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    Home » Recipes » Canadian

    Cretons Recipe

    Published: Jun 16, 2021

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    Cretons is a traditional Quebecois meat pate, commonly served on toast for breakfast. This is my recipe for a homemade, gluten free version.

    Originally published March 7, 2013. Updated on 6/16/2021

    A slice of toast spread with cretons, on a small white plate.  There is a glass dish packed with cretons next to it.

    Cretons - it's a goofy food name for us Anglos.

    Reading it, it looks like someone typoed "Cretin". It's actually pronounced something like "Cret-AWN", and is a hugely popular breakfast food in Quebec.

    I first had this when I was in my early teens, visiting my father in Montreal... and I hated it!

    The spiced pork pate looked really gross in the plastic tub it came in, and the idea of putting cinnamon and cloves in a savory Pâté was completely foreign to my still-developing palate.

    I think the idea of it managed to confuse my actual taste buds at the time, because - as an adult - I love the stuff.

    A slice of toast spread with cretons, on a small white plate.

    I love spreading meat on toast for breakfast - cretons actually comes second to my all time favorite breakfast: Haggis on a toasted bagel.

    Cretons is a lot easier to come by than haggis, though.

    It requires no fancy or hard to find ingredients, and whips up fairly quickly at home.

    This is my version, which is not only gluten free, but a bit spicier than some of the grocery store cretons I've had in Quebec.

    This makes a good amount for a family, but feel free to cut the recipe in half if needed.

    A pot of cretons - a French Canadian pork pate - in a small white ramekin, next to slices of toast.

    What is Cretons Made from?

    Cretons is basically just a cold, spiced pork pâté.

    You start off with ground pork, onion, garlic, spices, and milk. It gets cooked - slowly - until all of the milk is absorbed or boiled off, then allowed to cool.

    Once the fats solidify, you stir it again and then chill it until you use it.

    Why do I specify “gluten-free” for my cretons, you may ask?

    Because a lot of versions involve either breadcrumbs, or torn up slices of bread.

    I find it unnecessary at best - and undesirable in terms of allergens and carbs - so this recipe is bread-free.

    A slice of toast spread with cretons, on a small white plate.  There is a glass dish packed with cretons next to it.

    How Do You Eat Cretons?

    Cretons is generally spread - cold - onto hot toast. I’ve tried heating it up as well, but I do prefer traditional, chilled service.

    You can also serve this in the same way you’d serve other pâté, on toasted crostini or crackers.

    A pot of cretons - a French Canadian pork pate - in a small white ramekin, next to slices of toast.

    How Long Can You Keep Cretons

    Generally speaking, cooked pork will last from 3-4 days in the fridge - so that’s the guideline I use for cretons.

    If you want to freeze it, package it in an airtight freezer safe container. It will last for between 2-4 months.

    As a tip... the less air in the package, the longer it will last. Squeeze out all of the air from a bag, or press plastic wrap against the top of the cretons surface before adding a lid to a lidded freezer dish.

    Cover image for the "More Than Poutine" cookbook.

    This recipe is one of many fantastic Canadian recipes in my cookbook, "More Than Poutine: Favourite Foods from my Home and Native Land”. "More than Poutine" is a Canadian cookbook like no other - written by a Canadian living away, it includes both traditional home cooking recipes, as well as accurate homemade versions of many of the snacks, sauces, convenience foods, and other food items that are hard to come by outside of Canada! Order your copy here on this site, through Amazon, or through any major bookseller!

    A pot of cretons - a French Canadian pork pate - in a small white ramekin, next to slices of toast.

    More French Canadian Recipes

    Looking for more recipes from La Belle Province? Bon appétit!

    French Canadian Pea Soup
    Gluten-Free Chicken Mushroom Tourtière
    Gluten-Free Tourtière
    Montreal Smoked Meat
    Montreal Steak Spice and Marinade
    Poutine - The Way *I* Do It!
    Sucre à La Crème

    A slice of toast spread with cretons, on a small white plate.  There is a glass dish packed with cretons next to it.

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    Before you chow down, be sure to take some pics of your handiwork! If you Instagram it, be sure to tag me - @CelebrationGenerationCA - or post it to My Facebook Page - so I can cheer you on!

    Also, be sure to subscribe to my free monthly email newsletter, so you never miss out on any of my nonsense.

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    A pot of cretons - a French Canadian pork pate - in a small white ramekin, next to slices of toast.

    Gluten Free Cretons Recipe
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    4.60 from 5 votes

    Gluten Free Cretons

    Cretons is a traditional Quebecois meat pate, commonly served on toast for breakfast. This is my recipe for a homemade, gluten free version.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: Canadian, Gluten-free, Quebecois
    Servings: 10 - 2 lbs of pate
    Calories: 275kcal
    Author: Marie Porter

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs Ground Pork
    • 1 Large Onion finely chopped
    • 2 Garlic Cloves pressed
    • ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon Ground Cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon Allspice
    • ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger
    • 2 cups Milk
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
    • Salt and Pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • In a large pan, mash together pork, onion, garlic, and spices. Add milk a little at a time, stirring to create a runny paste. Add bay leaf.
    • Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until almost all of the milk is absorbed/cooked off. Add parsley, stir well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • Transfer cretons to a storage dish with a lid, as-is.. or put in the food processor and puree for a finer texture. Chill well, stir before serving for the first time.
    • Store in the fridge for up to a week.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 341mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg

    A pot of cretons - a French Canadian pork pate - in a small white ramekin, next to slices of toast.

    Related posts:

    A cured loin of pork that has been rolled in cornmeal and sliced - proper peameal bacon! Peameal Bacon and Back Bacon A white, square shaped bowl of smooth French Canadian Pea Soup, with sliced baguette next to it. French Canadian Pea Soup Savoury Alligator Pie Recipe Close up view of a vegetarian donair - a pita bread folded around a pile of vegan donair "meat" slices, chopped red peppers, and donair sauce drizzled on top. Vegetarian Donair / Vegan Donair Meat
    « Spinach Hand Pies
    French Canadian Pea Soup »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. PolaM

      March 07, 2013 at 11:16 pm

      5 stars
      Love this! Have to try it!

      Reply
    2. Nancy Knowles

      February 27, 2020 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      Looks good. Can I use almond milk? What is the nutritional content? Thanks!

      Reply

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