Tourtiere: a French-Canadian Meat Pie [Gluten Free, Nightshade Free]

Tourtiere is a French-Canadian meat pie traditionally served for special occasions like Christmas. Now, you can enjoy it, too, because this one is free from gluten and nightshades!

Tourtiere

While we were visiting our daughter at Christmas time, she served us tourtiere.  She follows a recipe she found on Grow a Good Life, a homesteading blog about the journey to a more self-sufficient life. So that I could eat it too, we were inspired to create a gluten free, nightshade free version.

I’m Canadian and have French roots, but other than a couple of lovely trips through Quebec I’ve not experienced much French-Canadian culture. I’ve heard of tourtiere, but my knowledge is limited. Some people call it Quebec pork pie or meat pie. It’s a combination of ground meat, onion, herbs, and spices baked in a traditional double pie crust. Depending on the region, there might be wild game or even fish in it.

Denise of UrbnSpice  tells us about her mother’s tourtiere with soda crackers in it. Aimee at Simple Bites adds rolled oats to hers. Ricardo’s recipe has breadcrumbs in it. The recipe that my daughter uses includes potatoes.

Since I discovered through following the Elimination Diet Meal Plan, that nightshades-particularly potatoes-don’t agree with me, I was challenged to make a tourtiere that’s both gluten free and nightshade free.

I was challenged to make a tourtiere that’s both gluten free and nightshade free.

Gluten Free

To make this a gluten free tourtiere, follow this recipe for The Best Gluten Free Pie Crust.  It will make about three double-crust pies, and this is one of the ones I like to make with it.

Nightshade Free

To accommodate my nightshade issues, we used riced cauliflower in our meat pie. The result is delightful! To make riced cauliflower, chop fresh cauliflower into large junks. Pulse a few at a time in a food processor until they are just the consistency of cooked rice.

Watch it all come together in this short video:

Tourtiere

Yield: 8 people

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

CathysGlutenFree.com

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Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 pound ground beef
• 4 cups cauliflower, riced (I used fresh.)
• 2 medium carrots, grated
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup beef or vegetable broth
• 1 egg, whisked, for glazing
• gluten free pastry for double crust pie

Instructions

1. Heat the avocado oil in a large frying pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Saute the onion and garlic.
2. Add the meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned.
3. Add the cauliflower, carrots, spices, and broth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 F.
5. Roll out gluten free pie crust. Line a large pie plate with bottom crust. Prepare a top crust.
6. When the filling is ready, pour it into the prepared bottom crust in pie plate. Top is immediately with the top crust. Brush whisked egg over it. Bake for 30 minutes, or until crust if golden.
7. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 199

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

You’ll find the recipe for the Best Gluten Free Pie Crust here.

These are the nutrition facts for the meat pie filling. You’ll find the information for the crust with the Best Gluten Free Pie Crust  recipe.