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Meat, Americas

Quebec tourtière with fruit ketchup

Quebec tourtière is a savory meat pie made with pork and beef, spiced with cinnamon and cloves, serving 4 people. It takes 90 minutes and a medium skill level, for about €2.90 per person. The key is letting the filling cool completely before filling the crust, so it doesn't turn soggy.

In Quebec, tourtière shows up at every holiday table. A well spiced pie, pork, beef, cinnamon and cloves, served with fruit ketchup.

Quebec tourtière with fruit ketchup
Total time
1 h 30
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€2.90
Calories per person
540 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Quebec tourtière combines ground pork and beef in a filling spiced with cinnamon, cloves and allspice, bound together by diced potato that soaks up the cooking juices. The egg washed pastry turns golden and crisp around a filling that stays juicy without ever getting soggy. Sweet tangy fruit ketchup cuts through the richness of the meat with every bite.

This is a Sunday family dish or a holiday centerpiece, perfect for fall and winter when you want something warming. Kids generally like its familiar savory pie shape, and the fruit ketchup softens the spices for younger palates. Mon Chou suggests it for nights when you want to cook ahead and serve something a little different from the usual.

The ingredients

4 people

Dairy

  • Pie crusts 2
  • Egg 1

Butcher

  • Ground pork 350 g
  • Ground beef 300 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 2
  • Potato 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Green salad 1

Pantry

  • Cinnamonoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Ground clovesoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Allspiceoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Beef brothoften in the pantry 15 cl
  • Fruit chutney or fruit ketchup 4 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Peel and cut the potato into small dice, chop the onions and garlic.

    The potato soaks up the juices and binds the filling.

  2. Sauté the onions, add the ground meats, potato, spices and broth, then let it simmer over low heat. 30 min

    The filling should be just moist, neither dry nor runny.

  3. Let the filling cool, then roll out one crust in a pie dish.

    Take the dough out of the fridge 10 minutes ahead so it doesn't crack.

  4. Fill with the meat mixture, cover with the second crust, seal the edges and cut a small vent in the center.

    Crimp the edges well with a fork so they don't open during baking.

  5. Brush with beaten egg and bake at 190°C. 45 min

    If the edges brown too fast, cover them with a ring of foil.

  6. Serve with fruit ketchup and a green salad dressed with olive oil.

    The sweet tangy ketchup makes a great contrast to the meat.

Our tips to get it right

  • Chop the onions and garlic very finely so they melt completely into the filling as it cooks, with no chunks to get in the way when slicing.
  • Poke the chimney vent in the center before baking so steam can escape and the crust stays crisp instead of soft.
  • Let the baked tourtière rest 10 minutes before cutting, the filling holds together better and the slices come out clean.

The variations

  • Swap the ground beef for ground veal for a milder, less pronounced filling.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the meats with cooked lentils and chopped mushrooms, keeping the same spices.
  • For a quicker kid friendly version, make individual tourtières in tartlet pans, they bake in about 25 minutes.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with olive oil
  • Pickled beets
  • Homemade applesauce

Storage

Tourtière keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes very well, either baked or unbaked, for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 160°C for 20 minutes to keep the crust crisp.

Questions about this dish

Can you make tourtière ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the filling a day ahead and keep it in the fridge. Assemble and bake the pie the same day you plan to serve it for the crispest crust.

Which potato works best for the filling?

A starchy potato works well since it soaks up the cooking juices and binds the filling. Cut it into small dice so it cooks at the same rate as the meat.

Can you substitute the fruit ketchup?

Store bought fruit chutney or applesauce with a splash of vinegar both work well. The goal is keeping that sweet tangy contrast against the spiced meat.

Can you freeze tourtière baked or unbaked?

Both work, an unbaked pie can go straight from the freezer into the oven with extra baking time. A baked pie just needs reheating in the oven after thawing.

How long does it take to make a Quebec tourtière with fruit ketchup and green salad?

Count 1 h 30 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a Quebec tourtière with fruit ketchup and green salad?

About 540 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Quebec tourtière with fruit ketchup and green salad cost?

About €2.90 per serving, or €11.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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