Cretons is a traditional French-Canadian spread made from ground pork, spices, and breadcrumbs. It is similar to pâté and is typically eaten on toast or crackers. While cretons is a delicious and flavorful dish, it can also be quite heavy and fatty. Fortunately, there are several ways to make lighter cretons without sacrificing any of its flavor. This article will provide you with some tips and recipes for making lighter cretons that you can enjoy as part of a healthy diet.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CRETONS
This is a pork spread that used to be very popular amongst French Canadian working in the woods. This is best appreciated spread on toasts or plain multigrain bread.
Provided by Nans
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork Ground Pork Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place the ground pork, milk, onion and garlic into a large saucepan. Season with salt, pepper, cloves and allspice. Cook over medium heat for about 1 hour, then stir in the bread crumbs. Cook for 10 more minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Transfer to a small container and keep refrigerated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 100.7 calories, Carbohydrate 3.5 g, Cholesterol 26.2 mg, Fat 6 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 7.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 44.5 mg, Sugar 1.5 g
LIGHTER CRETONS
Cretons are an old French Canadian recipe. It was made with lots of lard and pork. This light version will be a delightful surprise. Spread on your favorite bread or crackers.
Provided by grandmacupcake
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Dips and Spreads Recipes Pate Recipes
Time 2h
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place ground turkey, 1 cup water, onion, cloves, sage, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring turkey mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes, mashing ingredients occasionally with a spatula while cooking; remove from heat.
- Stir gelatin into remaining 1/2 cup water; stir gelatin mixture into turkey mixture. Transfer to a small container; refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75.5 calories, Carbohydrate 1.5 g, Cholesterol 33.5 mg, Fat 3.4 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 9.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 28.7 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
EMERIL LAGASSE'S CRETON
Creton is a french-canadian specialty; this type of "pork pate" is certainly not healthy, but really delicious! I like it spread on toast or crackers, along with hot mustard. Many in Quebec eat it at breakfast. Prep time includes chilling time.
Provided by Lennie
Categories Spreads
Time P1DT2h
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large saute pan, add the pork and cook until no longer pink, about 3 minutes.
- Add the onions and garlic, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the salt, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the milk and bread crumbs and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat, stirring to break up the meat.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pork is very tender and most of the liquid is evaporated, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick and all the liquid is evaporated, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
- Transfer to a decorative bowl or several smaller ramekins, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled and firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Serve with thinly sliced French bread or toasted French bread croutons.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 328.4, Fat 21, SaturatedFat 8, Cholesterol 92, Sodium 503.1, Carbohydrate 7.2, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 2.8, Protein 26.1
LIGHTER CRETONS
Cretons are an old French Canadian recipe. It was made with lots of lard and pork. This light version will be a delightful surprise. Spread on your favorite bread or crackers.
Provided by grandmacupcake
Categories Pate
Time 2h
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place ground turkey, 1 cup water, onion, cloves, sage, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring turkey mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes, mashing ingredients occasionally with a spatula while cooking; remove from heat.
- Stir gelatin into remaining 1/2 cup water; stir gelatin mixture into turkey mixture. Transfer to a small container; refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75.5 calories, Carbohydrate 1.5 g, Cholesterol 33.5 mg, Fat 3.4 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 9.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 28.7 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
" LITE" CRETONS
As a native NYer relocated to French Quebec, the discovery of this morning morsel was very appealing though daunting because of the calories slathered on by the pork. This recipe is a lighter version of this "traditional Quebecquois" breakfast meal and I think more tasty, quick and easy to make. Served on toast, this savory pate is a meal in itself without the extra pounds.
Provided by Gingerbee
Categories Breakfast
Time 3h5m
Yield 4 portion containers, 32 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- This is a quick and easy version of the original recipe for Cretons.
- Simply place the veal into a 2-quart saucepan.
- Add all the ingredients at one time, plus one can of water as suggested on the soup can.
- Mix well and cook uncovered on the stovetop over a very low flame until all the liquid is absorbed and mixture is very thick in consistency; approximately 3 hours.
- Cool slightly and pour into individual covered plastic containers and chill overnight.
- This can be frozen for freshness and defrosted easily.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 31.2, Fat 1.6, SaturatedFat 0.5, Cholesterol 11.6, Sodium 156.8, Carbohydrate 1.2, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 0.3, Protein 3
LIGHTER CRETONS
Cretons are an old French Canadian recipe. It was made with lots of lard and pork. This light version will be a delightful surprise. Spread on your favorite bread or crackers.
Provided by grandmacupcake
Categories Pate
Time 2h
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Place ground turkey, 1 cup water, onion, cloves, sage, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring turkey mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes, mashing ingredients occasionally with a spatula while cooking; remove from heat.
- Stir gelatin into remaining 1/2 cup water; stir gelatin mixture into turkey mixture. Transfer to a small container; refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75.5 calories, Carbohydrate 1.5 g, Cholesterol 33.5 mg, Fat 3.4 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 9.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 28.7 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
MY MOM'S FRENCH CANADIAN CRETONS
A meat spread to eat with toast or crackers..not especially healthy but very traditional french canadian fare....and also delicious. It's really good with mustard on toast in the morning, or lunch...yummmmy.
Provided by hippychick
Categories Spreads
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Put the ground pork, minced onion and garlic,dry mustard, allspice, salt and pepper in a medium size pot and begin to cook on med. high heatuntil meat looses some of its pinkness -- add the can of soup and water and cook till the mixture begins to bubble. Lower heat and let simmer 1/2 hr, stirring often so it doesn't stick.
- When the mixture has cooked and cooled, put into food processor and pulse -- careful not to make it too fine -- you want it a wee bit chunky but spreadable.
- You can put it into small plastic containers.or as mom does -- freeze in ice cube trays -- then pop out just one at a time.
- It's a good idea to seal with bacon fat -- unhealthy but it does seem to give it good flavor and keep it moist.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 330.4, Fat 25.8, SaturatedFat 9.3, Cholesterol 81.7, Sodium 247.6, Carbohydrate 3.7, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 0.9, Protein 19.9
MY MOM'S CRETONS (AKA GORTON) AND TOURTIERE
There are as many recipes for Cretons as there are folks making it in Quebec. This recipe is my adaptation of my Family's recipe. Note; it does not contain milk.
Provided by Mike Pellerin
Categories Breakfast
Time 3h30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- If your meat is too lean, cut up 1/4-1/3 pound Salt Pork, and render into lardons. Remove the salt pork bits, then continue the recipe, omitting the salt. Do not use bacon for the extra fat, bacon is smoked. You can use Lard, 1-2 T, in a pinch.
- Put all ingredients into a large sauce pot, just covering by an inch with the water.
- Mix together.
- Simmer on low, stirring frequently for 3-4 hours.
- Add water as needed to keep moist and from sticking.
- After the allotted cooking time you should have simmered the mixture down till there is about an inch of combined fat and water.
- Taste to check the seasonings. If your spices are old, you may need to re-spice the mixture
- (with the same amounts), then cook out the raw taste a bit.
- Transfer to a bowl to cool, stirring to keep fat suspended in meat.
- Serve warm on toast, or cold for sandwiches.
- For Tourtiere mix the same mixture with 3 0r 4 mashed (dry) potatoes,
- allowing them to suck up the moisture.
- Allow to cool, and ladle into pre-pared pie crusts.
- Egg wash and bake to specifications.
MOM'S FRENCH CANADIAN CRETONS
This is a traditional french canadian staple. You eat this on toast of choice, it's a high protein very nutritional breakfast favourite. I've been eating cretons since I was a child and everytime I visit my parents, my mother always makes this (one of my favourite dishes) for my husband! I try to make this dish as lean as possible using a combination of turkey and pork, if no turkey than chicken is good also. Portions on the meat is 2 to 1 and doesn't matter if you use more pork than turkey or visa versa, the outcome is always just a good as the last!
Provided by Chef Frenchflair
Categories Breakfast
Time 3h15m
Yield 3 1lb - 10 servings from each 1lb container, 30 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- On medium high heat brown pork and turkey in the oil and olive oil mix. Using this mix the meat cooks at a higher temperature without burning the oil. While browning add onions and minced garlic; once browned add garlic powder, cloves, cinnamon, and sage, cover the top of meat mixture with salt (I prefer seasalt or kosher) and same, twice around the pot with pepper (preferrably fresh ground). Mix the meat and seasonings and add in boiling water to meat mixture, enough to cover the top. Bring to boil, lower to simmer about 3hrs. or until water is reduced to almost nothing. approximately half way through cooking process adjust your mixture with alspice, no more than a teaspoon should be required. I go by taste. Now to properly adjust the mixture for spreading purposes add in enough bread crumbs to absorb the remaining liquid in the pot. Using a hand blender puree meat mixture. Divide into containers and let cool before freezing or putting in fridge. yeilds 3-4lbs. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 118.1, Fat 8, SaturatedFat 2.7, Cholesterol 40.4, Sodium 36.5, Carbohydrate 0.3, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 0.1, Protein 10.5
Tips:
- Choose fresh, high-quality ingredients: This will ensure that your cretons have the best possible flavor and texture. Look for pork that is a deep pink color with no signs of graying or browning. The fat should be firm and white.
- Trim the pork of excess fat: This will help to reduce the amount of grease in your cretons. You can also remove the rind if you prefer.
- Grind the pork finely: This will help to ensure that the cretons are smooth and spreadable. You can use a meat grinder or a food processor fitted with the fine grinding blade.
- Cook the pork slowly over low heat: This will help to render the fat and prevent the pork from becoming dry. Cook the pork until it is cooked through and has an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season the cretons to your taste: You can use a variety of seasonings to flavor your cretons, such as salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and thyme. Add the seasonings to the pork while it is cooking or after it has been cooked.
- Let the cretons cool completely before storing them: This will help to prevent the cretons from becoming too soupy. You can store the cretons in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Conclusion:
Cretons are a delicious and versatile spread that can be enjoyed on bread, crackers, or vegetables. They are also a great addition to sandwiches, wraps, and salads. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make your own cretons at home. So next time you are looking for a tasty and satisfying snack, give cretons a try. You won't be disappointed!
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