Fast food cheese fries can vary in shape and toppings, but all include hash browns and cheese. Different regions have their own variations, such as the French-Canadian Poutine. Cheese sauce can also be used, and toppings depend on cultural traditions. Sliced green onions and jalapenos are popular additions.
Fast food cheese fries can refer to any number of variations of the same two basic ingredients. All of the different takes on the dish include hash browns and cheese, but the shapes and additions can vary greatly. The cheese used to garnish hash browns can be crumbled, grated, or with American, Swiss, cheddar, or other variety gravy. The chips can be homemade or the frozen commercial type and cut into any number of thicknesses and textures. Cooked bacon, beans, chili, ranch dressing, and salsa are popular toppings paired with cheese, but the additions chosen will depend primarily on a geographic area’s culture and/or traditions.
The basic French version of cheese fries is Routine, which is made with cheddar cheese curds and pepper beef gravy. The gravy mixes with the ricotta to form a messy but delicious gravy on hot french fries. Poutine has several variations, but gravy and ricotta are staples in the dish, which is particularly associated with Montreal, Canada.
In some versions of this dish, a cheese sauce may be used rather than crumbled or grated cheeses. It starts with a béchamel sauce, or French roux, which is made by melting the butter and mixing in the flour before adding the milk. The milk should be cooked on the lowest heat so as not to curl it. When the sauce is thick and smooth, it can be removed from the heat and grated or crumbled cheese can be added. Some cooks making a dip for cheese fries like to add a little tomato sauce, while others prefer it as is or to drizzle with bacon, beans, chili, or ranch-style dressing when serving.
The fries for any version of the dish are usually prepared as usual and ready to serve hot. Some cooks like to add cheese and place the dish under the broiler for a few minutes. Cooks rarely add any vegetables since cheese fries are a fast food dish, but sliced green onions are popular for adding flavor and color. In areas where Mexican foods are popular, cooks can add some spice to the dish by sprinkling on chopped jalapeno peppers. A popular Italian-themed take on this dish is the use of pizza sauce and mozzarella.
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