Tourtière
This savory French-Canadian meat pie combines ground pork and warm spices with chunks of braised pork shoulder and shreds of chicken or turkey. You could also use leftover brisket, venison, smoked goose, or ham. Traditionally served with relish or tart, fruity ketchup.
This savory French-Canadian meat pie combines ground pork and warm spices with chunks of braised pork shoulder and shreds of chicken or turkey. You could also use leftover brisket, venison, smoked goose, or ham. Traditionally served with relish or tart, fruity ketchup.
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- pinch of ground nutmeg
- 1/8 easpoonground cinnamon
- 2 1/2 cups or 300 grams all-purpose flour
- 16 tablespoons unsalted butter cold and cut into cubes
- 4 tablespoons leaf lard cold and cut into cubes
- 3-4 tablespoons ice water as needed
- 1 1/2-2 pounds pork-shoulder meat cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil like canola
- 5 allspice berries
- 1 12- ounce bottle stout or other dark beer
- 4 large chicken thighs or 1 large turkey thigh
- 2 medium-size yellow onions peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 2 tablespoons parsley roughly chopped
- 10-12 ounces cremini mushrooms or a mixture of wild mushrooms sliced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or stock
- 1/8 easpoonground clove
- pinch of cayenne pepper or to taste
- 2 medium-size potatoes like yukon gold grated
- 1 large egg yolk beaten with a tablespoon of water
- Carbohydrate 6.62102247340612 g
- Cholesterol 926.44 mg
- Fat 287.948450780085 g
- Fiber 3.52971237329815 g
- Protein 67.8004746068853 g
- Saturated Fat 162.450666007362 g
- Serving Size 1 1 recipe (1095g)
- Sodium 923.676032097457 mg
- Sugar 3.09131010010797 g
- Trans Fat 19.8712782848623 g
- Calories 2851 calories
Step-by-step
- Make the dough: Pulse together flour and salt in a food processor. Add butter and lard, pulsing until the mixture forms bean-size pieces. Slowly add ice water, pulsing until the dough comes together. Turn dough out, form two balls, flatten, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Make the pork shoulder: Season pork chunks with salt and pepper. Sear in hot oil until browned. Add allspice berries and cinnamon sticks, then beer. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until tender (45 minutes to 1 hour). Cool and refrigerate.
- Make the chicken/turkey: Season chicken or turkey thighs with salt and pepper. Roast at 325°F until crisp and cooked through (approximately 1 hour). Cool and refrigerate.
- Make the pie filling: Melt butter in a Dutch oven. Add onions, garlic, and parsley; cook until soft. Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Add wine or stock, and cook until liquid evaporates. Add ground pork and spices; cook until pork loses its pinkness. Add grated potato and cook. Remove from heat.
- Combine: Shred cooked chicken/turkey into the pot with the cooked pork and some braising liquid. Stir, season, and chill for at least an hour.
- Assemble the pie: Place a baking sheet on the middle oven rack and heat to 400°F. Roll out one dough disk and fit it into a pie plate. Freeze. Roll out the remaining dough.
- Fill and bake: Remove pie crust from freezer, add filling, and cover with remaining dough. Crimp edges, cut vents, and paint with egg wash. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, then reduce to 350°F and bake until golden brown and bubbling (30-40 minutes). Cool before serving.
A Slice of Home: My Tourtière Tradition
The aroma of warm spices and savory meat fills the kitchen, a comforting symphony that transports me back to childhood Christmases. My grandmother's tourtière wasn't just a pie; it was a story woven into every flaky layer of crust, every tender bite of filling. It was the heart of our celebrations, a testament to generations of family gatherings and shared traditions. The recipe itself, passed down through countless hands, feels like a sacred heirloom, its ingredients a language spoken across time.
The process of making tourtière is more than just cooking; it's a meditative ritual, a chance to connect with my heritage and those who came before me. The rhythmic chopping of onions, the careful layering of ingredients, the anticipation as the pie bakes in the oven – these are the moments that make the dish so much more than the sum of its parts. The rich, earthy flavors blend seamlessly, creating a harmonious balance of sweet and savory notes that linger on the palate long after the last bite.
There’s a certain magic in the way a simple pie can bring people together. The sharing of food, the stories exchanged over steaming slices of tourtière, the laughter and camaraderie – these are the memories that truly nourish the soul. It’s a dish that evokes feelings of warmth, comfort, and belonging, a reminder of the simple joys found in family, tradition, and the love poured into every lovingly crafted bite.
More than just a recipe, it’s a legacy. It's a taste of home, a taste of family, a taste of love. And as I knead the dough, roll out the crust, and carefully layer the filling, I feel a deep connection to my heritage, to the women who came before me, and to the cherished memories woven into every delicious morsel.
The tender pork shoulder, slow-cooked to perfection, melts in your mouth. The delicate blend of spices adds a touch of warmth and complexity, while the flaky crust provides a satisfying crunch. Every ingredient plays its part, creating a masterpiece of flavor and texture that’s truly unforgettable. It's a celebration of simplicity, of using humble ingredients to create something truly extraordinary.
As I sit here, the aroma of baking tourtière filling my home, I'm reminded of the power of food to bring people together, to create memories, and to keep traditions alive. Each slice is a little piece of my family history, a testament to the enduring legacy of culinary traditions passed down through generations. It's more than just a meal; it's a story, a legacy, and a symbol of home.
And as the pie cools, and the family gathers, the real magic begins. It's in the laughter, the stories, the shared moments of joy, that the true essence of tourtière reveals itself. It’s a celebration of life, love, and the enduring power of family traditions. It’s a simple pleasure, yet it holds a profound meaning, representing the heart of our family and the warmth of our home. It's a tradition I intend to keep alive, passing on this treasured recipe and the love behind it to future generations.
And that’s the secret to a truly delicious tourtière: it’s not just about the perfect recipe; it’s about the love and memories poured into every bite.
