Tourtiere: Canadian Meat Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

It gets its name from the tourte, which is what it was originally made from.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.

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. Many of the same qualities that make a great meatloaf are also applied to this meat pie.

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.

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.

Tourte means pie, and they were baked in a tourtière. Simple. The other story is that this pie got its name from the type of birds that were commonly used to make the pie. 'Tourte' or tourte voyageuse is also the French name for a passenger pigeon.

“A 'tourte' was the name of a bird like a pigeon, and they were making pie with these types of birds,” says Ricardo. “So they called it 'tourtière. ' Another other explanation is that it got the name from the dish — a tourtière is also the [pie pan] in which this meat pie was cooked and baked.”

"Tourtière is very much a Québécois dish. And it came from rural French coming to Canada," she said. "A lot of the urban French actually went to Acadia instead. And their cuisine is quite different — although they too have various pies that are a little similar.

Tourtière is a traditional Québecois meat pie typically served around Christmastime.

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.

Can I freeze a tourtière? ›

Cooked tourtière may be frozen for 4 months or so. There is no need for it to be thawed before reheating. To reheat, cover your frozen Tourtière loosely with foil and place in a 350F oven. Bake until a knife inserted in the centre is hot when you test it.

Watery filling

Water can be released from your pie filling while cooking in the oven. To avoid turning your pie into a sloppy mess, add flour to the filling or add some nuts to thicken it up, like in our Chicken and Leek Pie. This will help to absorb any excess water while it's cooking and will keep the pastry crispy.

It could be cranberry sauce, pickled beets, something sweet and sour, or "something with a kick to it to pair with the spiced meat and flaky crust." (I like to serve a chili sauce with my tourtiere; you can find Naylor's recipe and my chili sauce recipe below.) All in all, it's a memorable dish.

Historical records of Quebec tourtière, which was likely named for the copper and tin pans the pies are baked in, date back to the 17th century. But hearty pies of the sort have been around for as long as humans have thought to combine pastry with meat.

As one French baker we know says, "There are as many recipes for tourtière as there are cooks in Quebec." The meat can range from pork, chicken, or beef, to lamb, veal, or even duck. Some pies are simply meat and onions; others include potatoes and/or celery as well.

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.

The crust, flaky and light. The filling, spiced with clove, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and onion. It's savory and spiked with flavors most American palates equate with apple pie and gingerbread. And at its best it's topped with pepper relish.

It's rich and delicious and is traditionally enjoyed on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. In my books, nothing quite says Christmas like the taste of a slice of tourtière with a dollop of tomato chutney on the side.