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5.0 from 3 votes

Flipper Pie

This Canadian national treasure is made in households all over Newfoundland in the months of April and May, when the annual seal hunt takes place. Flipper pie varies based on who you ask, but for folks from Newfoundland and Labrador, this is a dish that cannot be missed!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Cuisine: Canadian

Ingredients

For the filling:
  • 4 seal flippers
  • 4 cups water for soaking the flippers
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup fat pork diced
  • 1 cup water for the gravy
  • 2 onions chopped
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 
  • flour for dipping the flippers
For the pastry dough:
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1/3 cup butter cold
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Begin by removing all then excess fat from the flippers and place them in a bowl with 4 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Leave them to soak for about 30 minutes.
  2. While the flippers are soaking, we'll prepare the pastry dough. Place 1 ½ cups of flour in a bowl along with the cold butter and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Start mixing thoroughly by hand.
  3. Gradually add the cold water while kneading until you get a soft sandy dough.
  4. Roll out the dough out into a circle on a clean floured surface and use it to line a 10-inch pie pan. Set aside to chill in the fridge while we continue with the pie filling.
  5. Drain the seal flippers and dry them well on kitchen paper. Dip the flippers in salted flour and place in a pan together with the diced fat pork to brown.
  6. Once browned, add the chopped onion, 1 cup of water and the Worcestershire sauce. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper to your liking, cover and simmer on medium-low heat until tender (it should take about 1 hour).
  7. When the meat is almost done, preheat the oven to 300° F/ 150 °C.
  8. Once the meat has become tender, take the dough-lined pie pan out of the fridge and place the seal flipper mixture inside. Cover with dough and place in the oven for 15-30 minutes, until the pastry has turned golden.
  9. Leave to cool slightly before serving and enjoy!

Notes