A very seasonal dish, great for Christmas or Thanksgiving. It's very popular here in Canada, though Christmas meat pie might not be typical in the US.
A hot, savory meat pie may not sound like traditional Christmas food to everyone, but it is a requirement at the holiday table for many in Canada, not only those with a French heritage.
Basic French Canadian Meat Pie Recipe
An easy variation of the tortiere that you can try this Christmas. Recipe makes 1 meat pie.
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ lb ground pork
- 1 medium onion, chopped coarsely
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp celery salt
- ½ tsp savory
- ½ cup hot water
- 1 cup mashed potatoes
- Crust for 1 9-inch pie, with top
Method:
- In a large pan, cook beef, pork and chopped onion until cooked through and all browned.
- Add water, salt, celery salt and savory seasonings to the meat and let simmer for about 45 minutes, with a lid on the pan.
- Then stir in the mashed potatoes, and let cool partially. Spoon the mixture into your pie crust and add top crust. Puncture the top to let steam escape.
- Bake at 400F for about 15 minutes, then reduce the oven heat down to 350F and bake for another half an hour.
Second Tortiere Recipe
If you prefer the flavour of pork, this variation of the meat pie is sure to please. Recipe makes 2 pies.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 lbs ground pork
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tsp poultry seasoning
- 2 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp celery salt
- ½ tsp sage
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 cup water
- A medium sized onion, chopped
- 6 potatoes
- 2 9-inch pie crusts, with tops
Method:
- Before starting to make your meat pie, cook the potatoes and mash them until smooth.
- Then to make the meat pie, combine ground pork, ground beef, chopped onion and garlic in a large pan or skillet. Cook on high, stirring often until the meat is cooked through (showing no pink).
- Add the spices and seasonings, and the water. Simmer on medium heat for about 20 minutes with a cover to keep the steam in. Remove the lid and simmer for another 10 minutes.
- Remove the cooked meat from heat and mix in the mashed potatoes. Let the mixture cool down.
- Spoon meat and potato mixture into your pie shells and cover each with their crusts. Slash each top crust, making a small hole.
- Bake at 425F for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 300 and bake for a remaining 25 minutes.
You can prepare either pie ahead of time, and freeze it before you do the final baking. A very handy step if you are trying to cook a huge Christmas feast this year. Just remember to thaw them before baking, or increase the baking time to accommodate being frozen.
The copyright of the article French Canadian Meat Pie in Winter Recipes is owned by Terri Paajanen. Permission to republish French Canadian Meat Pie in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
