Red Lentil Tourtiere Pie is the perfect alternative to the traditional French Canadian meat pie recipe.
Swapping out meat with lentils is easy and delicious. This double-crusted vegetarian tourtiere pie is just as satisfying. A healthy version of the original with my take on spices and seasonings.
This was a post sponsored by Canadian LoveLentils campaign. They graciously compensated me, however all, opinions, recipes and photos are my own.
I love cooking with lentils. The most budget-friendly way to incorporate protein into recipes. Perfect for any meal of the day. Have you ever tried lentils for breakfast?
Christmas is quickly approaching and will be here before we know it. Have you started shopping yet? I just came back from Costco, and it is already INSANE out there.
Things do get a little crazy this time of year, especially on the pocketbook. Lentils are budget-friendly. This meatless version is a fun twist on the classic Canadian tourtiere meat pie recipe.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for making this meatless tourtiere pie are at the bottom of this post.
Did you know you can use lentils in delicious appetizers for all those holiday parties? Green Lentil Mini Cream Cheese Balls are party perfect and so easy to make.
We also love Smoked Salmon Potato Appetizers. Always a hit at the holiday parties.
If plant-based eating is up your alley, then marinated lentils are what you need. Versatile lasts for days and freezer friendly too. Add them to salads, soup, sandwiches, and more.
What’s In Lentil Tourtiere?
This easy vegetarian savoury pie is going against ALL rules, but so delicious. A Quebec meat pie without meat? How can that be? You will need:
- double pie crust
- cooked red lentils
- mashed potatoes
- onion
- spice blend (see the recipe below)
- avocado oil
- salt & pepper
To make this a vegan tourtiere, be sure to use a vegan pie crust.
Have you ever used lentils in place of meat? It is the perfect alternative. Healthy nutrition is easy and delicious. Each 100 gram serving of red lentils includes 27 grams of protein, 18 grams of fiber, 1 gram of fat, and zero cholesterol, along with vitamins and minerals. For more info visit the Canadian Lentil website.
Speaking of great “meatless” alternatives, my Puy Lentil Recipe and Spicy Beluga Pasta Sauce are GREAT.
How about Vegan Mushroom Pate. A great holiday appetizer that is vegetarian and gluten-free too.
If you are a meatloaf lover, this vegetarian meatloaf is a healthy twist on the classic meat-based dish. Red lentils are the perfect meat substitute.
Traditional Christmas Dinners
Everyone has their favourite foods to serve during the holidays. Family recipes of all kinds make an appearance during this festive time of year. Cranberry sauces, stuffing, baking and treats galore. Christmas would not be the same without tradition.
All the baking, treats, and Rum & Eggnog Lattes are always enjoyed, but our traditional Christmas Morning Sandwiches are the most anticipated meal of the season. In fact one year I was going to make something else, and my kids said Christmas morning is not happening unless they get these for breakfast.
Don’t forget to save that holiday ham bone and cook up a huge pot of pea soup. The perfect way to warm up from the cold.
I come from a Ukrainian background. Christmas Eve (which falls in January) was always the traditional “no meat” dinner that consisted of all the Ukrainian classics. Borscht was a MUST on the menu. Canadian butter tarts made an appearance for dessert.
Preparing A Vegetarian Tourtiere Pie
Here is what you do:
- Rinse lentils and cook until the desired doneness (be sure not to salt them till after they are cooked).
- Cook and mash the potatoes.
- Chop and cook the onion.
- Mix the cooked lentils, cooked onion, mashed potatoes, and seasonings.
- Place mixture into the pie shell, add the top crust and bake.
Recipe Tips:
- For the crust, feel free to use homemade. If you are pressed for time or do not like making pie dough, a store-bought double crust is perfectly fine. That is what I used in this recipe.
- To make the cute little cutouts, I used *(affiliate) mini cookie cutters.
- *(affiliate) Red lentils work best for this recipe. The texture most resembles the meat found in the traditional recipe.
I also LOVE this *(affiliate link) silicone pie plate. Makes for easy serving.
My greatest compliment from a reader last year from QUEBEC who happens to be a vegetarian. She served this red lentil meatless tourtiere to her family and THEY LOVED IT!
Here is what Rosy had to say:
I’m a vegetarian from Montréal, Québec, and I used your recipe for tourtière as part of our New Year’s Eve “Réveillon”. (ask your husband) spread. Tourtière is a traditional dish here, so it’s a tough crowd to please but everyone loved it, including non vegetarians, and it was so easy to make. We served it with traditional accompaniments like Green Tomato Chow Chow and pickled onions and beets. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe, and I wish you all the best for the new year.
Savoury Turkey Veronique Rustic Meat Pie has a really simple homemade crust. This is another French meat pie that incorporates ground turkey, white wine and grapes. A great idea for the holiday brunch menu.
French Canadian Tourtiere History
My husband grew up in Quebec during his early years. Tourtiere is a classic French Canadian meat pie. It is referred to as Christmas Eve tourtiere.
I had never heard of it until he introduced me to it. If you have never had it, I will tell you it is truly delicious.
Just like other cultures, tourtiere just as many secret family recipes as Ukrainians have pierogies and cabbage rolls. There is some interesting history of this classic dish.
Did you know:
- There are LOTS of secret family recipes for tourtiere in Quebec (and they don’t like to share their secrets).
- The SPICE BLEND is the key (hence the secret). It consists of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg.
- Usually made with meat (pork, bee,f and veal).
- Baked in a flaky double crust.
- It can be made with salmon or trout.
- Traditionally served on Christmas Eve at Réveillon (a late-night feast after midnight mass).
What to serve with tourtiere?
Since this is a very hearty dish, you only need a few simple sides. Here are a few suggestions:
- a variety of pickles like pickled beets, dill pickles, pickled onions, or zucchini pickles
- homemade ketchup is a great side for this recipe
- a simple holiday slaw is an excellent choice as well
- maple bourbon cranberry sauce is always a holiday hit.
Can you prepare the filling ahead of time?
Yes absolutely, especially cooking the lentils. You can have them ready in the fridge a few days ahead of time. Mix them in with the potatoes before adding them to the pie crust.
Can you freeze leftovers?
Yes, you sure can. In fact, I like to make a couple of these meat pies at a time and bring one out for New Year’s Eve dinner.
Why not start a new tradition in your house with this Red Lentil Meatless Tourtiere Pie. Replacing meat lentils is easy, delicious, and healthy!! Happy Holidays from our house to yours.
Need some holiday treat ideas? Here are a few.
- Holiday White Chocolate Mini Popcorn Balls
- Quick & Easy Festive Holiday Croissants
- Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Fudge
Red Lentil Tourtiere Pie
Ingredients
- 2 pie crusts (I used frozen double crust/thawed
- 4 cups cooked red lentils
- 1 cup mashed potatoes
- ½ cup chopped onion (cooked)
- ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoons nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoons ground cloves
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoons olive oil (to cook the onions)
Instructions
- Turn oven to 375º F.
- Rinse and cook lentils according to package directions (I used 1 cup dry to 3 cups water) ***salt after cooking***.
- Drain in metal sieve, and mash slightly. Set aside.
- Cut, cook and mash potato. Set aside.
- Cook chopped onion in about 1 tbsp. of oil until translucent. Set aside.
- Combine lentils, potato, onions and seasonings in a bowl.
- Place mixture into the bottom pie shell.
- Cut some slits (or pretty cutouts in the top crust).
- Wet the edges of the bottom crust with water, place on top crust and press to seal.
- Bake in oven for approximately 50-60 minutes, until crust is golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool slightly before slicing.
- ENJOY!!
Jersey Girl Cooks
Such an interesting pie! I must try this for a meatless dinner!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you do. I is a great meat alternative for sure.
Marisa Franca
Such a beautiful looking pie!! This would be an ideal dish for New Years Day. Lentils is a huge traditional ingredient for the start of the year. Such a lovely way to serve the lentils rather than in a soup. And your crust is perfection — I love the star cut-outs. A pie for a celebration!
Homemade & Yummy
Well I hope you give this a try. It is a winner here. Happy Holidays.
Sean@Diversivore
Wow! I’m seriously impressed. We’ve made tourtiere in my family for as long as I can remember (well, longer than that really – I think our recipe goes back to my great grandmother), and I wasn’t expecting lentils to work so perfectly, It’s an amazing take, and a perfect one for vegetarians – or anyone really! Cheers!
Homemade & Yummy
See, you can teach an old dog new tricks. If the die-hard Quebec tourtiere critics like it…that makes me very happy.
Sues
What a gorgeous pie!! I’ve actually never heard of Tourtiere Pie before, but now I totally need it in my life! I love subbing lentils for meat for healthier meals, so I’m absolutely loving that swap. I can see why this is such a popular recipe for you!
Homemade & Yummy
Lentils work so well in this traditional holiday dish. Hope you give it a try.
Mackenzie
I had never heard of a tourtiere before seeing this recipe, but it I’m sold! I always struggle to find a comforting winter meal to serve for the vegetarians who come to our festivities, and this recipe has it all! Personally, I love love LOVE lentils, so I found myself as excited to eat this tourtiere as the people intended it for!
Homemade & Yummy
This is loved by the die-hard Quebec tourtiere critics, so it should be a winner for you too. Happy Holidays.
Dana
You have no idea how much of a godsend this recipe is. I grew up on tortieres. Being from a mostly French Canadian family, my mom and grandmaman made them every Christmas. But as I grew up, ground beef started to really turn my stomach so I’ve had to pass on the nostalgic classic. BUT HELLO NOT ANYMORE. I don’t know why I’d never thought of using pulses like lentils before. I can’t wait to give this a whirl and drown it in ketchup because like I said—French Canadian! Haha. Does that make me a savage? Ah well.
Homemade & Yummy
I am so happy to help. I did have a reader from Quebec that served this last year, and her family loved it. If I can get compliments from the French Canadian critics…I will take it!! ENJOY!!
Stef
When I first read the title, at quick glance I saw the word “Tourtiere”, I read it as torture. I thought it must be so good that it’s torture to wait to eat it! 🙂 I had never heard of a tourtiere pie and now I want to try your version and the original. I’m so intrigued!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHHA….tourture!! I can see how that might happen. Now you know all about the famous French Canadain Tourtiere…but with a twist.
Traci
You had me a red lentils and the fact that this is a meatless pie is a double bonus! How cool that you got to celebrate Christmas twice every year as a child. And being that you’re Ukrainian, I can imagine the fantastic flavors on your holiday table. Thanks for sharing the meatless version of this savory pie!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes I do miss those celebrations….and especially all the cooking from my mom and baba.
Trish
Well….. you had me at lentils. I’ve actually never had a tourtiere pie, but I’m pretty sure I would love this meatless version even better than the original. We don’t eat a lot of meat in our house and I definitely start to feel like all the food is too rich this time of year. Cheers to this meatless tourtiere pie! 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
This is a huge hit, even the meat lovers love this version. ENJOY!
Renu
Wow I have never cooked Red lentils in this way, that is in the form of a pie. awesome idea and specially a good meal for parties and get togethers. Delicious.
Homemade & Yummy
They do make a great meat alternative for sure, and work really well in this recipe.
Krista Price
I’ve never cooked with lentils before! I love that they replace meat so easily! This recipe could easily be gluten-free and vegan by using a gluten-free, vegan pie crust! I love it!
Homemade & Yummy
YES…hope you give this a try during the holidays. ENJOY!
April
I have never tried swapping meat with lentils – not even thinking about that. However, the way this pie turned out makes me want to try it. I mean, it is delicious and looks great – saving it for later!
Homemade & Yummy
Lentils are a great meat alternative. This pie really is amazing made this way. Hope you give it a try.
debra
I often sub lentils for meat….super sub for vegans. I have never heard of Tourtiere…but I”m ready to try. Its a beautiful looking pie and I like the wholesome ingredients too. So nice to have something new for the holiday table. Thanks.
Homemade & Yummy
You are great alternative to meat for sure. Enjoy the recipe, we sure do.
Carmy
I love this meatless version! I have a couple of vegetarian friends who would really appreciate this lentil version. Plus I love how you combined the two cultures together, it is so creative!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHA…well Christmas is all about food, and we love trying food from around the world. Happy Holidays.
Tracy
Oh my gosh I had NO idea you could use lentils in a pie! This just made my growing to-do list a little more tolerable now that I don’t have to find a vegetarian option for dinner. Thank you!!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH…problem solved. ENJOY and Happy Holidays.