Québec Cretons Pork Paté Recipe 385

QUéBEC CRETONS - PORK PATé RECIPE - (3.8/5)

Steps:

• Place an appropriately-sized sauce pan over medium heat. When pan is hot, add 1 tablespoon bacon fat and gently fry the ground pork until cooked through. While the pork cooks use a fork to keep crumbling it. Add the onion, garlic, spices, salt and pepper and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and garlic are soft and translucent. Lower the heat to a low simmer and continue to cook for about an hour. If mixture starts to dry out add beef stock or milk to keep it at a very-thick-sauce consistency. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool. If needed add beef stock or whole milk so the mixture seems just spreadable. Put the mixture in a food processor and process until fine and granular but not pasty. Place the mixture into a glass or ceramic container and add a small layer of bacon fat over the top to seal and add extra flavor. Refrigerate until needed. Serve on crackers as a snack, toast for a hearty breakfast or with mustard as a sandwich for lunch.

EMERIL LAGASSE'S CRETON

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, add the pork and cook until no longer pink, about 3 minutes.
• Add the onions and garlic, and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the salt, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the milk and bread crumbs and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat, stirring to break up the meat.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pork is very tender and most of the liquid is evaporated, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Remove the lid and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick and all the liquid is evaporated, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
• Transfer to a decorative bowl or several smaller ramekins, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula.
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled and firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Serve with thinly sliced French bread or toasted French bread croutons.

CRETONS

Steps:

• Place the ground pork, milk, onion and garlic into a large saucepan. Season with salt, pepper, cloves and allspice. Cook over medium heat for about 1 hour, then stir in the bread crumbs. Cook for 10 more minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Transfer to a small container and keep refrigerated.

GORTON (FRENCH-CANADIAN PORK SPREAD)

Steps:

• Stir the pork fat, ground pork, onions, water, cloves, and nutmeg together in a large pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the pork is tender, at least 1 1/2 hours. Use a potato masher to mash the pork mixture every 15 minutes as it cooks.
• The longer you simmer the gorton, the better the flavor will be. Add water as needed to keep the mixture from boiling dry. When you're ready to stop cooking, let the liquid reduce as much as possible without letting it burn. Refrigerate the gorton overnight. Remove and discard the fat layer, or stir it into the meat for a creamier spread.

CRETON - CANADIAN PORK PATE

Steps:

• Put all ingredients into a pan, mash together with a potato masher & simmer on low heat for 2 3/4 - 3 hours. If it needs more liquid to cook that long, add more liquid. Do not let it get dry and stick to the bottom of the pan. Stir occasionally. After most of the liquid (2 3/4 - 3 hours) has evaporated, remove bay leaf and beat well with an electric mixer. Pour into a bowl and refrigerate to chill. Serve chilled on a good bread, toasted if you like.
• Note: if your ground pork is lean you will need to add an entire pound of the sausage. It needs the fat to make a pate. You will obviously need to add a little more liquid if you use a whole pound of sausage.

CRETONS: BREAKFAST PORK SPREAD RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, add the pork and cook until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, and cook for 1 minute. Add the salt, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and cook for 1 minute. Add the milk and bread crumbs and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat, stirring to break up the meat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pork is very tender and most of the liquid is evaporated, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the lid and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick and all the liquid is evaporated, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste. Transfer to a decorative bowl or several smaller ramekins, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled and firm, at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve with thinly sliced French bread or toasted French bread croutons. This recipe yields about 2 cups for 4 to 6 servings.