Canada is known for a lot of things, from its culture of kindness and the diversity of people that house it to the tradition of ice hockey and the wildlife that hockey teams are often named after. However, its claim to fame doesn’t stop there…Canada is also known for a wide variety of cultural cuisine and native dishes; no, we don’t put maple syrup on everything! Here is our list of the Most Popular Canadian Dishes!
The following are the six (6) most popular Canadian dishes you need to try:
The Great Canadian Poutine
Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich
Moose Stew
Famous Halifax Donair
Flipper Pie
Jigs Dinner
So, if you’re visiting Canada and you’re looking for some popular Canadian dishes to try, you’d be remiss not to at least try some of those discussed throughout this article. Sure, the scenery is beautiful, and the people even more so…But let’s be honest, the real reason we travel is to EAT!
The Great Canadian Poutine
A list of the most popular Canadian dishes wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the poutine. Originating in the late 1950s in Quebec and later making its way throughout the country, poutine is arguably the most popular of Canadian dishes, comprising a bowl of fries drenched in gravy and topped with cheese curds.
While there are now many variations of the original poutine, if you want the most authentic of its kind, be sure to request poutine with “cheese the squeaks”! This refers to the use of cheese curds rather than the lesser of the two being graded cheese. If they don’t offer the option with curds, turn around and run; it’s not authentic poutine!
Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich
Another dish originating from Quebec, the Montreal smoked meat sandwich, is a composite sandwich using kosher deli meat marinated in spice that’s then cured for over a week before it’s smoked to perfection. Once the meat is ready, it’s then sandwiched between two slices of rye bread with a generous spread of mustard.
For the most authentic smoked meat sandwich, you’re going to need to visit downtown Montreal; however, because of its claim to fame, many other regions of Canada have since perfected it as well.
Culinary Tour Suggestions For You
Moose Stew
The Canadian landscape is abundant in forests, creating an excellent natural habitat for wildlife. As such, wild game meat is quite a popular dish in northern parts of the country, from moose and venison to duck and rabbit.
Of course, with wild game meat comes endless possibilities, often made into sausage or steak and then into a delicious hardy stew! If you’re looking for the most authentic of Canadian dishes, you’d be remiss not to test your palate with some moose stew. While it may not taste like chicken, it can be argued that it tastes 10x more delicious!
Famous Halifax Donair
From the French-Canadian capital to the Maritimes, the next Canadian dish worthy of mention is the famous Halifax Donair. What’s a donair, you ask? Often compared to a kabab, a donair is simply ground beef wrapped in pita bread. However, this Canadian comfort food is much more than just meat wrapped in pita bread…
First, the beef is formed on a cone-shaped object and slowly roasted on a spit. Once cooked, the meat is shaved and seasoned with zest and spice. Finally, it’s wrapped with the accompaniment of vegetables, vinegar, and more sauce. The end result is the most popular comfort food Canada has to offer; if you’re a meat-eater, that is…
Flipper Pie
A listicle of popular Canadian dishes wouldn’t be justified if not for the addition of a fish-centric meal. After all, much of our culture and history is rooted in the fisheries, especially in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Here, the Flipper Pie has been perfected through generations, often the center of a traditional kitchen party, minus the booze, of course…While the recipe for flipper lie tends to differ from family to family, the taste remains the same – to die for!
Jigs Dinner
Last but certainly not least, to stick to the theme of Newfoundland and Labrador, we present jigs dinner. For anyone NOT from Newfoundland and Labrador, this may not be as popular of a dish. Heck, you may not even know what it is.
Nevertheless, its popularity in the province is so profound that it belongs on the most popular national dishes list.
In short, a jigs dinner is a traditionally cooked dinner comprising salt beef, corn beef, cabbage, turnip, carrots, potatoes, peas pudding, and of course, gravy. Through the years, recipes have changed, and variations have been created. However, for those wanting the original, that’s what it’s supposed to consist of.
Made by your grandma, a jigs dinner is never something you pass up on…
More Canada Food Experiences for you
Victoria Guided Food and History Tour
Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour
Montreal walking tasting tour with Secret Food Tours
Check out these other posts and guides on DiscoverCanada.Blog
The Great Canadian Train Itinerary
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