New Taste: French Canadian Tourtière

In French, Tourtière du Lac-Saint-Jean... It's a totally new taste for me. Living in Canada helps me to try new tastes quite easier than any other places in the world. Furthermore, I'm really eager to know Canadian culture and cuisine while spending my years in this beautiful country.

Tourtière du Lac-Saint-Jean

This is a dish, originated from Quebec province which contains minced meat (mixed of pork, beef and veal ), and lots of significant spices such as ground clove, cinnamon, thyme, and dried sage. It has also potato, onion and garlic inside the pie.

As a result of my observation of this recipe, this dish is totally reflects the Canadian agriculture and climate.

At the first sight, it looks like an apple pie. It gives an impression that the pie is sweet. The primary smell that is sensed is spicy meat. Texture of top of the pie is firm and crunchy. On the contrary, inside of it is juicy and soft.

Despite the sweet appearance, the taste is salty, savoury and combination of conflicted spices such as black pepper, ground clove and -wait for it- cinnamon! :) All these make it perfectly scrumptious.

I think, combination of all the spices that meet in this pie, and the shape which is not usual for savoury dishes, make the tourtière unique. For example, I have never seen cinnamon, ground clove and black pepper with meat in a dish before.

I really enjoyed that I tried a totally new food to me. However, it is not a dish that I would crave for. At the end of this adventure, I learned that there is not an exact way of using of spices. After this experience, I will try new mix type of spices in my dishes.

Cheers! :)

French Canadian Tourtière