Canadian Food Traditions

Canadian cooks flavor many tradional dishes with maple syrup,

Canada's mix of diverse cultures, an abundance of natural resources and a thriving agricultural industry define the country's rich culinary traditions.

National Dish

As pizza is to Italy and hot dogs are to the United States, poutine is to Canada. The popular dish consists of a layer of French fries sprinkled with cheese curds, topped off with a thick coat of gravy.

Maple

Canada identifies itself with its maple forests, and maple syrup is a key ingredient in its cuisine. Maple sugar pie is the signature dessert of Quebec. Maple sundaes, cakes, and butter tarts are also popular. Canadian cooks glaze chicken, ham and pork with maple syrup and use it as a flavoring for breads and as a sweetener for milk.

Pork Dishes

Farmers export more than $2 billion of pork a year, but plenty of ham and bacon is served at Canadian tables. Tourtiere, a savory French-Canadian pork pie, is a holiday specialty. Peameal bacon, a cured pork loin coated in corn meal and usually grilled, is popular throughout Canada.

Wild Produce

Canada's First Nations introduced settlers to wild blueberries and fiddleheads, the tasty curled tips of wild ostrich ferns. Both are now seasonal specialties that have inspired regional festivals.

References

• Food in Every Country: Canada
• Trip Advisor: Canadian Cuisine
• Ontario Maple Syrup: Recipes
• Epicurios: Quebec Maple Sugar Pie
• World Wide Gormet: Touritere

Resources

• Practically Edible: Canadian Bacon
• Health Canada: Fiddleheads
• Canada Agriculture: Canadian Blueberries