Cretons
Cretons, a classic French-Canadian delicacy, is the ultimate comfort food spread. Made with tender ground pork, creamy whole milk, and a medley of warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, this savory pâté is rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. Slow-simmered to a spreadable perfection, cretons boast a hearty texture enhanced by breadcrumbs and a subtle hint of garlic and onion. Easy to prepare with just 10 minutes of hands-on time, this recipe requires patience as it gently cooks to develop its signature depth of flavor. Refrigerated overnight, cretons transform into a firm, velvety spread perfect for slathering on rustic bread, crackers, or toast. Whether served as a hearty breakfast, a simple snack, or part of a charcuterie board, this traditional Quebecois treat is sure to impress. Keywords: cretons recipe, French-Canadian food, pork spread, easy savory spread, traditional Quebec recipes, comfort food spread.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 500 g Ground pork
- 250 ml Whole milk
- 1 medium Onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 125 ml Breadcrumbs
- 0.5 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 0.25 tsp Ground cloves
- 0.25 tsp Ground allspice
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tbsp Butter (optional, for greasing)
Instructions
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the ground pork, whole milk, and finely chopped onion.
Place the pan over medium-high heat and stir to break up the pork into small, even pieces as it cooks.
When the meat starts to simmer, lower the heat to medium-low. Add the minced garlic, breadcrumbs, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground allspice, salt, and black pepper.
Mix everything thoroughly to combine and ensure the spices are evenly distributed.
Simmer the mixture uncovered for about 60-90 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent sticking, ensuring the mixture stays soft and moist but comes together as a spreadable consistency.
If the mixture becomes too dry while cooking, add an extra splash of milk to maintain the texture.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed, toward the end of the cooking process.
Once the cretons reach the desired consistency, transfer them to a greased loaf pan or small serving bowl to cool.
Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to firm up.
Serve chilled or at room temperature, spread onto toast, crackers, or thick slices of bread.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2027 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 127.2 g | 163% | |
| Saturated Fat | 51.3 g | 256% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 511 mg | 170% | |
| Sodium | 3761 mg | 164% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 70.4 g | 26% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.3 g | 19% | |
| Total Sugars | 21.1 g | ||
| Protein | 146.8 g | 294% | |
| Vitamin D | 3.0 mcg | 15% | |
| Calcium | 544 mg | 42% | |
| Iron | 7.7 mg | 43% | |
| Potassium | 604 mg | 13% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
