Is Poutine Vegetarian? (Gravy & Cheese Curds)

Poutine is fries, cheese curds and gravy, and the gravy is where the meat hides. Even a poutine with no visible meat is usually not vegetarian. Here is how to order a plant-based version.

Key Takeaways

• Poutine is usually not vegetarian: the gravy is typically beef- or chicken-based.
• The fries are vegan, and the cheese curds are dairy.
• A vegetarian poutine needs vegetable or mushroom gravy.
• A vegan poutine also needs plant-based cheese.

TL;DR: Poutine is usually not vegetarian: the fries are fine, but the gravy is typically beef- or chicken-based and it’s topped with cheese curds. Vegetarian (veg gravy) and vegan (plant cheese) poutine exist.

What’s in poutine

• Fries: vegan.
• Cheese curds: dairy (vegetarian, not vegan).
• Gravy: the classic poutine gravy is meat-based (beef or chicken stock).

So even the “no meat” poutine still has cheese curds and usually meat gravy.

How to order vegetarian or vegan

• Vegetarian: ask for vegetable or mushroom gravy (cheese curds stay).
• Vegan: vegetable gravy and plant-based cheese.

Many Canadian restaurants and vegan spots make a fully plant-based poutine.

The bottom line

• Vegetarian? Only with vegetable gravy.
• Vegan? Vegetable gravy + plant cheese.

See our Poutine dish guide for the full breakdown.

Check before you eat. The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more). Download on the App Store - Android is coming soon.

Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.

Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Recipes and preparations vary by restaurant, region and cook, so always confirm with the restaurant, brand or vendor.