Best Tourtiere Recipe (2024)

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This Best Tourtiere Recipe also know as Tourtiere de Maman is a Canadian meat pie that is spiced. And is the perfect recipe to accompany your holiday festivities.

Looking for another festive dish? Then your gonna want to try my Baked Holiday Ham dish or my Beef Mushroom Wellington or even myRecette Sheppard’s Pie.

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Gather your friends and family to enjoy a stress-free comfort meal, with my French Canadian Tourtière

WHERE DID TOURTIERE ORIGINATE

Tourtiere originated from Quebec from as early as 1600.

And is traditional served during the Christmas holidays.

IS TOURTIERE FRENCH

Yes, French Canadian.

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WHEN IS TOURTIERE EATEN

Nothing beats this pie on the table on Christmas day, well next to some mashed potatoes and gravy of course. Or my popularShredded Brussel Sprouts recipe!

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Tourtiere spices

  • 1 tbsp Savory
  • 1 tsp Ground cloves
  • 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Sage
  • 1 tsp Thyme
  • 1 tsp Celery Salt
  • 1 tsp Season with salt and pepper

Note: not everyone likes Cinnamon in there meat pies, so to each there own.

How To Make Canadian Tourtière

  • Start with apyrex baking dish that is 9.5 x 1.6 deep.
  • Then make the butter crust (see recipe card)
  • And the pie filling
  • Stuff the Tourtière and bake at 375 f for 45 minutes till golden brown.

CAN TOURTIERE BE FROZEN

Yes, as long as the meat that was used was fresh not frozen to begin with.

So how do I know how to make a traditional Tourtière you may be asking?

Well, I am Canadian, but not Acadian. And have strong French roots on one side of my family.

What is Acadian you may be asking? Acadian peoples originate from eastern Canada.

They actually are the ones who created this recipe to begin with. Then the French out there ran with it and it is now known as a French Canadian or Acadian dish.

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This particular recipe for my best Tourtière Pie has been past down from my Great Grandma who was 100% French Canadian. And her ancestors are all from Newfoundland and Labrador territories.

I have been gifted with her original recipe which was hand written by her a few decades ago.

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And, so I had to share it all with you here.

Growing up Canadian, I was influenced by many cultural groups and thus foods so it wasn’t like I stuck to just one type of food then or now.

However I’ve appreciated all that was taught to me along the way.

One fond memory I do have is that of my great grandma and grandma both in the kitchen together making Tourtièreright before Christmas.

I must have been somewhere from 5-10 years old then. And I never knew how precious that memory would be for me as my great grandmother past shortly after.

I also remember enjoying this dish during Christmas dinner over the years as my aunts always carried the tradition of making it.

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HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES A TOURTIEREMEAT PIE SERVE

One pie typically serves 8-10.

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Over the years this recipe has been changed across the generations and each family does prepare it somewhat differently. In eastern Canada, most people there use pork or even rabbit in this pie.

Oh and be sure to serve this CANADIAN TOURTIÈRE with a dollop of Ketchup. The kids will love that addition too.

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PS: don’t skip on the potatoes they really help to hold the pie together. I hope you give it a try this holidays season and let me know what you think.

Could you serve a traditional French Canadian meat pie this Christmas? Could your family like it more than the more traditional Turkey? I would love to know.

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

WHICH WINE WITH TOURTIERE

Whites, sparkling or reds all go with them a tourtière pie.

Note: You can freeze this ahead of time, and bring it to any gathering to bake fresh.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH TOURTIERE

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice

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Beef and Mushroom Wellington

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Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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CRANBERRY STUFFING RECIPE!

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Be sure to try these tasty recipes below!

  1. Pork Chops with maple syrup and apples
  2. Maple Bourbon Glaze Ham
  3. Brussel Sprouts with bacon
  4. Turkey Pot Pies
  5. Creamy Cheese Mashed Potatoes
  6. Honey Mustard Brussel Sprouts
  7. Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic
  8. Canadian Maple Butter
  9. Instant Pot Honey Glazed Carrots

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes,if you made this, I want to see! FollowCanadian Cooking AdventuresInstagram, snap a photo, and tag and hashtag it with @canadiancookingadventures and#canadiancookingadventures.

Stay connected and follow along onFacebook,Pinterest,andInstagramfor all of my latest recipes!

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Yield: 8

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

A Canadian Classic

Ingredients

PASTRY

  • 2 1/2 cups All purpose flour
  • 1 cup Cold water
  • 1 cup Butter
  • 1 tsp Salt

SPICES

  • 1 tbsp Savory
  • 1 tsp Ground cloves
  • 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Sage
  • 1 tsp Thyme
  • 1 tsp Celery Salt
  • 1 tsp Season with salt and pepper

FILLING

  • 1 pd Organic Ground Beef
  • 1 pd Organic Ground Pork
  • 2 medium Potatoes
  • 1 Onion
  • 1 cup Beef stock
  • 5 cloves Garlic
  • 2 Eggs

Instructions

Butter Crust - 2cupsunbleached all purpose flour, 1/2teaspoonkosher salt, 2/3cupbutter or lard, 6-7tablespoonscold water.

  1. Combine everything together in a large bowl. Then cut the butter or lard until the mixture is crumbly. Add water and blend just until dough comes together nicely.
  2. Shape into a ball, wrap and chill in the refrigerator.
  3. Once the filling has been made, roll out the dough and place into the baking dish.

NEXT MAKE THE FILLING:

  1. In a large pot of boiling water, add 2 medium sized potatoes with the skin on and boil till fork tender, remove from heat and soak in cold water and remove the skin easily that way. Then in a large frying pan place a little bit of cooking oil then your onion, and garlic, saute till fragrant.
  2. Add in your ground hamburger and pork along with seasonings and saute for 3 minutes. Then add in your beef stock and scrape down the sides to mix all the flavors together. Simmer on medium - low heat till the liquid has evaporated, roughly 30 minutes.
  3. Using a grater, grate your potatoes into the mixture, remove from heat and set aside to cool down for one hour.
  4. Meanwhile prepare your crust according to the above directions. Once it's been chilled for one hour remove the crust and place on a lightly floured surface and divide it in half.
  5. Roll each half out to form a large circle shape, one will be for the bottom of the crust the other for the top.
  6. Place your bottom half gently over your pie plate and ladle in your filling, fill to the top and press down with a ladle till compact.
  7. Now create your egg wash, simply beat two eggs in a bowl.
  8. With some egg wash, brush the outside of the oval crust to ensure that the lid sticks together during cooking.
  9. Next put the pie crust overtop and using kitchen scissors, cut around the outside edges to remove the excess dough and with your fingers pinch all around the crust to ensure its closed. Finish by brushing the entire top of the pie with remaining egg wash and with a knife make two cuts along the top to allow for ventilation while cooking.
  10. Bake at 375 f for 45 minutes till golden brown.
  11. Serve with Ketchup and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 461Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 870mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 12g

These calculations are based off Nutritionix

Did you make this recipe?

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Best Tourtiere Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between tourtière and meat pie? ›

Meat pie is primarily made of ground meat (pork, beef or veal) and aromatics (onion, garlic, spices, etc.). In Saguenay–Lac‑Saint‑Jean and Charlevoix, however, “real” tourtière is a lot heartier than meat pie and contains other meats (such as game) and potatoes that have been simmered in stock.

Why does my tourtière fall apart? ›

As the breadcrumbs and the broth help add moisture to this recipe, added fat is an unwanted quantity that tends to make the tourtiere fall apart when cutting and also is just not very pleasant.

What goes best with tourtière? ›

Traditionally, Tourtière is served with roasted vegetables or a light frisseé salad. An assortment of pickled foods is always delicious; pickled beets, spicy carrots, gherkins or pickled onions. Many enjoy a tomato-based chutney but most… just break out the ketchup.

What was the original meat in tourtière? ›

It gets its name from the tourte, which is what it was originally made from. Though the name "tourtière" is derived from its filling, the tourte—the French name for the passenger pigeon that is now extinct in North America—was historically used as its filling before the 20th century.

How long does tourtière last in the fridge? ›

Freshly Baked

If your Tourtiere is already baked, please store it in the fridge. For best results, the pie should be consumed within 4 days of purchase. To warm, place on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350°F.

What is the best thickener for meat pies? ›

FINO PIE THICKENING is a balanced blend of cereals and starches especially designed for thickening and stabilising pie meat.

Is it better to freeze tourtière cooked or uncooked? ›

For best results, freeze your Tourtière after assembling and before baking. When ready to enjoy, cook from frozen, brushing the top with the egg wash before putting it in the oven. Baking time will be a longer from frozen. Cooked tourtière may be frozen for 4 months or so.

What is the internal temperature of a tourtiere? ›

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350°f (180°C). BAKE FOR 20 MINUTES (50 GRAM PIE) OR 30 MINUTES (125G GRAM PIE), UNTIL COOKED THROUGH AND A MINIMUM INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 165°F (74°C) IS REACHED.

What is the difference between a tourtière and a tourtière du Lac St Jean? ›

The tourtière du Lac-Saint-Jean differs from a regular tourtière by having thicker crust, cubes of potatoes, meats and broth (instead of only minced meat), as well as being placed in a much larger and deeper container. Like a regular tourtière, the meat chosen is usually pork, beef or veal.

Where is tourtière served at Christmas time? ›

Tourtière is a Christmas Eve staple in Quebec, and now New Yorkers are catching on to this quintessentially Quebecois cuisine.

What is an interesting fact about tourtière? ›

Tourtière was always on the table, and in 17-century Québec, the pie was traditionally served in a cast-iron cauldron and stuffed with cubed meats, often wild game (rabbit, pheasant, or moose). Four centuries later, the pie remains a staple dish both at réveillon and in Québécois households.

What does tourtière mean in English? ›

Tourtière is a meat pie that can be a combination of beef, pork, or veal, as well as potatoes and other vegetables, and seasoned with spices.

What is another name for a tourtière? ›

(Acadians living in the Maritimes call their version of tourtière by its common name, pâté à viande.) Several recipes for tourtière were printed in La Cuisinière canadienne (1840), likely the first French-language cookbook published in Canada.

What do the British call a meat pie? ›

"cottage pie" if it is made with beef. If it is made with. lamb it is usually called "shepherd's pie" (because a. shepherd looks after sheep).

Why is it called mincemeat pie when there is no meat in it? ›

The name is a carryover from 15th century England when mincemeat did indeed have meat in the mix; in fact, the whole point of mincemeat was to preserve meat with sugar and alcohol. Mincemeat pies became a status symbol because meat and fruit were expensive.

What is a fancy name for meat pie? ›

What is another word for meat pie?
casserolestew
pottagehotdish
hotpotcasserole dish
covered dishpot pie
gallimaufrybourguignon
4 more rows

What is a meat pie called in America? ›

A pot pie, in US and Canadian dialects, is a type of meat pie with a top pie crust that is commonly used throughout the continent, consisting of flaky pastry.

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