Traditional French Canadian Tourtière (Dairy Free Meat Pie)
Embrace the warmth of tradition with this flavorful French Canadian Tourtière that serves as the centerpiece of festive meals. This comforting meat pie features a delightful blend of lean pork, beef, and spices encased in a buttery, flaky crust, making it an excellent dish for special occasions like Christmas Eve. Enjoy this hearty meal with classic accompaniments such as eggs and pan-fried potatoes, or mix it up with creamy mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Easily freeze any leftovers for a cozy meal later on!
3
Servings
1333
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
Pie crusts
3 (Prepare or purchase dairy-free pie crusts for a base.)
Lean ground pork
2 lbs (You can substitute with veal if desired.)
Lean ground beef
2 lbs (Use lean beef for the best texture.)
Small onion
1 (Chopped.)
Celery
2 stalks (Chopped.)
Garlic clove
1 (Chopped.)
Salt
1 dash (To taste.)
Pepper
1 dash (To taste.)
Consommé
10.75 ounces (1 can) (For steaming the meat filling.)
Cinnamon
½-¾ teaspoon (Ground.)
Clove
¼ teaspoon (Ground.)
Savory
1 pinch (Dried.)
Instructions
1
In a large saucepan, combine the ground pork, ground beef, chopped onion, chopped celery, chopped garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat until the meat is browned and no longer pink, breaking it up into granular pieces.
2
Transfer the cooked meat mixture to a Dutch oven. Add enough consomme to cover the meat mixture. If you don’t have enough consomme, add water until the meat is just submerged.
3
Cover and simmer the mixture over low heat for 1 hour, allowing the flavors to meld. The mixture should be moist but not watery.
4
Once cooked, remove from heat and mix in ½ to ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon of clove, and a pinch of savory until well combined.
5
Prepare your pie crusts. Fill each of the 3 pie crusts generously with the meat mixture, making sure to pack it well.
6
Wet the edges of the pie crusts with a combination of beaten egg and water to help seal the edges.
7
Carefully place the top crust on each pie, pressing down the edges with a fork to create a seal. Cut several slits into the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.
8
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the pies for 45 minutes or until the crust is deep golden brown.
9
Let the pies cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm with your favorite sides.
Nutrition Information
80g
Fat
100g
Carbs
67g
Protein
10g
Fiber
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Traditional French Canadian Tourtière?
It is a comforting savory meat pie featuring a blend of lean pork, beef, and spices encased in a flaky crust, traditionally served during festive meals like Christmas Eve.
Is this Tourtière recipe dairy-free?
Yes, this version is dairy-free, provided you use dairy-free pie crusts for the base.
What meats are used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 2 lbs of lean ground pork and 2 lbs of lean ground beef.
Can I substitute the pork in the recipe?
Yes, you can substitute the lean ground pork with veal if desired.
How many pies does this recipe make?
This recipe is designed to make 3 full meat pies.
What vegetables are included in the filling?
The filling includes one small chopped onion, two stalks of chopped celery, and one chopped garlic clove.
What spices give Tourtière its distinct flavor?
The signature flavor comes from a blend of ground cinnamon, ground clove, and a pinch of dried savory.
How long should the meat mixture simmer?
The meat mixture should be covered and simmered over low heat for 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
What liquid is used for steaming the meat?
A 10.75-ounce can of consommé is used; if more liquid is needed, you can add water until the meat is just submerged.
What is the baking temperature for the pies?
The pies should be baked in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C).
How long do the pies need to bake?
Bake the pies for 45 minutes or until the crust reaches a deep golden brown color.
How do I prevent the crust from becoming soggy?
Cutting several slits into the top crust allows steam to escape during the baking process.
What is used to seal the pie crust edges?
A combination of beaten egg and water is used to wet and seal the edges of the crust.
What are the traditional side dishes for Tourtière?
It is traditionally served with eggs and pan-fried potatoes, or creamy mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
Can I freeze the leftover meat pies?
Yes, any leftovers can be easily frozen for a cozy meal at a later time.
How many calories are in one serving?
Each serving contains approximately 1333 calories.
What is the fat content per serving?
There are 80g of fat per serving.
How much protein does this dish provide?
Each serving provides 67g of protein.
How many carbohydrates are in a serving?
There are 100g of carbohydrates per serving.
Does this recipe contain fiber?
Yes, there are 10g of fiber per serving.
Should the meat be cooked before putting it in the pie?
Yes, the ground pork and beef should be browned in a saucepan with onions, celery, and garlic before being simmered and added to the crust.
What should the consistency of the meat mixture be after simmering?
The mixture should be moist but not watery before being packed into the pie crusts.
How much cinnamon is used?
The recipe suggests using between 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
What type of savory should I use?
The recipe calls for one pinch of dried savory.
Is the garlic chopped or minced?
The recipe calls for one garlic clove, chopped.
Do I need to let the pies cool before serving?
Yes, it is recommended to let the pies cool slightly before serving to allow the filling to set.
What category of food does this fall under?
This recipe is categorized under Savory Pies.
Is this a good holiday recipe?
Absolutely, it is a classic Christmas Eve tradition in French Canadian culture.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 12 total ingredients including the crust, meats, vegetables, and spices.
What should the meat look like after the first cooking step?
The meat should be browned and no longer pink, broken up into small granular pieces.