Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (2024)

By Francesca Zani

Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (1)Approved by the Delish Test Kitchen

Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (2)Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (3)Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (4)Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (5)Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (6)

5

2 Ratings

Jump to recipe

Tourtiere is basically a prettier way of saying “meat pie.” Originally from Quebec, the pie is traditionally made in a “tourtiere” dish and eaten during Christmas. It’s been around for hundreds of years and has yet to lose its meaty luster. You can’t go to Quebec without trying a slice, nor should you leave any flaky crumbs behind.

What’s in tourtiere?
The French-influenced pie is often made with pork, veal, beef, or game and sometimes a combination of the two. Mashed potatoes are folded in to help bind the meat, while celery and onion are other common aromatics. The spices give the pie character, such as allspice, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.

How to make the crust?
Use shortening to create a tender crust that will quite literally melt in your mouth. The shortening should be well distributed throughout the flour when mixing. Refrigerate the shortening to ensure this, or if you prefer larger flakes of crust, freeze it instead.

When is it typically eaten?
French Canadians usually enjoy their slice of meat pie on Christmas Eve and/or New Year’s Eve while soaking in the holiday spirit.

Does it freeze well?
Once baked and cooled, the tourtiere can be frozen. It’s best to wrap in foil and store for no longer than 1 to 2 months. Bake at 375° from frozen, or thaw first if you prefer.

Did you try making this tourtiere? Let us know how it went!

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Yields:
6 - 8 serving(s)
Prep Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 45 mins

Ingredients

Dough

Filling & Assembly

  • 1 1/2 lb.

    Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces

  • 2 Tbsp.

    kosher salt, divided

  • 1/4 c.

    extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 Tbsp.

    unsalted butter

  • 1

    medium yellow onion, finely chopped

  • 2

    stalks celery, finely chopped

  • 3

    cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 Tbsp.

    finely chopped fresh rosemary

  • 1/2 tsp.

    grated fresh nutmeg

  • 1/2 tsp.

    ground allspice

  • 1/4 tsp.

    ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 tsp.

    ground cloves

  • 1 lb.

    coarsely ground pork

  • 1 lb.

    finely ground pork (90% lean)

  • 2 Tbsp.

    Dijon mustard

  • 1

    large egg, beaten to blend

Directions

  • Dough

    1. Step1In a large bowl, whisk flour and salt. Add shortening and, using your fingertips, blend into flour until small pea-sized pieces remain. Add water and gently mix until dough comes together.
    2. Step2Turn out dough onto a cutting board. Divide into 2 (8-ounce) disks. Wrap dough in plastic and chill at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days.
  • Filling & Assembly

    1. Step1In a large pot, season potatoes with 1 tablespoon salt, then cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until fork-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and transfer half of potatoes to a medium bowl. Mash remaining potatoes in pot.
    2. Step2Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil and butter. Add onion, celery, and garlic; season with 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and celery is tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
    3. Step3Add rosemary, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves. Cook, stirring, until spices are warmed through, about 30 seconds. Add coarsely ground and finely ground pork; season with remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring to break meat into pieces with a wooden spoon, until pork is no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes.
    4. Step4Remove from heat and stir in mustard and mashed potatoes. Fold in remaining cubed potatoes, making sure not to break into pieces. Let cool at least 15 minutes.
    5. Step5Meanwhile, roll out 1 dough disk to a 10" to 11" round. Place in a 9" (2"-deep) pie dish or large cast-iron skillet. Tuck in edges and refrigerate until cold, about 15 minutes.
    6. Step6Preheat oven to 375°. Roll remaining disk to another 10" to 11" round. Pour filling into pie dish, then place second round on top to cover. Seal by tucking edges under, then crimp edges with your fingertips. Brush top and edges of dough with beaten egg.
    7. Step7Bake pie until crust is golden brown, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool before slicing.

Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (10)

Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (12)

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

The Best Recipes for the In-Between Holidays

25 Best Savory Pie RecipesRice Pudding28 Whiskey co*cktails35 Ultra-Simple Seafood Appetizers

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

31 Hearty Appetizer Recipes30 Best Shrimp AppetizersCranberry Whipped Feta Dip 20 Christmas Martini Recipes
19 Ways To Use Leftover Prime Rib43 Party-Perfect Holiday Dips55 Seafood Recipes For Feast Of The Seven Fishes32 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

Tourtiere Is The Canadian Holiday Dish That'll Rival Your Christmas Classics (2024)

FAQs

What is the tradition of the tourtière? ›

It's a tradition.” Tourtière can be traced back to the 1600s, when Québécois settlers attended midnight mass on Christmas Eve and celebrated afterwards with réveillon, a late-night festive feast fit for a king.

What is the difference between meat pie and tourtière? ›

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.

What holiday is associated with tourtière? ›

Tourtière is a traditional part of winter celebrations in Quebec –Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. There are lots of recipes out there for the meat pies with regional Quebec variations.

What is another name for a tourtière? ›

Acadian tourtière, or pâté à la viande (pâté is casserole or pie), is a pork pie that may also contain chicken, hare and beef. Pâté à la viande varies from region to region in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

When should you eat tourtière? ›

Tourtiere is a traditional part of the Christmas and New Year's Eve meal in Quebec. While typically made of pork and beef, Tourtiere can be made of other meats, such as chicken, venison, rabbit, or any other type of game. Some recipes have more potatoes than breadcrumbs, some have just potatoes.

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.

What to serve with tourtière dinner? ›

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.

Are meat pies popular in Canada? ›

French-Canadian Meat Pie, aka “Tourtiere,” is a regional dish enjoyed throughout Canada and even in New England in the United States.

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 meat pie is eaten in Canada at Christmas crossword? ›

The traditional centerpiece is a savory, spiced meat pie called tourtiere.

What National Pie Day is today? ›

National Pie Day is a celebration of pies that occurs annually in the United States on January 23.

Why is tourtière Canadian? ›

Culinary historians have been able to trace back tourtière to the 1600s when Quebec was first being settled by the French along the Saint Lawrence River from the ocean through to Quebec City.

What is tourtière in English? ›

tourtière, a double-crusted meat pie that is likely named for a shallow pie dish still used for cooking and serving tourtes (pies) in France. The ground or chopped filling usually includes pork and is sometimes mixed with other meats, including local game, such as rabbit, pheasant, or moose.

What's the difference between mincemeat pie and tourtière? ›

A Tourtière is generally large enough to yield several portions and the crust is eaten along with its contents. Mincemeat Pie – A mixture of chopped nuts, dried fruit, apples, suet and lemon juice or Brandy baked in a small, one-serving pastry-lined dish. The full-size version is a modern, North American adaptation.

What is the tradition of apple pie? ›

Although eaten in Europe since long before the European colonization of the Americas, apple pie as used in the phrase "as American as apple pie" describes something as being "typically American". In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, apple pie became a symbol of American prosperity and national pride.

What is the tradition of pie and peas? ›

Pie and peas is a traditional meal in the north of England, consisting of an individual meat pie served with mushy peas, mint sauce, pickled onions or gravy.

What was the original purpose of pie? ›

The Romans took the concept of pies even further. They would make a pastry of flour, oil and water to cover up meat but this was intended to preserve the juices and flavour of the filling and was not intended to be eaten. A Roman cookbook from the 1st Century, called Apicius, mentions recipes that include pie cases.

Why is shepherds pie traditional? ›

Many people believe that the peasant housewives invented the pie as an easy way to repackage leftovers from their Sunday roast. The Shepherd Pie is thought to originate from Ireland and the northern parts of England.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 6164

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.