Tourtiere (French Canadian Meat Pie)
+9 photos

Tourtiere (French Canadian Meat Pie)

Chef John's version of this Christmas Eve staple is incredibly simple to make, with a homemade flaky crust and a spiced pork, beef, and potato filling.

Ingredients

  • all-purpose flour
    3 c
  • unsalted butter

    sliced, frozen

    2 sticks
  • kosher salt
    1 tsp
  • ice-cold water

    or as needed

    7 tbsp
  • distilled white vinegar
    2 tsp
  • kosher salt
    2 tsp
  • freshly ground black pepper
    1 tsp
  • dried thyme
    1 tsp
  • dried sage
    ½ tsp
  • ground cinnamon
    ½ tsp
  • ground ginger
    ½ tsp
  • freshly grated nutmeg
    ¼ tsp
  • ground allspice
    ¼ tsp
  • ground mustard
    ¼ tsp
  • ground cloves
    ⅛ tsp
  • cayenne pepper
    1 pinch
  • russet potato

    peeled, quartered

    1 large
  • kosher salt
    1 tsp
  • butter
    1 tbsp
  • onion

    finely chopped

    1 large
  • salt
    1 pinch
  • finely diced celery
    ½ c
  • garlic

    crushed

    4 cloves
  • ground pork
    1 lb
  • ground beef
    1 lb
  • potato cooking water

    plus more as needed

    1 c
  • egg
    1 large
  • water
    1 tbsp

Directions

  1. 1

    Gather all ingredients.

    Step 1
  2. 2

    To make the crust: Place flour, frozen butter, and salt into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until butter breaks down to pea size, about 30 seconds. Stir together cold water and vinegar; drizzle over flour mixture. Pulse on and off until mixture is crumbly and holds together when pinched, about 10 seconds. Drizzle in more cold water if mixture is too dry.

    Step 2
  3. 3

    Transfer mixture to a work surface. Press together until it forms a ball. Flatten to a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

    Step 3
  4. 4

    To make the spice blend: Mix together salt, black pepper, thyme, sage, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mustard, clove, and cayenne in a small bowl; set aside.

    Step 4
  5. 5

    To make the filling: Place potatoes and 1 teaspoon kosher salt in a saucepan; cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer potatoes to a bowl, reserving potato cooking water in the saucepan. Mash potatoes with a potato masher until smooth; set aside.

    Step 5
  6. 6

    Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until onions turn golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir celery, garlic, and spice blend into the skillet with onions. Stir until onion mixture is evenly coated with spices, about 30 seconds.

    Step 6
  7. 7

    Add ground pork, ground beef, and about 3/4 cup potato cooking water to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until meat is brown and tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 45 minutes. Stir in mashed potatoes, turn off heat, and let cool to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

    Step 7
  8. 8

    Divide chilled dough into 2 pieces, one just slightly larger than the other. Roll the larger piece out on a lightly floured work surface into a 12-inch circle. Place in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Roll top crust out into an 11-inch circle; set aside.

    Step 8
  9. 9

    Fill bottom crust with meat mixture; smooth out the surface. Whisk together egg and water in a small bowl to make an egg wash. Brush egg wash over the edges of the bottom crust. Cover with top crust; press lightly around the edges to seal. Trim excess dough and crimp the edges. Cut small slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Brush entire surface of pie with egg wash.

    Step 9
  10. 10

    Bake in the preheated oven until crust is well browned, about 1 hour. Let cool to almost room temperature before serving.

    Step 10
Tourtiere (French Canadian Meat Pie)
+9

Tourtiere (French Canadian Meat Pie)

4.8(191)768 cal

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Ratings & Reviews

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Exceptional

Based on 191 ratings

allrecipes.com
4.8(191 reviews)
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About this Recipe

Craving a taste of tradition that’s both hearty and incredibly satisfying? Chef John's Tourtiere, the classic French Canadian meat pie, delivers a truly special meal that’s perfect for a festive Christmas Eve or any comforting dinner occasion.

Why This Tourtiere Stands Out

This recipe makes an incredibly simple yet profoundly flavorful Tourtiere thanks to a few key elements. You'll craft a genuinely flaky pie crust from scratch, utilizing the tried-and-true method of incorporating frozen butter for superior texture. The filling itself is a rich, savory blend of pork, beef, and tender potato, generously seasoned with a carefully selected array of warming spices that truly elevate every bite.

What truly sets this meat pie apart is the harmonious blend of spices—thyme, sage, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mustard, and cloves—which infuse the meats and potatoes with an unmistakable depth of flavor that is both traditional and wonderfully aromatic. It’s a testament to simple ingredients coming together to create something truly extraordinary.

What to Expect

Prepare for a wonderfully comforting culinary experience. Each slice of this Tourtiere offers a golden, crisp, flaky crust that shatters beautifully with every forkful, giving way to a rich, dense, and deeply savory filling. The combination of ground pork and beef provides a robust base, while the potato adds a creamy texture and helps bind the flavors together.

The spices create a warm, earthy, and subtly sweet aroma that fills your kitchen, promising a deeply satisfying meal. This isn't just a dish; it's an invitation to savor a piece of culinary heritage, perfect for a cozy family dinner.

Customization & Variations

While this recipe is a cherished classic, you can easily tailor it to your preferences. Feel free to adjust the spice levels to your taste; perhaps increase the cayenne pepper for a gentle kick or reduce the cinnamon and ginger if you prefer a less pronounced sweet spice note. The balance of ground pork and beef creates a complex flavor, but you could experiment with slightly altering the ratio to suit your preference for a richer or leaner profile.

Serving & Context

This Tourtiere is a quintessential main course, traditionally gracing tables as a Christmas Eve staple. Its hearty nature makes it a standalone meal, though it pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad or pickled beets to cut through its richness. Serve it warm, allowing its comforting aromas to fill your home.

Frequently Asked Questions