My Mom's Cretons (Aka Gorton) and Tourtiere

Submitted by Mike Pellerin

"There are as many recipes for Cretons as there are folks making it in Quebec. This recipe is my adaptation of my Family's recipe. Note; it does not contain milk."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 30mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 3 lbs ground pork butt (or ground pork)
• 1 medium onion (chopped fine)
• 1 tablespoon allspice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon clove
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups water (you may not need it all)
• 1⁄8 teaspoon pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

directions

1. If your meat is too lean, cut up 1/4-1/3 pound Salt Pork, and render into lardons. Remove the salt pork bits, then continue the recipe, omitting the salt. Do not use bacon for the extra fat, bacon is smoked. You can use Lard, 1-2 T, in a pinch.
2. Put all ingredients into a large sauce pot, just covering by an inch with the water.
3. Mix together.
4. Simmer on low, stirring frequently for 3-4 hours.
5. Add water as needed to keep moist and from sticking.
6. After the allotted cooking time you should have simmered the mixture down till there is about an inch of combined fat and water.
7. Taste to check the seasonings. If your spices are old, you may need to re-spice the mixture
8. (with the same amounts), then cook out the raw taste a bit.
9. Transfer to a bowl to cool, stirring to keep fat suspended in meat.
10. Serve warm on toast, or cold for sandwiches.
11. For Tourtiere mix the same mixture with 3 0r 4 mashed (dry) potatoes,
12. allowing them to suck up the moisture.
13. Allow to cool, and ladle into pre-pared pie crusts.
14. Egg wash and bake to specifications.

Reviews

[Skooch]

Oh my! My grandmother use to make this all the time and, unfortunately, she's passed away. I will definitely try this but, in the mean time, wanted to say thanks for posting and bringing back such happy memories! :) (I use to eat this on toast or crackers)

 

[weezami]

I just wrote the last reveiw and forgot to rate it!!!!!! I give it 5 stars!

 

[PIC LISE]

Finally someone that does not add milk.. your recipe is very mich like my mom's except that they rendered leaf lard before putting the meat in..and then they would take out the browned cut up pieces of lard and made" cretons de panne" all lard and salty. served cold! on crackers<br/>talk about clogged arteries ! hahaaaa well ty for this recipe love it!

 

[queenbeatrice]

Tres bon, just like memere's. I have made this twice now and I needed way less water the second time. I'm glad I only added it a bit at a time as needed. The first time I used 1 3/4 cups and the second time I only needed 1 1/4 cups.

 

[CookstoRelax]

This is as close as I have gotten to the spread I grew up with. Yummm Although in this part of the country we called it Gorton.