BBQ brisket shredded and served with fries Oven-Braised BBQ Brisket BBQ chicken thighs served Sticky BBQ Chicken Thighs (Oven Baked) BBQ ribs served with corn on the cob Oven-Baked BBQ Ribs with Buttered Corn Irish pear cider served fresh Irish Pear & Cider Cocktail Holiday apple cider served in a glass Mulled Holiday Apple Cider with Orange Spiced cherry cider served in a glass Spiced Cherry Apple Cider Glass of blueberry mint lemonade Blueberry Mint Lemonade with Homemade Syrup Blueberry iced tea in a glass Fresh Blueberry Iced Tea Blueberry liqueur in a bottle Homemade Blueberry Vodka Liqueur Green Apple Cider served fresh Iced Granny Smith Apple Cider Mocktail Green tea with lemon served fresh Classic Lemon Green Tea Vanilla latte served fresh Homemade Vanilla Bean Latte Fiery spiced cider in a glass Spicy Ginger-Chili Apple Cider Oak Aged Cider served in a glass Bourbon-Barrel Style Spiced Apple Cider Winter fruit tea served in a glass Spiced Winter Fruit Tea with Rosehips Tropical fruit tea served in a glass Tropical Green Tea Punch with Mango and Pineapple Salted Caramel Cider in a glass Salted Caramel Apple Cider Cantaloupe smoothie in a glass Creamy Cantaloupe & Yogurt Smoothie Plum Vanilla Cider served Vanilla-Plum Sparkling Apple Cider Mocktail Spiced Plum Tea served in a glass Spiced Plum Tea Infusion BBQ brisket shredded and served with fries Oven-Braised BBQ Brisket BBQ chicken thighs served Sticky BBQ Chicken Thighs (Oven Baked) BBQ ribs served with corn on the cob Oven-Baked BBQ Ribs with Buttered Corn Irish pear cider served fresh Irish Pear & Cider Cocktail Holiday apple cider served in a glass Mulled Holiday Apple Cider with Orange Spiced cherry cider served in a glass Spiced Cherry Apple Cider Glass of blueberry mint lemonade Blueberry Mint Lemonade with Homemade Syrup Blueberry iced tea in a glass Fresh Blueberry Iced Tea Blueberry liqueur in a bottle Homemade Blueberry Vodka Liqueur Green Apple Cider served fresh Iced Granny Smith Apple Cider Mocktail Green tea with lemon served fresh Classic Lemon Green Tea Vanilla latte served fresh Homemade Vanilla Bean Latte Fiery spiced cider in a glass Spicy Ginger-Chili Apple Cider Oak Aged Cider served in a glass Bourbon-Barrel Style Spiced Apple Cider Winter fruit tea served in a glass Spiced Winter Fruit Tea with Rosehips Tropical fruit tea served in a glass Tropical Green Tea Punch with Mango and Pineapple Salted Caramel Cider in a glass Salted Caramel Apple Cider Cantaloupe smoothie in a glass Creamy Cantaloupe & Yogurt Smoothie Plum Vanilla Cider served Vanilla-Plum Sparkling Apple Cider Mocktail Spiced Plum Tea served in a glass Spiced Plum Tea Infusion
Seal flipper pie served in a rustic dish with golden puff pastry.
Unique and traditional seal flipper pie

Traditional Seal Flipper Pie

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Main Courses
Seal Flipper Pie is the soul of Newfoundland in a dish. This harsh northern landscape breeds tough people who respect the sea and what it provides. Seal flipper meat is dark red, with a flavor somewhere between wild beef and game, rich in iron and protein. The aroma of meat and vegetables steaming under the pastry crust evokes community feasts after the spring seal hunt. A true curiosity that tells a story of survival and tradition.
🕒 Prep Time 40 mins
🍳 Cook Time 2 hrs
⌛ Total Time 2 hrs 40 mins
🍽️ Servings 6 servings
🔥 Calories 550 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Canadian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large bowl: For soaking.
  • Skillet: For browning.
  • Deep pie dish or casserole: For baking.
  • Rolling pin: For shaping the dough.

Allergen Information

⚠️ Wheat
⚠️ Egg
⚠️ Milk

Instructions

1 ✓

Crucial step: remove all visible fat (blubber) from the meat. Cut the meat into large chunks and soak in cold salted water for 30 minutes.

Tip: Seal fat has an extremely strong, fishy taste that can overpower the dish. Thorough cleaning and soaking (osmosis) draws out blood and neutralizes flavors.
2 ✓

Remove meat, pat dry, and dredge in flour. Heat the butter in a skillet and brown the meat on all sides. Transfer to the pie dish.

Tip: Browning the flour coating will thicken the gravy later and add deeper flavor via caramelization.
3 ✓

In the remaining fat, sauté the chopped onion, carrots, and celery until translucent. Add the cubed potatoes and toss.

Tip: The vegetables pick up the savory meat flavors from the fat.
4 ✓

Sprinkle the vegetables with a little flour, stir, then pour in the stock. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil until thickened.

Tip: This 'velouté' style sauce will bind the pie filling together.
5 ✓

Pour the vegetable mixture over the meat in the pie dish. Stir gently. Let cool for 10-15 minutes.

Tip: If you put the pastry on hot filling, the butter in the dough melts immediately, resulting in a soggy, heavy crust instead of flaky layers.
6 ✓

Roll out the puff pastry and cover the dish. Crimp the edges. Brush with beaten egg and cut a few slits for steam to escape.

Tip: Egg wash gives the baked pastry an appetizing, glossy golden-brown color.
7 ✓

Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 90-120 minutes. If the pastry browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil, but the meat needs time to become tender.

Tip: During long baking, collagen turns to gelatin, thickening the juices.

Recipe FAQ

What can I substitute for seal meat?
Although seal is needed for the authentic experience, beef shank or venison suitable for slow cooking can be used.
Why soak the meat?
Seal meat contains a lot of blood; soaking helps remove this, resulting in a milder flavor.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes, you can prepare the filling the day before and cover with pastry just before baking.

Ingredients

  • 2 whole Seal Flippers (cleaned meat)
  • 2 medium Yellow Onions
  • 2 medium Carrots
  • 2 stalks Celery
  • 1 lb Potatoes
  • 3 tbsp All-Purpose Flour (plus more for dusting)
  • 4 tbsp Butter
  • 2 cups Beef Stock
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 1 sheet Puff Pastry (approx 10 oz)
  • 1 large Egg (for egg wash)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Pepper