Check out all of our wonderful Sweet Potato Recipes here!
There are nights when the kitchen feels like a battlefield and the idea of cooking anything at all feels impossible. A few weeks ago I hit one of those funks. With kids at home, skipping a meal wasn’t an option for several reasons:
- My children don’t skip meals or snacks without dramatic protest. Miss a meal and you’ll hear about it.
- I’m an easy target for maternal guilt. My pediatrician has always worried my kids were underweight, so I’ve been conditioned to make sure they’re well fed.
- I’m simply hungry. I need at least a couple of solid meals a day or I get cranky, so even on lazy days something has to be on the table.
Even when I’m tempted to take the easy route, living far from town means takeout isn’t really an option beyond a basic sub or mediocre pizza. Frugality also nags at me — for the price of one sub I can usually make several sandwiches and still have chips to spare. So I rely on a well-stocked pantry and freezer to bail me out on those nights when inspiration is missing.
This time I pulled a bag of homemade chorizo from the freezer (a reliable savior) and let it thaw just enough in the microwave. I scanned the pantry and felt a moment of defeat. Then I muttered, “I wish I had poutine.” I didn’t have the time or energy to make classic poutine from scratch with fresh fries, gravy, and cheese curds, but a quick riff was doable.
I crumbled the chorizo into a hot skillet and began browning it until it developed crispy, deeply browned bits. While the chorizo cooked I baked a bag of good frozen sweet potato fries on a sheet pan. From the pantry I grabbed a jar of my favorite smoky salsa and from the fridge a block of queso blanco.
When the fries came out of the oven, I piled them onto a plate and heaped on plenty of crispy chorizo and crumbled queso blanco. A few dollops of salsa and a scattering of chopped cilantro finished the dish. It was warm, comforting, and completely satisfying — proof that a little laziness and pantry creativity can produce a delicious meal.
And please, don’t tell my kids I admit that.
Mexican Poutine | Sweet Potato Fries with Chorizo and Queso Fresco
Rebecca Lindamood
Pin Recipe
Share on Facebook
Ingredients
-
1
bag
frozen good quality sweet potato fries
or a large batch Homemade Guaranteed Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries -
1
pound
chorizo
preferably homemade -
1/2 to 3/4
cup
crumbled Queso Fresco or Queso Blanco
or shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack if you prefer - Optional: salsa and chopped cilantro, to taste
Instructions
-
Bake the frozen sweet potato fries according to the package directions. While they bake, crumble the chorizo into a hot skillet set to medium or medium-high heat.
Cook the chorizo, stirring and breaking it up with a spoon, until it’s fully cooked and has developed some deep brown, crispy bits.
As soon as the fries are done, use tongs to transfer them to a serving plate. Spoon the hot chorizo over the fries (use a slotted spoon if the chorizo is greasy), then scatter the crumbled cheese over the top. Add salsa and cilantro if desired, and serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate nutrition using the exact ingredients you use and your preferred nutrition calculator.
did you make this recipe?
Tag @foodiewithfam on Instagram and use the hashtag #foodiewithfamily so I can see your creations!
Pin Recipe
Share on Facebook