Traditional Tourtiere Recipes

TOURTIERE

Steps:

• Sift the flour.
• Cut the butter into small cubes and add to flour with the salt.
• Incorporate flour to butter by kneading quickly with the fingertips.
• Dig a well in the middle of the flour. Dilute the egg yolks with water. Combine with flour gradually.
• Roughly form a ball.
• Work the dough with the palm of the hand by pushing and crushing on the worktop. Form a ball. Wrap in a clean cloth.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight, so that it is easier to roll.
• In a large pot, sauté the bacon for a couple minutes over medium heat.
• Add onions and sauté for 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Add garlic and sauté 1 minute.
• Add all the remaining ingredients and mix gently. Season with salt and pepper.
• Grind the meat one more time using a potato masher.
• Cook covered over medium/high heat until half of the liquid is evaporated, about 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 F / 200 C.
• Put the meat mixture into a baking dish and bake 30 minutes, stirring regularly.
• Remove the bay leaf, cinnamon stick and the cloves. Allow to cool.
• Preheat oven to 450 F / 220 C.
• Grease an 8-inch (20 cm) diameter cake or pie pan.
• On a floured surface, roll the dough into two unequal discs of about 11 inches ( 28 cm) and 9 inches (24 cm) in diameter.
• Place the dough in the pan so that the dough overflows slightly.
• Place the stuffing into the pie shell. Cover with the second disc of dough.
• Attach the pie circles with a little water, pinching the edges or crushing them with the back of a fork.
• Create a little chimney through the center of the pie shell to slide a small roll of parchment paper.
• Brush the dough with egg yolk.
• Bake 20 minutes at 450 F / 220 C.
• Lower the thermostat to 350 F / 180 C and bake for another 15 minutes.
• Wait 15 minutes before serving.

FRENCH CANADIAN TOURTIERE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine pork, beef, onion, garlic, water, salt, thyme, sage, black pepper and cloves. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils; stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer until meat is cooked, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Spoon the meat mixture into the pie crust. Place top crust on top of pie and pinch edges to seal. Cut slits in top crust so steam can escape. Cover edges of pie with strips of aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes; remove foil and return to oven. Bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.

TRADITIONAL FRENCH CANADIAN TOURTIERE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In a large pot, mix the pork, beef, onion, and water. Season with salt, pepper, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and chicken seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes.
• Drain liquid from pot into a bowl. Transfer remaining meat mixture to a separate bowl and chill until ready to use. Place bowl with liquid in the refrigerator and chill 1 hour, or until fat has congealed on the surface.
• Scrape and discard fat from the chilled liquid. Spoon the meat mixture into pie crusts. Add 1 tablespoon of reserved liquid to each pie. (This prevents them from becoming to dry.) Place top crust on top of each pie and pinch edges to seal. Cut slits in top crust so steam can escape.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 50 minutes. Serve immediately or freeze until ready to use.

TOURTIERE DU QUEBEC (FRENCH-CANADIAN MEAT PIE)

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients (except for pie shell) in a sauce pan and bring to boil and cook uncovered for 20 minutes over medium heat.
• Cool the meat mixture and pour in pastry lined pan. Note: I like to cool mine in refrigerator over night if time permits.
• Cover with the top crust, cut steam vents and bake in a 400F oven until golden, about 45 minutes.
• Freeze well.
• Note: If ground pork and ground veal cannot be found, you can use meatloaf mix which is all 3 meat but I'm not sure of the ratio.

TRADITIONAL TOURTIERE

Steps:

• The night before, combine the first 13 ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and let rest overnight in the refrigerator.
• The next day, prepare potatoes and then prepare pastry.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Use 2/3 of pastry to line the bottom (not the sides) of a 4 to 4-1/2 quart coverable pot.
• Add potatoes to the meat mixture. Pour mixture into pastry lined pot. Add boiling water.
• Roll remaining 1/3 pastry and cover mixture. Make slits to allow steam to escape. Bake, uncovered, until top is golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
• Cover, reduce oven to 300 degree F, and continue baking for another 5 hours, until meats are tender.
• Uncover and let rest about 5 minutes.
• Serve hot.

TOURTIERE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the meat in batches until browned. Tip into a large bowl and set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in the same pan, then add the onions, carrot, celery and garlic. Fry for 8-10 mins until softened. Add this to the meat.
• Simmer the wine in the pan for 10 mins to reduce. Tip in the meat and veg, then the spices, thyme, bay and stock. Cook for 30 mins, uncovered. Stir in the oats and simmer for 15 mins. Discard the bay, then season. Cool completely.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a 20cm loose-bottom tin with the shortcrust pastry, pushing it into the sides of the tin. Leave 2cm of pastry overhanging and trim away the excess. Prick the bottom with a fork, cover with baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Bake for 15 mins. Remove the parchment and beans, and bake for another 15 mins until golden.
• Trim the edges with a serrated knife and pack in the meat filling. Brush some of the egg around the edge of the pastry, then drape the puff pastry over the top, trim the edges and crimp all the way round with a fork. Use the puff pastry offcuts to make decorations for the pie, if you like (or see tip, below). Brush with more egg and make 4-5 holes in the top. Can be frozen for up to six weeks at this stage. Defrost thoroughly before baking. Bake at 190C/170C fan/gas 5 for 40-50 mins. Leave to rest for 10 mins before serving.