This is another French Canadian specialty from my childhood growing up in Montreal! Cretons de Quebec is a sort of pork pate served most commonly as a spread for toast at breakfast.
Personally, I always thought it had an acquired taste and I never saw the need to acquire it. My sister, however, LOVES the stuff!
When I was in Quebec City a while back, I tried it again. I think it’s important to try foods again once in a while as our taste buds do change. It was good but still not spectacular.
Then, I learned that many of the locals in Quebec like to add some mustard or jam over top when they eat. Let me tell you, that made all the difference for me.
Blackberry jam and Cretons de Quebec are a pretty tasty combination. Since then, I’ve tried it with apple butter. The apples and pork go together really well.
Cretons de Quebec Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground pork (try it with ground turkey if you’d prefer!)
- 2 cups milk
- 1 medium onion – finely diced
- 1 clove garlic – minced
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 1 pinch ground allspice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup bread crumbs (depending on how thick you want the mixture to be)
Instructions:
Cook the meat in a large skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Note: you can drain off some of the fat if you prefer, but if it’s too dry, you won’t end up with the creamy texture you’re looking for. Some even add extra lard and one person I spoke with said they add bacon fat!
Add the onion, garlic, and spices and cook until onions have softened slightly. Add the milk and bread crumbs and continue to simmer over low heat for 2 hours.
Be sure to stir occasionally until the milk mostly evaporates and the mixture starts to thicken.
Remove from the heat and taste. Adjust seasoning as desired.
This is served cool or even cold from the fridge (which is where it should be stored). Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight before serving to allow it to firm up.
Cretons de Quebec
Cretons de Quebec is a sort of pork pate served most commonly as a spread for toast at breakfast. Try it with blackberry jam or apple butter.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork try it with ground turkey if you’d prefer!
- 2 cups milk
- 1 medium onion – finely diced
- 1 clove garlic – minced
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 1 pinch ground allspice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup bread crumbs depending on how thick you want the mixture to be
Instructions
-
Cook the meat in a large skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Note: you can drain off some of the fat if you prefer, but if it's too dry, you won't end up with the creamy texture you're looking for. Some even add extra lard and one person I spoke with said they add bacon fat!
-
Add the onion, garlic, and spices and cook until onions have softened slightly. Add the milk and bread crumbs and continue to simmer over low heat for 2 hours.
-
Be sure to stir occasionally until the milk mostly evaporates and the mixture starts to thicken.
-
Remove from the heat and taste. Adjust seasoning as desired.
-
This is served cool or even cold from the fridge (which is where it should be stored). Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight before serving to allow it to firm up.
Connie says
It doesn’t sound like something I’d like but I bet my father-in-law would have.
Donna Trice says
My mother was born in Quebec. I have been eating this for 65 years. My aunt taught me to make this. I have never seen it made with milk and breadcrumbs ! The amount of spicess I that are in this recipe would hardly flavor this spread.
We used 2 cups of water and sprinkled each spices and salt and pepper generously over the meat.
Cyn Gagen says
Yes apparently there are some regional/family differences. I learned to make it from a dear family friend who was born in Quebec and was a chef so maybe he changed it a bit too. Perhaps I will experiment with more spices in it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Angela Cristina Pelletier says
Hi, can you share your recipe?
Cyn Gagen says
The recipe is right in the blog post. 🙂
Micheline Drolet says
I will surely try the recipe. I’m from Quebec. I make my recepie for creton.
Have a good day
Micheline
Cyn Gagen says
Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions to improve it!
Gillen Reed says
This looks like a great recipe and I can’t wait to try it, it’s hard to find it here in English New Brunswick. It’s the only one I found with the addition of milk and I think milk is important to make the pork tender and the paté smooth. I will post again to let you know how I made out. 🙂
Cyn Gagen says
I can’t wait to hear how it turned out!
marcelle livernoche says
Instead of breadcrumbs,I use uncooked grated large potato it will help to thicking,fromSte Ursule,Québec.
Josee Boudreau says
My mom is from Quebec City and you NAILED this recipe. Made it for my FIL. Served cold on toast and topped with mustard ❤❤❤Thank you!!!!
Cyn Gagen says
Yay! I am so glad you liked it!
Pauline A. Landry says
I am French-Canadian and grew up on this spread. We called it “Gorton”. We did not use milk. I make it still but use ground turkey. After much experimenting, I find that 2 lbs. ground turkey, 4 cups chicken broth simmered together with a finely chopped large onion work for me. I use Cajun spices. When this has simmered a proper length of time, I add 1 cup quick oats and simmer on low heat until reduced to proper consistency — usually 45 minutes. I’ve always eaten this on toast and some mustard. Bon appetit!
Pauline A. Landry says
I am French-Canadian and grew up on this spread. We called it “Gorton”. We did not use milk. I make it still but use ground turkey. After much experimenting, I find that 2 lbs. ground turkey, 4 cups chicken broth simmered together with a finely chopped large onion work for me. I use Cajun spices. When this has simmered a proper length of time, I add 1 cup quick oats and simmer on low heat until reduced to proper consistency — usually 45 minutes. I’ve always eaten this on toast and some mustard. Bon appetit!
Cyn Gagen says
That sounds DELICIOUS! I love how there are regional and family differences among recipes. I can’t wait to try your recipe. Thank you for sharing it.
Pauline A. Landry says
Thank you for considering my recipe.
Wezi Bowker says
My family has enjoyed creton for many generations. We use only salt, pepper & sage (or poultry seasoning). None of us like the other spices in our creton. I like it best on toast with thinly sliced pickles!
Cyn Gagen says
Oh interesting. Thanks for sharing!