The food palates of Canada have come a long way from the aboriginal fire pits that offered up bear, beaver, and deer meat alongside the three sisters, corn, beans, and squash. British and French influences have shaped the tastes of modern Canada, and adding to these cuisines are the gustatory influences of Eastern Europe brought in by immigrants as well as those from Asian countries. There is truly a plethora of delightful taste treats thanks to this melting pot's contributions to the soup pot.
What is authentic Canadian food?
If the food was eaten by the Aboriginal, British, or French inhabitants it can be said to be authentically Canadian. Other foods are uniquely Canadian because they are regional and are popularly associated with individual areas. A few Canadian foods are simply modern day inventions that originated in Canada.
Seafood in Canada
From the Maritimes we get mussels, lobsters, salmon, clams, kelp, and any other sort of fish from the Atlantic. Many kinds of seafood and fish are harvested in the Maritimes. Pets-de-soeurs are pastry snacks flavored with brown sugar and cinnamon. Fiddlehead ferns are a vegetable treat available fresh only during the springtime.
Maple syrup is a product of Quebec and surrounding areas. The maple trees are tapped to release the sap that becomes syrup. This requires the right weather conditions so that the sap will flow properly. Sugaring off is what happens when the sap is boiled down to a thick syrup. Quebec supplies about 75% of the world's maple syrup. Also from Quebec is poutine which is now a favorite all over Canada. This dish is made of lard-fried, freshly cut French fries, cheese curds, and a dark, thick gravy.
In central Canada, that is, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba it's all about beef, pork, and lamb, and more recently, emu. Corn, Saskatoon berries and various grains are grown on the small amount of arable soil in Canada. Canada's west coast is famous for its salmon, often smoked. An Inuit favorite is Muktaaq or muktuk, which is the skin of the bowhead or beluga whale or the narwhal. It is eaten either raw or cooked.
Other Canadian favorites include:
- Nanaimo bars – sweet layered treats of chocolate crumb, custard or vanilla icing, and chocolate
- Butter tarts – mini-pies with a filling of butter, sugar, eggs, and raisins.
- Beaver tails – fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar.
- Tourtičre – meat pies of French origin.
- Back bacon – Canadian bacon.
- Bannock – a griddle-baked flatbread of Scottish origin.
- Wild Rice – not a true rice, but a grass that is cooked in the same manner as rice.
- Flipper pie – a savory meat pie made from seal flippers and stew vegetables.
- Coffee and donuts – of the Tim Horton variety.
- Döner kebab – East coast favorite of Turkish origin, similar to a gyro.