Best 5 Traditional French Canadian Tourtiere Recipes
Pork pie, famously known as tourtière, is a delectable dish deeply rooted in the culinary heritage of French Canadians. With its origins tracing back to the early settlers of New France, tourtière has become a quintessential holiday staple, particularly during Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations. This savory meat pie boasts a flaky, golden-brown crust that encases a hearty filling of ground pork, beef, and veal, along with a medley of aromatic spices and flavorful seasonings. The traditional recipe often incorporates potatoes, which add a delightful textural contrast to the rich, succulent meat filling.
Variations of tourtière abound, reflecting the diverse cultural influences that have shaped French Canadian cuisine. Some variations feature a combination of meats, such as pork and venison, while others incorporate wild game, such as rabbit or partridge. The choice of spices and seasonings also varies, with some recipes emphasizing the warmth of cinnamon and cloves, while others highlight the savory notes of garlic and thyme. No matter the variations, tourtière remains a beloved dish that embodies the spirit of French Canadian tradition and culinary expertise.
This article presents a collection of traditional French Canadian tourtière recipes, each offering unique interpretations of this iconic dish. From the classic pork pie recipe passed down through generations to variations that showcase the diverse flavors of the region, these recipes provide a culinary journey through the heart of French Canadian cuisine. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a novice in the kitchen, these recipes will guide you in creating a delicious and authentic tourtière that will impress your family and friends.
FRENCH CANADIAN TOURTIERE
Traditional French Canadian Tourtiere (meat pie), served on Reveillon (Christmas Eve).
Provided by Rayna Jordan
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork Ground Pork Recipes
Time 2h
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a saucepan, combine pork, beef, onion, garlic, water, salt, thyme, sage, black pepper and cloves. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils; stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer until meat is cooked, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Spoon the meat mixture into the pie crust. Place top crust on top of pie and pinch edges to seal. Cut slits in top crust so steam can escape. Cover edges of pie with strips of aluminum foil.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes; remove foil and return to oven. Bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 404.6 calories, Carbohydrate 22.1 g, Cholesterol 55.3 mg, Fat 26.6 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 18.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.1 g, Sodium 748.9 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
TRADITIONAL FRENCH CANADIAN TOURTIERE
Originally from my grandma's recipe box, the secret of this delectable Christmas treasure is found in the ground cloves and chicken seasoning. We've always made our tourtieres en grand (in large quantity), as they freeze great making them a terrific quick fix throughout the busy holiday season!
Provided by kathleen
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork Ground Pork Recipes
Time 1h45m
Yield 64
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- In a large pot, mix the pork, beef, onion, and water. Season with salt, pepper, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and chicken seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes.
- Drain liquid from pot into a bowl. Transfer remaining meat mixture to a separate bowl and chill until ready to use. Place bowl with liquid in the refrigerator and chill 1 hour, or until fat has congealed on the surface.
- Scrape and discard fat from the chilled liquid. Spoon the meat mixture into pie crusts. Add 1 tablespoon of reserved liquid to each pie. (This prevents them from becoming to dry.) Place top crust on top of each pie and pinch edges to seal. Cut slits in top crust so steam can escape.
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 50 minutes. Serve immediately or freeze until ready to use.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 467.6 calories, Carbohydrate 23.1 g, Cholesterol 71.3 mg, Fat 31 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 22.7 g, SaturatedFat 9.7 g, Sodium 588.2 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
TOURTIERE DU QUEBEC (FRENCH-CANADIAN MEAT PIE)
I grew in Quebec and always looked forward to Christmas to be able to eat meat pies. When I married & moved to the US, I took the recipe with me, no way I can spend Christmas without the smell of cooking meat pies. Luckily for me, hubby & kids are hooked. I've been making this recipe for years, delicious.
Provided by French Canadian Chef
Categories Savory Pies
Time 1h35m
Yield 1 pie, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Place all the ingredients (except for pie shell) in a sauce pan and bring to boil and cook uncovered for 20 minutes over medium heat.
- Cool the meat mixture and pour in pastry lined pan. Note: I like to cool mine in refrigerator over night if time permits.
- Cover with the top crust, cut steam vents and bake in a 400F oven until golden, about 45 minutes.
- Freeze well.
- Note: If ground pork and ground veal cannot be found, you can use meatloaf mix which is all 3 meat but I'm not sure of the ratio.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 751.4, Fat 47.5, SaturatedFat 14, Cholesterol 83.8, Sodium 859.7, Carbohydrate 52.4, Fiber 2.8, Sugar 1.3, Protein 27.5
FRENCH CANADIAN TOURTIERES
This recipe comes from my big sister. Each fall, we get together and make about 20 of these pies to use at Christmas, give as gifts or freeze for unexpected company. -Pat Menee, Carberry, Manitoba
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h55m
Yield 4 pies (8 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Coarsely chop celery, carrots and onions; place in a food processor with garlic. Cover and process until finely chopped; set aside., In a stockpot or two Dutch ovens, cook vegetables, pork, veal and sausage until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in broth, parsley and seasonings. Cover and cook over low heat 20 minutes. Stir in bread crumbs., Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll?half of dough into four 1/8-in.-thick?circles;?transfer to four 9-in. pie plates.?Trim?even with rims.??Add?about 4 cups filling to each crust.??Roll remaining dough into four 1/8-in.-thick circles. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in tops.?, Cover edges of pies loosely with foil. Bake 25 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 350°. Remove foil and bake pies until crusts are golden brown, 15-20 minutes longer. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked pies. To use, remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Preheat oven to 400°. Place pie on a baking sheet; cover edge loosely with foil. Bake 25 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°. Remove foil. Bake until crust is golden brown and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°, 50-60 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 469 calories, Fat 29g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 76mg cholesterol, Sodium 672mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 19g protein.
FRENCH CANADIAN TOURTIERE
There are almost as many recipes for this traditional French Canadian meat pie as there are French Canadians. I come by this one honestly as my father is of francophone heritage - his ancestors settled in Quebec back in the 1600s. Our family tradition is to serve this on Christmas Eve with beef gravy and petite pois (tiny sweet peas).
Provided by shopkeepervicki
Categories Savory Pies
Time 55m
Yield 1 pie, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, mix first 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil, simmer and stir until meat loses its pink colour.Continue to simmer 30 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in mashed potatoes. Cool at least two hours.
- Press filling in to uncooked pie shell.
- Place pastry on top of filling, crimp edges to seal. Top crust can be brushed with egg or milk before baking.
- Cut a hole in the centre, about the size of a dime.
- Bake at 425 F for 25-35 minutes.
- Allow to cool and set at least 20 minutes before serving with beef gravy and petite pois (tiny sweet peas). You can also bake only until top is slight browned and then freeze in advance of holidays or for a last-minute meal idea - reheat at 400 F for 15 minutes and then allow to sit for about 5 minutes before serving.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the tourtière will be.
- Make sure the meat is well-seasoned: The meat is the main flavor component of the tourtière, so it's important to season it well.
- Don't overcook the meat: Overcooked meat will be tough and dry.
- Use a good quality pastry: The pastry is the other important flavor component of the tourtière, so it's important to use a good quality one.
- Chill the pastry before rolling it out: This will help to prevent the pastry from shrinking too much in the oven.
- Bake the tourtière until the pastry is golden brown and the meat is cooked through: This will usually take about 1 hour.
Conclusion:
Tourtière is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. With a little planning, you can make a tourtière that everyone will love.
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