In the realm of culinary delights, there exists a cherished dish that embodies the essence of French Canadian cuisine: the Tourtière or Meat Pie. This iconic pie has captivated the hearts and palates of many with its rich, flavorful filling, encased in a flaky, golden crust. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to explore new culinary horizons, embarking on a journey to discover the ultimate recipe for the beloved French Canadian Meat Pie is an adventure worth taking. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the secrets of crafting an exceptional pie, exploring various fillings, crust techniques, and essential tips to ensure success in the kitchen.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
FRENCH CANADIAN MEAT PIE
This hearty meat pie was traditionally served on Christmas Eve by mother's family in Quebec. The recipe has been passed down through at least four generations and has been translated from my grandmother's original recipe in French. -Diane Davies Indian Trial, North Carolina
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 45m
Yield 2 pies (6-8 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook the beef, pork, onion and celery over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Remove from the heat. Stir in the potatoes, broth and seasonings., Line two 9-in. pie plates with pastry. Divide meat mixture between crusts. Top with remaining pastry; trim, seal and flute edges. , Cut slits in top. Brush with milk if desired. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts :
TOURTIERE (FRENCH CANADIAN MEAT PIE)
This French Canadian meat pie is hearty, satisfying, and easy to make so it's a great choice for a holiday main course. Visually impressive, relatively affordable, and best served at room temperature, so a tourtiere doesn't require any kind of precise timing.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork Ground Pork Recipes
Time 2h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 28
Steps:
- Place flour, salt, and frozen butter slices into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until butter is about the size of peas, about 30 seconds. Stir vinegar into cold water; drizzle water/vinegar into the flour mixture. Pulse on and off until mixture is crumbly and holds together when you pinch a piece off, about 10 seconds. If dough isn't pressing together, drizzle in another teaspoon of water.
- Transfer mixture to a work surface. Press it together until it becomes a lump of dough. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
- Mix salt, pepper, thyme, sage, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mustard, clove, and cayenne together in a small bowl.
- Place potato quarters in a saucepan; cover with cold water. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat. Simmer until cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Scoop out potatoes and transfer to a bowl; save cooking liquid. Mash potatoes with a potato masher.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until onions turn golden, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Stir garlic, celery, and spice blend into the skillet with onions. Stir until onion mixture is evenly coated with the spices, about 30 seconds. Add ground beef and ground pork. Ladle about 3/4 cup of the potato cooking liquid into the skillet.
- Cook and stir until meat is browned and has a very fine, almost pastelike texture. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 45 minutes. Stir in mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Divide chilled dough into 2 pieces, one just slightly larger than the other. Roll the larger piece out into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured work surface. Place in a 9-inch deep dish pie plate. Roll top crust out into a circle about 11 inches in diameter. Cut small slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
- Fill bottom crust with the meat mixture; smooth out the surface. Whisk egg and water together to make egg wash. Brush edges of the bottom crust with egg wash. Place top crust on the pie and press lightly around the edges to seal. Trim excess dough from the crust. Crimp the edges of the crust. Brush entire surface of the pie with egg wash.
- Place in preheated oven. Bake until well browned, about 1 hour. Let cool to almost room temperature before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 663 calories, Carbohydrate 47.3 g, Cholesterol 159.2 mg, Fat 40.5 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 26.9 g, SaturatedFat 21.4 g, Sodium 1074 mg, Sugar 1.5 g
TOURTIèRE: A FRENCH-CANADIAN MEAT PIE RECIPE
Tourtière, also known as pork pie or meat pie, is a combination of ground meat, onions, spices, and herbs baked in a traditional piecrust.
Provided by Grow a Good Life
Categories Main Course
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Cut in butter or lard until mixture is a rough crumbly texture.
- Add ice water one tablespoon at a time and mix just until the dough comes together.
- Shape the dough into a ball, flatten, wrap, and chill in the refrigerator. While pastry is chilling, prepare the filling.
- Peel and cut potatoes into 2-inch chunks, add them to a medium saucepan, and fill with water until it covers the potatoes by 2-inches.
- Bring the saucepan to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-high and boil until the potatoes are until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Reserve 1/2-cup of potato water and drain the rest. Mash potatoes and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add olive oil, onions, and garlic, and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and pork and cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off excess fat.
- Add the poultry seasoning, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and reserved potato water. Mix well and simmer for about 10 minutes until the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove the skillet from the heat, stir in mashed potatoes, and set the filling aside to cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C
- On a lightly floured surface, divide dough in half and flatten one ball of dough with your hands. Roll dough to about 12-inches in diameter to fit a 9-inch pie pan.
- Place the pastry into the pie plate and add the meat filling. Brush around the outer edge of the pastry with the beaten egg.
- Roll out the top pastry and place on top of the filling. Fold the top crust under the bottom crust and pinch or flute the edges. Brush with egg wash and cut vent holes.
- Bake the pie in a preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
- Remove the tourtière from oven and let it cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Yield: Makes 1 pie, about 8 servings.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 520 kcal, ServingSize 1 serving
FAVORITE FRENCH CANADIAN MEAT PIE
I'm a seventh-generation French Canadian, and my ancestors started the tradition of serving this meat pie on Christmas Eve. One year I didn't make it, and my daughter and I felt something was missing. The savory pie goes well with salad and fresh rolls for a lighter meal, and it's good served in small portions with turkey and all the trimmings, too.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h25m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the pork, beef, veal, potatoes and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the garlic, seasonings and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently., Remove from the heat; cool to room temperature. Stir in bread crumbs. Combine egg and remaining water; stir into meat mixture. , Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Fill with meat mixture. Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge. Cut slits in top. Cover edges loosely with foil., Bake 15 minutes. Remove foil. Reduce heat to 375°; bake 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 501 calories, Fat 29g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 110mg cholesterol, Sodium 737mg sodium, Carbohydrate 34g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 24g protein.
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
FRENCH MEAT PIE
This is a traditional French-Canadian recipe. My mom makes this only for the holidays, but I've made it year round.
Provided by afghanmom
Categories Savory Pies
Time 1h
Yield 1 pie, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Combine beef, pork, onion and water in a medium saucepan and mix well.
- Cook, covered, over low heat until the ground beef and pork are cooked through, stirring occasionally.
- Boil the potatoesin water to cover in a small saucepan until tender; drain.
- Add to the meat mixture.
- Add the salt, allspice, cloves and pepper and mix well; remove from heat.
- Mash the mixture with a potato masher.
- Roll the pastry into two 11-inch circles on a lightly floured surface.
- Fit 1 pastry into a 9-inch pie plate.
- Fill with the meat mixture.
- Cover with the remaining pastry, fluting the edge and cutting several vents.
- Bake at 450' for 20 minutes or the crust is golden brown.
FRENCH CANADIAN MEAT PIE
Make and share this French Canadian Meat Pie recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories Pork
Time 1h35m
Yield 2 pies
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook the first five ingredients over medium heat until meat is browned and vegetables are tender; drain.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in potatoes, broth and seasonings.
- Line two 9-inch pie plates with pastry.
- Divided meat mixture between crusts.
- Top with remaining pastry; trim, seal and flute edges.
- Cut slits in top.
- Brush with milk.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 3398.2, Fat 198.7, SaturatedFat 59.8, Cholesterol 289.5, Sodium 4227.6, Carbohydrate 290.1, Fiber 17.6, Sugar 13.5, Protein 107.8
Tips:
- Mise en place: Before you begin cooking, make sure you have all of your ingredients and equipment ready. This will help you stay organized and ensure that your meat pie turns out perfectly.
- Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the taste of your meat pie. Choose fresh, high-quality meat, vegetables, and spices.
- Season your meat well: Don't be afraid to season your meat liberally. This will help to develop flavor and depth in your pie.
- Cook your meat until it is tender: Overcooked meat will be tough and dry. Cook your meat until it is just tender, then remove it from the heat and let it rest before assembling your pie.
- Use a good quality pie crust: A good pie crust will make all the difference in your meat pie. You can either make your own pie crust or use a store-bought one. If you are using a store-bought pie crust, be sure to pre-bake it according to the package directions.
- Don't overfill your pie: Overfilling your pie will make it difficult to cook evenly. Fill your pie no more than 2/3 full.
- Bake your pie at a high temperature: This will help to create a golden brown crust and prevent the pie from becoming soggy.
- Let your pie cool before serving: This will allow the filling to set and the crust to firm up.
Conclusion:
French Canadian meat pie is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. With its flavorful filling, flaky crust, and convenient portability, it's no wonder that this dish has become a classic in both Canada and beyond. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, I encourage you to try your hand at making this traditional dish. With careful preparation and attention to detail, you'll be able to create a meat pie that will impress your family and friends. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's get started on this culinary adventure!
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