Pâté chinois
On this page, we're sharing our most beloved French-Canadian, Acadian and Québécois dishes : classics from grand-maman. Here is a classic French-Canadian dish called pâté chinois. Why it’s called a Chinese pâté is still a mystery.
Copyright 2020 Kim Kujawski
Pâté chinois translates to Chinese Pâté. In reality, this classic French-Canadian dish probably has nothing to do with Chinese cuisine. Its origins, however, are still a mystery. The most widespread rumour is that pâté chinois was adapted from shepherd's pie by Chinese cooks working on the Canadian railway in the 19th century. Instead of gravy, they used readily-available corn. However, this theory has been widely dismissed.
A second theory is that pâté chinois is a translation of "China Pie", a dish that originated in the small town of China in the state of Maine. Many Quebeckers from the Beauce and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions came to China as migrants. When they returned home, they brought "China Pie" back with them. This dish originally came from England, where it was prepared with lamb meat. Instead of corn, any vegetables could be used. When English immigrants first arrived in the U.S., they continued to make this dish but added in corn.
Pâté chinois is similar to the English shepherd's pie or the French hachis Parmentier.
Ingredients:
4-5 potatoes (preferably russet or Yukon Gold), peeled and cubed
¼ C butter
½ C milk
Large onion, finely chopped
1 to 1½ lb. lean (or semi lean) ground beef
Large can (540 ml) creamed corn
Salt & pepper
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cook the potatoes in a large pot of salted water and drain. Mash the potatoes with a few tablespoons of butter and the milk. Season to taste.
In a skillet, cook the onions in the remaining butter. Add the minced beef and cook until browned. Season to taste.
In a large glass pan, lightly press meat on the bottom. Layer the corn on top, and finish with the mashed potatoes.
Cook for about 30 minutes.
Interested in learning more about pâté chinois’ mysterious origins? Check out this video from L’Histoire nous le dira (in French with English subtitles), or listen to this episode called “The truth about Quebec’s most famous and mysterious pie.”