Ingredients
Method
FOR THE CHEESE
- Drain and rinse soaked almonds.
- Into a food processor combine all the cheese ingredients and process until the texture of a fine ricotta.
- The cheese will be quite thick, not runny.
FOR THE COCONUT BACON
- Preheat oven to 325'F
- In a small bowl combine all the ingredients except the coconut.
- Pour the smoky mixture over the coconut in another bowl. Toss to mix until the coconut soaks up most of the liquid.
- Turn the coconut out on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Spread it evenly around, trying to keep it to one layer.
- Sprinkle with salt, if desired.
- Bake at 325'F for about 15-25 minutes, stirring very well every 5 minutes.
- The bacon is done when it's bacon coloured. It quickly crisps up as it cools. Be very careful it doesn't burn, it goes from not quite done to burned to a crisp very quickly.
- Store in an airtight container. If it loses its crispiness, you can reheat it quickly in the oven to crisp it back up.
FOR THE GRAVY
- In a medium saucepan over medium, heat up the olive oil.
- Once hot, whisk in the flour to make a roux. Stir for 3 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the broth, whisking constantly to get rid of any flour lumps.
- Once all the broth is whisked in, cook for about 2 minutes.
- Stir the pepper, soya sauce.
- Add in the smoked paprika and maple syrup, just a little at a time - tasting as you add. You don't want the smokiness or the sweetness to be very pronounced.
- Continue cooking, whisking until the gravy thickens to the desired consistency.
ASSEMBLY
- Cook your french fries according to the package instructions.
- On plates or a platter, arrange your fries.
- Dollop teaspoons of the cheese all over the fries.
- Pour the gravy over the fries and cheese. The heat from the gravy and fries will soften the cheesy allowing its creaminess to spread throughout each bite.
- Crumble the coconut bacon over top.
- Marvel at the wonder of vegan maple bacon poutine and serve to your admiring guests!