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French-Canadian Salmon Pie

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Salmon Pie is a seafood version of the classic French-Canadian Tourtière, a traditional meat pie enjoyed throughout Canada and New England on Christmas Eve.

If you grew up in a French-Canadian community and enjoyed meat pie as part of your Christmas Eve and New Years Eve food celebration, you may also had salmon pie.

In coastal areas of Canada and New England where fish was abundant, salmon was commonly used for making tourtière. Salmon pie is a simple but delicious pie made from a combination of salmon, potatoes, onions, seasonings, and baked in a flaky piecrust.

This recipe for salmon pie is a seaside version of the classic French-Canadian meat pie. It is often served right along with meat pie on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

One of the most popular recipes on Grow a Good Life around the holidays is Tourtière: A French-Canadian Meat Pie. This recipe is pretty magical in that it continues to bring out stories from folks sharing heartfelt memories of their own family version of tourtière passed down from generation to generation.

This recipe for salmon pie is a seaside version of the classic French Canadian meat pie. It is often served right along with meat pie on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Atlantic salmon were once native to almost every coastal river in eastern Canada down to New York. In early colonial times, salmon could be easily be fished at the mouths of freshwater brooks, rivers, and streams to feed the colonists.

By the 1840s, salmon was being canned in Maine and New Brunswick. Unfortunately, commercial fishing and environmental destruction reduced the salmon population. The Atlantic fisheries closed in 1948, and were replaced by larger salmon canning operations along the West Coast.

Even for those who did not live on the coast, canned salmon became a pantry staple.

Ingredients for Salmon Pie

In the past, recipes were not written down. Instead, they were taught from mother to daughter, grandmother to granddaughter, or even in some cases mothers to sons.

When I asked my mother for her version of salmon pie, her response was, “There isn’t a recipe, here’s what I do….”

She proceeded to tell me the salmon filling ingredients, a can of salmon with the bones and skin removed, potatoes, diced onions, and salt and pepper to taste. Mash it all together, fill a piecrust, and bake until golden.

Ingredients for Salmon Pie

Although my mother and grandmothers traditionally used canned salmon, I use fresh poached salmon fillets in this recipe. Frozen salmon would work too. Just thaw before using.

I envision the original French-Canadian salmon pies were made from salmon caught in the coastal rivers and streams as they traveled to and from their spawning locations in October, November, and December.

It you are using canned, I suggest opting for the smaller cans of salmon because these are skinless and boneless. Two 6-ounce cans and the liquid will be plenty to flavor your salmon pie. It doesn’t have to be exact.

If you choose the large, 15-ounce cans, be sure to pick over the salmon to remove the bones and skin. Save the liquid because it is filled with lots of salmon flavor. Wild sockeye or wild pink salmon both work well in this recipe.

From the root cellar:

Select high starch potatoes that stand up when mashed, such as Russets or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes will remain fluffy, blend well with the ingredients, and absorb the salmon flavor. You’ll need about two pounds of potatoes to yield three cups of mashed potatoes.

One small yellow onion will yield around 1/4 cup chopped onion.

How to Make the Salmon Pie Filling

Step 1: Cook the Potatoes

Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut into chunks and boil in a pot of water until tender. Mash the potatoes and set aside.

closeup of potatoes in pot before and after mashing

Step 2: Prepare the Salmon

Sauté the onions in butter in a large skillet over medium heat until they are soft.

Add the water and salmon fillet to the skillet. Spoon the liquid and onions over the salmon, cover the skillet, and poach until the salmon is cooked.

Omit the water if you are using canned salmon instead of fresh. After sautéing your onions, add the canned salmon and liquid from the can to the skillet. Add salt and pepper and simmer for about 3-5 minutes.

sautéing onions in a skillet and poaching salmon

Step 3: Mash it All Together

Remove the skin from the salmon and break the fillet into pieces.

Add the salmon, onions, and poaching liquid to the mashed potatoes and mix to combine. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.

closeup of salmon pie filling

Step 4: Assemble and Bake the Salmon Pie

Roll out and place the bottom pastry into the pie plate.

Add the salmon filling, and brush the outer edge of the piecrust with the beaten egg.

Roll out the top pastry, and place it over the filling. Crimp the edges of the piecrust, brush the top with beaten egg, and cut vent holes.

salmon pie filling

Bake the salmon pie in a preheated oven until the pastry is golden brown. Serve the salmon pie plain, or drizzled with a simple lemon dill white sauce (recipe included below).

salmon pie fresh from the oven

5 from 5 votes
This recipe for salmon pie is a seaside version of the classic French-Canadian meat pie. It is often served right along with meat pie on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
Print
French-Canadian Salmon Pie
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
 

This recipe for salmon pie is a seaside version of the classic French Canadian meat pie. It is often served right along with meat pie on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: French-Canadian
Keyword: salmon pie
Servings: 8
Calories: 350 kcal
Author: Grow a Good Life
Ingredients
Pie Pastry
  • 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour plus extra for rolling
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2/3 cup butter or lard
  • 6-7 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 beaten egg
Salmon Filling
  • 2 pounds russet potatoes about 6 medium
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped onions
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 pound salmon fillet pin bones removed
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
Lemon Dill Béchamel Sauce
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon of dried dill
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Pie Pastry
  1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter or lard until mixture is an even crumbly texture. Add cold water a tablespoon at a time and mix until dough comes together.
  2. Shape the dough into a disc, wrap, and chill in the refrigerator. While pastry is chilling, prepare filling.
Prepare the Salmon Filling
  1. Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut into chunks and boil in a medium size pot of water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain, mash the potatoes, and set aside.
  2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, and sauté until they are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the 1/2-cup of water to the skillet.
  3. Season the salmon fillet with salt and pepper, and place it into the skillet skin side down. Spoon liquid and onions over the salmon, cover the skillet, and cook until the salmon is opaque, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the salmon cool slightly.
  4. Remove the skin and break the salmon into pieces. Add the salmon, onions, and poaching liquid to the mashed potatoes and mix to combine. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
Assemble the Salmon Pie
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough in half and form two balls. Flatten one ball with your hands, and roll dough to about 12-inches in diameter, to fit a 9-inch pie pan.
  3. Place the pastry into the pie plate and add the salmon pie filling. Gently pat the filling down to remove any air spaces.
  4. Brush around the outer edge of the pastry with the beaten egg. Roll out the top pastry and place on top of the pie filling.
  5. Fold the top crust under the bottom crust and pinch the edges. Brush with egg wash and cut vent holes.
  6. Bake the salmon pie in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. While the salmon pie is baking, make the dill béchamel sauce.
Make the Lemon Dill Béchamel Sauce
  1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Gradually add milk stirring constantly. When sauce begins to thicken, add the lemon juice, dill, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 2 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.
  2. Remove the pie from oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Cut into pie wedges, drizzle with the dill sauce if desired, and serve warm.
  3. Yield: Makes 1 pie, about 8 servings.

Research and Further Reading:

  • Noaa. “Atlantic Salmon – Protected.” NOAA Fisheries, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlantic-salmon-protected. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  • Dunfield, R. W. The Atlantic Salmon in the History of North America. Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, 1985.

You May Also Like:

  • Tourtière: A French-Canadian Meat Pie
  • Zucchini Garlic Bites
  • How to Make a Rich Turkey Stock

Good planning is key to a successful vegetable garden

Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. You will find everything you need to organize and plan your vegetable garden in my PDF eBook, Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden.

Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden

This recipe for salmon pie is a seaside version of the classic French-Canadian meat pie. It is often served right along with meat pie on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Abbey says

    December 20, 2020 at 11:17 pm

    I am going to try and make this for christmas eve but have another dinner on the 36th will it be good to eat then.

    Reply
  2. Michelle says

    December 20, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    Honoring my French Canadian heritage today and made salmon pie….however I made a salmon pie from a different site before I found this one.

    This one sounds better and I will follow this recipe next time!!

    Reply
  3. Ted Haslam says

    December 9, 2020 at 11:51 am

    As a child we had tortiere Christmas Eve in Quebec, even though we were English. Now I have time to make it, and the salmon pie sounds wonderful…so here I go for Xmas 2020! She also served something called Marshland Sauce with it instead of the ketchup which was my go-to smothering assistant. Wish I had that recipe……

    Reply
    • Helen Downing says

      January 18, 2021 at 2:39 pm

      Ted, are you sure about the name? It could have been a family suname like Marchand> I have to admit, my family always served it plain with veggies, but when I prepare it for my family we use a jar of Heinz Au Jus Gravy. I think that’s an English influence from my husband’s family’s side.

      Reply
  4. Gérald Périgny says

    November 23, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    I use boil eggs on the behamel so good

    Reply
  5. Robin says

    August 30, 2020 at 11:46 am

    5 stars
    This is so silly to admit, but I’d never thought of making a salmon pie (even though my kids LOVE chicken pot pie). I tried this out with some salmon from a box I ordered online, and my kids were all over it. We will be having this at least once per week for the rest of salmon season!

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      August 31, 2020 at 8:31 am

      Robin, I am so glad you and your family enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  6. Eliza Fredette Koerner says

    May 2, 2020 at 7:01 pm

    5 stars
    This is my favorite recipe from my childhood and I loved seeing this take on it! My family is from northern NH and we always had this on my birthday as it fell during Lent. The poaching the salmon was genius and made the flavor come out so much more! I love your take on the bechamel sauce, my family does the same roux base but with green peas and black pepper, always serving pickled red beets on the side! Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      May 4, 2020 at 9:26 am

      I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe, Eliza. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
    • Cindy Johnson says

      December 1, 2020 at 12:59 am

      Wondering where you are from as I am also from Northern NH and always had peas in the bechamel sauce too. There is a well-loved restaurant in Berlin that still serves it that way. My family typically has the meat pies on Christmas eve, but i don’t eat meat, so am planning on making this.

      Reply
      • Cindy Perno says

        January 7, 2021 at 3:28 am

        IMy mother is from Berlin, NH so I’d like to make this salmon pie in her honor. Do you think adding peas to the filling would work? Thanks.

        Reply
        • ©Rachel Arsenault says

          January 11, 2021 at 11:25 am

          Cindy, Sure, you could add peas to the filling.

          Reply
  7. Lynne says

    April 23, 2020 at 10:28 am

    5 stars
    Made this yesterday after rummaging through the cupboard to find the canned salmon, and the freezer for frozen pie dough that needed to be used up. Amazing recipe and a real comfort food during a time when we are avoiding the stores as much as possible. I was tempted to add some chopped lovage and green onions from the garden but decided to go simple the first time. My husband came in from outside and said “It smells like The Cottage (our favorite restaurant) in here”. Will definitely be making this often!

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      April 25, 2020 at 9:46 am

      Thank you so much for your comment, Lynne. I am so happy that this recipe was a great comfort food for you and your husband during this time.

      Reply
  8. C says

    March 7, 2020 at 9:48 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent recipe! I was trying to find something similar after having this at Au Pied de Cochon Cabane a Sucre in Mirabel, QC and this was spot-on! I topped the béchamel with a quartered soft-boiled egg and topped it with fish roe as at PDC and it brought me right back. I used homemade lard for the crust which made it perfect. Thanks again for sharing this!

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      March 9, 2020 at 12:39 pm

      C, I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe! The soft-boiled egg and fish roe sound like a wonderful addition.

      Reply

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