Discover the comforting flavors of my grandmother's Cretons Recipe, a classic French Canadian spread. Enjoy its rich, savory taste as a perfect addition to breakfast or snacks. Slather this creamy pork delicacy on fresh bread or crackers for a satisfying treat. Serve with a warm bowl of my Canadian Split Pea Soup for a comforting and traditional combo!
Enjoy delicious French Canadian tradition with my Traditional French Canadian Tourtière recipe. Make a quick and delicious appetizer using ground pork with my French Onion Sausage Rolls. Bite into more toast worthy spread recipes with a delicious Mushroom Tartine recipe.
Cretons vs. Cretonnade
Highlight the difference between Cretons and Cretonnade by focusing on their preparation and texture. Create Cretons by slow-cooking ground pork with onions, garlic, and spices like cinnamon and cloves, binding it with fat and breadcrumbs. Serve this rustic spread with a dense, pâté-like texture, perfect for breakfast.
Reimagine tradition with Cretonnade, which often uses leaner meats like chicken or turkey or even plant-based ingredients. Deliver a smoother, creamier spread that caters to modern tastes. Preserve the essence of French Canadian cuisine in both, while showcasing their unique appeal.
Ingredients
Find below the list of ingredients I used to make my Cretons Recipe.
- Ground Pork
- Milk
- Bread Crumbs
- Onion
- Garlic
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Salt
- Pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot or skillet.
- Stir the ingredients until they are very well combined. Turn the heat on low-medium and keep stirring as it slowly cooks.
- Keep stirring and cooking on low, until the mixture is meat is fully cooked and has a smooth texture.
- Transfer the meat mixture to small containers, which ideally have lids.
5. Use a rubber spatula to flatten the cretons in the containers.
6. Place the lids on the containers and place in the refrigerator until completely cooled, preferably overnight.
Substitution and Variation
- Dairy Free - Use a dairy substitue for the milk, like Almond Milk or Soy milk, as long as they are unflavored and unsweetened.
- Thyme - Add a herb flavor to the Cretons Recipe by adding 1 teaspoon dry Thyme leaves with all of the other ingredients when cooking.
Storage
Store any remaining containers of this Cretons recipe in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Make it in advanced and keep the Cretons for up to a month in the freezer. Thaw out the frozen Creton by transferring a containers to the fridge the night before.
Recipe
Cretons Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 ounces Lean Ground Pork
- ¾ cup Yellow Onion finely chopped
- 1 clove Garlic finely minced
- 1½ cup Milk
- 1 cup Plain Bread Crumbs
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1/16 teaspoon Ground Cloves
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot or skillet.
- Stir the ingredients until they are very well combined. Turn the heat on low-medium and keep stirring as it slowly cooks.
- Keep stirring and cooking on low, until the mixture is meat is fully cooked and has a smooth texture.
- Transfer the meat mixture to small containers, which ideally have lids. Use a rubber spatula to flatten the cretons in the containers.
- Place the lids on the containers or cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator until completely cooled, preferably overnight.
- Make it in advanced and keep the Cretons for up to a month in the freezer. Thaw out the frozen Creton by transferring a containers to the fridge the night before.
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