Food in Canada

Canada, a country known for its vast landscapes and cultural diversity, offers a culinary scene as varied as its geography. Tourists visiting Canada can expect a fusion of traditional dishes influenced by the indigenous peoples, French, British, and other immigrants who have made this country their home. From the fresh seafood of the Atlantic provinces to the hearty fare of the prairies and the innovative farm-to-table movement in British Columbia, there's something to satisfy every palate. Discover the must-try Canadian dishes and the best regions to savor them in as you embark on a gastronomic journey across this great northern nation.

Canadian Dishes

Poutine

A quintessential Canadian dish, poutine hails from Quebec and consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and smothered in a rich, brown gravy. It's a comfort food staple found across the country, with variations including additional toppings like pulled pork, smoked meat, or even lobster.

Tourtière

This savory meat pie is a French-Canadian classic, particularly popular during the holiday season. Tourtière is typically filled with minced pork, veal, or beef, and seasoned with onions, garlic, and spices. The filling is encased in a flaky pie crust and baked until golden brown.

Butter Tarts

These small, sweet pastries are a beloved Canadian dessert. The filling is a thick mixture of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg, baked in a pastry shell until it's semi-solid with a crunchy top. Raisins or nuts are often added to the mix.

Nanaimo Bars

Originating from Nanaimo, British Columbia, this no-bake dessert bar is a slice of heaven. It has three layers: a crumb-based layer with coconut and nuts, a middle layer of custard-flavored butter icing, and a topping of melted chocolate.

Bannock

Bannock is a traditional Indigenous bread, often baked, pan-fried, or cooked over an open flame. This dense and slightly sweet bread can be enjoyed on its own, with jam, or as a side to a main meal. It's a versatile food that reflects the resourcefulness of Canada's First Nations people.

Peameal Bacon

Also known as "Canadian bacon" outside of Canada, peameal bacon is a type of back bacon made from lean boneless pork loin, trimmed fine, wet cured, and rolled in cornmeal. It is often served as part of a hearty breakfast.

Montreal-Style Bagels

Sweeter, denser, and thinner than their New York counterparts, Montreal-style bagels are hand-rolled, boiled in honey-sweetened water, and then baked in a wood-fired oven, giving them a distinctive flavor and texture.

Split Pea Soup

Hearty and nourishing, this soup has been a staple in Canadian kitchens, especially during the cold winter months. It's made from dried split peas and typically includes ham or salt pork, along with carrots, celery, and onion.

Beavertails

Despite the name, no actual beaver is involved in this sweet treat. Beavertails are a type of fried dough pastry that is stretched to resemble the shape of a beaver’s tail. They are traditionally topped with cinnamon and sugar, but other toppings include chocolate, candy, and fruit.

Caesar Cocktail

Often considered Canada's national cocktail, the Caesar is a spicy concoction made with vodka, Clamato (a blend of clam and tomato juices), hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, served with ice in a large, celery salt-rimmed glass, and garnished with a stalk of celery and sometimes lime.

Canadian Desserts

Butter Tarts

As mentioned earlier, these sweet, buttery pastries are a Canadian favorite. The flaky pastry shell is filled with a buttery caramel made from butter, sugar, and eggs, and baked until the filling is gooey and the crust is golden brown.

Nanaimo Bars

These no-bake, triple-layered treats consist of a crumbly wafer base layer, a middle layer of custard-flavored butter icing, and are topped with a smooth layer of chocolate ganache.

Maple Syrup Pie

This sweet pie is a celebration of Canada's most famous export, maple syrup. The filling is simple: a mixture of maple syrup, eggs, and cream, poured into a pie crust and baked until set. It's often served with whipped cream or ice cream.

Sugar Pie (Tarte au Sucre)

A classic French-Canadian dessert, sugar pie is a simple, rich pie with a filling made from flour, butter, salt, vanilla, and cream, with brown sugar or maple syrup. It's baked in a pie crust until the filling is caramelized and sticky.

Blueberry Grunt

Hailing from the Maritime provinces, this dessert is a dumpling-like blueberry stew. The name "grunt" comes from the sound the berries make as they stew under the doughy dumplings. It's a homely, comforting dish often served with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.