Christmas is easily my favourite time of year and for many reasons; mostly because I love cooking and entertaining and Christmas is (for me and my family) all about eating and getting together! One dish that is traditionally served at Christmas is the French Canadian tourtiere meat pie. The tourtiere originated in Quebec and is a meat pie consisting of ground or finely diced pork, beef or veal. I have always had it growing up with pork, but I have seen many other versions, including wild game such as moose, sometimes. The French Canadian tourtiere meat pie was traditionally served as part of the revellion, a celebration of food the night before Christmas and New Years Day. I am serving these small, bite size versions of the meat pies on Christmas Day to my family as an appetizer! 

French Canadian Tourtiere Meat Pie – Bite Sized Appetizers

Heat butter in a frying pan until melted and add the ground pork and fry, stirring occasionally, until cooked thoroughly. Add chopped onion, celery and garlic and fry until soft, about 5 -7 minutes. Add in the spices (allspice, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, salt and pepper) and mix well and continue to heat for about 5 more minutes. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Boil potatoes until a fork can pierce through them. Drain water from potatoes, add in cream (or milk), butter, salt and pepper and mash well. 

Get out the pre-made frozen tart shells and bake in oven for 10 minutes or as per the package instructions. I used Tenderflake Mini Shells as they are the perfect bite size to pop in your mouth! Remove and set aside.

Scoop 1-2 Tbsp. of the pork mixture into each of the cooked tart shells, so the meat mix is just level to the top of the shell. 

Top each tart with a scoop of mashed potato. 

Bake mini tourtieres in preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until warmed and the mashed potato topping is a light brown. 

Serve French Canadian tourtiere meat pie as an appetizer at your next holiday celebration! 

Print

French Canadian Tourtiere Meat Pies

Spiced ground pork meat pies in bite size form for easy popping in your mouth!

Ingredients

• Tart shells
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 lb. ground pork
• 1/4 cup celery chopped
• 1/4 cup onion chopped
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/8 tsp ground allspice
• 1/8 tsp ground clove
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3-4 large potatoes
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 2-3 Tbsp. cream or milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat butter in a frying pan until melted.
2. Add ground pork and fry, stirring occasionally, until cooked thoroughly.
3. Add chopped onion, celery and garlic and fry while stirring until soft, about 5 -7 minutes.
4. Add in the spices and mix well and continue to heat for about 5 more minutes. Set aside.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
6. Boil potatoes until a fork can pierce through them. Drain water from potatoes, add in cream (or milk), butter, salt and pepper and mash well. Set aside.
7. Bake tart shells on a cookie sheet as per package directions for unfilled tarts. Remove and set aside.
8. Scoop 1-2 Tbsp. of the pork mixture into each of the cooked tart shells, so the pork mixture is just level to the top of the shell.
9. Top each tart with a scoop of mashed potatoes.
10. Bake mini tourtieres in preheated oven for about 15 - 20 minutes, until warmed and the mashed potato topping is a light brown, keeping an eye on them to ensure they don't burn.
11. Serve and enjoy!

I hope everyone’s Christmas is filled with treats, drinks, good food and great company! Merry Christmas to all!