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Cretons
Quebec spiced pork spread for breakfast toast
CanadianCretons is a spiced pork spread found on the breakfast table in Quebec homes and diners, from Montreal casse-croûtes to Lac-Saint-Jean farmhouses, spread thick on hot toast with mustard alongside eggs and beans. Minced pork is simmered slowly with onion, milk, breadcrumbs and warm spices until soft, then set in small pots. It keeps for a week in the fridge. A common mistake is not cooking it long enough, which leaves a grainy, watery spread; it needs the full hour. Chef's tip: stir it as it cools so the fat stays mixed through instead of setting on top.
- Total time
- 85 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb minced pork
- 1 onionvery finely chopped
- 1 clove garliccrushed
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup water
- 1 ⅜ oz fine dry breadcrumbs
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground allspice
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- toast and mustard (optional)to serve
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 1 ½ lb minced pork, 1 onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 cup milk and ½ cup water in a heavy pan and break up the meat well with a fork or whisk so there are no lumps.
5 minStep 2: Stir in ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground cloves, ¼ tsp ground allspice, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper and bring to a simmer over a medium heat.
5 minStep 3: Cook uncovered over a low heat for about 1 hour, stirring often, until most of the liquid has gone and the meat is very soft and fully cooked (160°F).
60 minStep 4: Stir in 1 ⅜ oz fine dry breadcrumbs and cook 5 minutes more, until thick like a pâté. Taste and add salt if needed.
5 minStep 5: Spoon into small pots or ramekins and leave to cool, stirring a few times. Cover and chill overnight. Keep refrigerated and eat within 5 days, spread on hot toast.
30 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 160 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 4 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cretons take?
- About 85 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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