutine, here are the ingredients you need to gather.
- Potatoes. Choose white flesh potatoes as they work better for baking. As these potatoes are low in moisture and have a floury flesh, they yield crispier results when baked.
- Mixed herbs. You can use a pre-mixed mixture of dried herbs or come up with your own mix using the herbs you like. Almost all herbs pair nicely with potatoes, including oregano, rosemary, thyme, and dill.
- Flour. Use any flour you have at hand.
- Olive oil. To make the flavor of the spices and herbs better penetrate the potatoes.
- Sea salt. Add to taste.
- Cayenne pepper (optional). Add it if you don’t mind some heat for breakfast.
For the ‘cheese curds’:
- Tofu. Use firm tofu for this recipe.
- Nutritional yeast. To make the tofu curds taste like the real thing.
- Turmeric. To give the tofu an earthy flavor and an appealing golden hue.
- Sea salt. Add to taste.
How to make breakfast poutine
Because the potatoes for this poutine recipe are baked and not fried, making this breakfast poutine is much less of a hustle. Here’s how it goes.
Step 1- Prep the potatoes. Chop the potatoes into quarters and mix them with olive oil. Once the potatoes are covered in olive oil, add flour, dried herbs, salt and pepper to your mixing bowl.
Step 2- Bake the potatoes. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Flip the potatoes halfway through the cooking time so that they are nice and crispy on all sides.
Step 3- Prepare the ‘cheese curds’. Add the crumbled tofu to a mixing bowl along with nutritional yeast and turmeric. Season with salt and set aside. After a few minutes, add the tofu to a heated frying pan and cook it on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4- Combine and serve. Arrange the cooked potatoes in the bowl you plan to serve them in. Divide the tofu curds into portions and add them to the potatoes. You can also add gravy to your bowls for the ultimate poutine experience.
Recipe tips and variations
- The potatoes must be crispy. Whether you are making a traditional poutine or a healthy one, you should cook the potatoes to crispy perfection. When baking in the oven, make sure the potatoes are properly dried and don’t overlap when arranged on the baking tray.
- Don’t skip the gravy. You may be tempted to skip the gravy to avoid extra calories, but it is really what makes a poutine a poutine. Aside from adding flavor and juiciness, the gravy also keeps the potatoes nice and warm.
- Use hollandaise sauce. If you are not vegan but a beef broth gravy feels too heavy for you to have for breakfast, add hollandaise sauce over your poutine.
- Use different toppings. Fried eggs, bacon bits, pickled jalapenos, and black beans are all fab additions.
Storage instructions
To store. It is best to store the potatoes and the tofu curds separately. Transfer them into an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
To reheat. Transfer the leftover poutine to an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake at 300 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Another great way to reheat poutine is to use the air fryer.
More savory breakfast recipes to try
Frequently asked questions
You can use gravy that meets your preferences and diet needs. The gravy for classic Canadian poutine is made of either beef or chicken stock.
You can serve poutine with a bowl of green salad, freshly baked dinner rolls, and your favorite sauces.
Breakfast Poutine
Ingredients
- 2 pounds potatoes chopped into quarters
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Spray a large baking tray with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the potatoes with the olive oil and mix until well combined. Add the dry ingredients and mix until the potatoes are completely coated in it. Place on the greased baking tray and bake for 30-35 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- While the potatoes are baking, start prepping your ‘cheese curds’. In a mixing bowl, add your crumbled tofu, nutritional yeast and turmeric and mix well. Add sea salt to taste and set aside. Heat a large grill/frying pan lightly with oil and heat on medium. Once hot, add the tofu and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked. Once it is done, set aside to allow to cool.
- Once potatoes are cooked, divide evenly amongst 4 bowls and divide the tofu mixture evenly between them. Add 1/4 cup gravy to each bowl, top with mixed herbs and extra sea salt and enjoy!
Alright alright alright. I can deal with this veganism for breakfast if it involves poutine. You genius, you. Let’s go to Montreal one day!!
YES! However, we shall be eating the real deal! 😀
OMFG this recipe is right down my alley: potatos, tofu, and NUTRI YEAST. I forgot about that delicious little ingredient!!
YES! Hope you try it out, Jess! 🙂
I am about to travel to Vancouver. Will definitely try finding some good poutine….yet, I love this recipe especially nutritional yeast – I used to order it for a ridiculous horrendous Price from the US. I guess I am not Healthy Living Blogger enough anymore to do this, but I miss it.
WHAT!!!!!!! You better eat some and then pour the gravy on your head!
oh my gosh I totally have day slike that, snack, leftovers, more snacking, I need to break the habit of snacking during a photo shoot!
Right? The perks of it all!
Savory? WHOOOOO ARE YOU?? It’s ok, I’m still your friend.
Haha, I know. I hang my head in shame.
I LOVE YOU. Poutine is one of my favourite foods ever. The best poutine I’ve ever had was in Paris, at the Great Canadian Pub. I love Dip and Flip but agree that their poutine is less than stellar.
Right? Dip and flip had amazing roast beef rolls but that took over the poutine!
Oh my goodness, I’m so excited about this! First, I only discovered in the last few months that I actually do love savory breakfasts. Second, even though I hate gravy in any other context, I love poutine. This is so creative!
Thanks so much, Ellen- Hope you try it out!
Poutine is great! (so speaks a Canadian)!
The secret is the cheese curds, fresh not frozen fries, a good tasting and piping hot gravy.
The cheese curds need to be large. Here you can get them usually at dairies or at farmers’ markets. (At least where I live).
Fresh fries are always the best, I find frozen ones taste like cardboard.
If gravy has a flat taste, then you’ve lost it. Make sure it has lots of umani. Also it needs to be piping hot to melt the curds and make them softer.
Poutine gravy can also be found in a can, and might be able to give you and idea of what is in it. I don’t like canned things.
If you are able to make the poutine from scratch, you will love it.
Arman: The best place in Canada for Poutine if Quebec. It originated there, and they keep pretty true to form.
Thanks so much for letting me know, Charlie- Quebec has been on my bucket list for such a long time!!!
Oh yes- SEARING hot gravy over these! 🙂
Love the idea of using tofu as cheese curds- pinning this one for sure! You always have the most creative (and delicious breakfast recipes!
🙂 Thanks so much, Jess!
Yum! This looks great—I love when you do savory recipes : )
🙂 Thanks, Jess- I’ll need to slowly include more!
OOH I have never had breakfast poutine, but I’ve heard rave reviews about it. It doesn’t sound like something my stomach could handle all the time, but I think this one is something my stomach could handle! 😀 And it just looks delicious all around. I think I love baked crispy potatoes more than regular fries.
Are you back in the US Arman? I need to read the blog more often, but I confess I haven’t. :'(
That’s okay! You should never feel forced to read my blog 🙂 Whenever you like!
I am based between New York and Australia so travel between both.
The cheese curd combination is right up my alley, with tofu and nutritional yeast! Love adding the breakfast potatoes as well. I’m more of a sweeter breakfast gal, EXCEPT after a long run. Then it’s savory all the way 🙂
The best of both worlds- Hope you enjoy this after your next long run!
When I work early, I usually do a breakfast burrito as my first meal. I put hashbrowns and cheese inside it, so basically poutine hahaha. I gotta make gravy, it’s so good!
You’ve got me craving a breakfast burrito now! 😀
Hm interesting. I’ve heard of poutine, but couldn’t tell you what it was and have never tried it before. haha. This looks interesting haha. It’s strange though the whole sweet and savory..if I am making it myself..sweet 100% (with likely a savory breakfast later haha..I eat it multiple times a day) but if I am going out for breakfast its pretty much 100% savory. Strange. Who knows lol
I think you’d enjoy it, it’s really yummy!
I was in Vancouver last week and had a veggie omelette from Cora’s restaurant every day. =) Cora’s breakfast is so yummy! Otherwise, I usually go for sweet breakfasts. Being Canadian, I’ve had poutine many, many times. If you’re ever back in Canada, you have to get some Canadian poutine! The best poutine usually comes from the random chip stands/food trucks that you see on the side of the road. Fast food poutine (New York Fries, Harvey’s, McDonald’s) doesn’t even come close to how amazing chip stand/food truck poutine is. Hopefully you’ll get to try some soon! I’m excited to try your healthy version of poutine!
YES!!!!!! I did try it once from a Food truck in Toronto- SO GOOD (and then once again at 3am….shhh).
Awww, I was really hoping to see Vegemite in the list of ingredients on this one! Haha. Given that we live fairly close to Canada, we occasionally see poutine down here. We did try poutine in Canada a couple of years ago, and I remember it being good but not great. I didn’t understand the craze. But what a unique twist using tofu here! Well done, eh!
I think its totally the novelty of it- Nothing TOO special, but something to tick off a stereotypical foodie bucket list!
This is BRILLIANT. I love scrambled tofu, and often serve them with potatoes, but never in this way and never with gravy!!!
You’d love this- although I would totally faceplant basic poutine too 😀
I am ALLLL about the savory breakfast so I can’t wait to try this. Looks amazing! 😀
Thanks so much, Amanda- Enjoy!
I don’t remember the last time I had a savory breakfast but this poutine is making me rethink my breakfast choices. I would only go the savory route for this!
😀 You are the best!
I’ve never had putine, but I am absolutely intrigued by this! I can never say no to a bowl of crispy and salty potatoes.
These are so good- Enjoy, Megan!
Yassss for savory! Haha you know me well. I’ve been living off turkey sausage, egg, and cheese English muffins this week and it’s amazing. I have never tried the whole milk cottage cheese, but I am totally going out to buy some now.
Haha, I wrote that out and was like..WAIT. There is one person who leaves me craving savory. Except your cereal and milk phase but we shall gloss over that.
I’m not a fan of poutine or gravy at all, but you have me intrigued because of the tofu. I love putting crumbled tofu in my pasta sauce because it gets all melty and reminds me of cheese, so I’m positive I’m gonna love it here (even if I skip the gravy lol)
You’ll love this! 🙂 Thanks, Giselle!
This is such a creative way to make cheese curds! I’ve never had poutine, but in definitely intrigued by the combination of flavors. I could use more savory breakfasts!
YES! Hope you try it out, Kate!
I used to live savory to stay the day- eggs, cheese, vegetables, etc. Now I’m more info sweet, but I did start of my day last Friday wih a runnyegg!
oooo what a delicious start!