Sushi Pizza
A true Canadian creation, sushi pizza was first dreamed up in Toronto in the 1990s — a perfect blend of East-meets-West creativity that defines our multicultural food scene. Crispy rice “crust,” creamy sauces, and fresh fish make it both familiar and exotic. You’ll find versions in sushi bars across Canada, from Vancouver to Halifax — each bite a reminder of how innovation and diversity come together at the Canadian table.
Aburi (Flame-Seared) Sushi
Aburi sushi — lightly torched so the fish just melts — found a home in Canada on the West Coast, where Vancouver’s sushi scene helped popularize the style. It’s elegant yet unfussy: warm, smoky top; cool, seasoned rice beneath. Perfect for a dinner party starter or a hands-on night at home.
Canadian Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are one of those nostalgic starters that always bring people together. In Canada, they’ve graced potluck tables, holiday buffets, and backyard barbecues for generations. Simple, creamy, and endlessly adaptable, they reflect the thrift and comfort at the heart of Canadian cooking. Whether dusted with paprika or given a playful twist, they remain the appetizer everyone reaches for first.
Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup is a Canadian classic, especially in Quebec, where it dates back to the 1600s with French settlers. Made from dried peas that lasted through long winters, it was often simmered with salted pork to create a hearty, nourishing meal. Thick, golden, and comforting, it remains a staple across the country — a simple soup with deep roots in Canadian history.
Tomato and Basil Soup
Few dishes are as comforting as tomato soup with grilled cheese. In Canada, this pairing is pure nostalgia — warming bowls of tomato-basil soup served alongside golden, gooey sandwiches made with chedder cheese on white bread were a childhood staple. Simple, nourishing, and endlessly adaptable, tomato soup is as welcome on a snowy afternoon as it is at a summer table made with fresh garden tomatoes.
Greek and Cypriot Salads
Fresh, vibrant, and simple, these salads are built on the same foundation — juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, onion, olives, and good olive oil. In Greece, the classic horiatiki is finished with feta and oregano, while in Cyprus, halloumi takes centre stage. In Canada, they’ve become summer favourites at backyard tables, blending Mediterranean flavours with local produce like Ontario and BC greenhouse tomatoes that rival the sweetness of the Mediterranean sun.
Easiest Pizza Recipe
Pizza night in Canada is more than dinner — it’s tradition. From Friday nights to birthday parties, homemade pizza means family gathered around the table, kids stretching dough with flour-dusted hands, and everyone claiming a corner or slice with their favourite toppings. While Italian immigrants first brought pizza here, Canadians made it their own — from Ontario’s world-famous Hawaiian invention in 1962 to the bacon-mushroom-pepper “Canadian classic.” It’s a dish that feels homemade, celebratory, and endlessly adaptable.
Canadian Poutine
Few dishes shout Canada as loudly as poutine. Born in rural Quebec in the 1950s, when a diner customer asked for cheese curds on fries and the cook replied “ça va faire une maudite poutine” (“that’s going to make a damn mess”), it has since become a national icon. Today Canadians eat it everywhere from hockey arenas to gourmet bistros, with more than 36 million servings enjoyed each year. Crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds, and silky gravy come together in a dish that is indulgent, comforting, and unmistakably Canadian.
Canadian Butter Tarts
Few desserts are as iconic to Canada as the butter tart. Sweet, gooey, and nestled in flaky pastry, they’ve become a symbol of Canadian baking — a treat that’s proudly ours. From holiday tables to roadside bakeries and country fairs, butter tarts carry a sense of heritage and national pride, simple yet unmistakably Canadian.
British Columbia Nanaimo Bars
Few desserts are as proudly Canadian as the Nanaimo bar. Named after the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, this no-bake treat is famous for its layers: a crumbly chocolate-coconut base, creamy custard filling, and glossy chocolate topping. From Christmas cookie platters to community bake sales, it’s a sweet square that’s instantly recognizable, always indulgent, and forever part of Canada’s culinary story.
Canadian Maple Fudge
Few sweets feel more Canadian than maple fudge. Creamy, melt-in-your-mouth, and rich with pure maple syrup, it’s a treat you’ll find at sugar shacks, fairs, and holiday markets across the country. For many families, a tray of homemade maple fudge at Christmas or during maple season in early spring is a tradition that ties generations together. Smooth and sweet, it’s a taste of Canada in every bite.
Truely Canadian Chicken Wings
Few foods feel more Canadian than a plate of wings paired with a cold beer during hockey season. From pubs in Toronto to backyard barbecues in the Prairies, wings have become the ultimate game-day ritual. While Buffalo, New York, may claim their invention, Canadians have made wings their own — serving them by the platter at pubs, festivals, and living rooms across the country. Crispy, saucy, and meant to be shared, they’re part of our sports culture as much as cheering from the couch or celebrating a Saturday night win.
Peameal Bacon - BLT
This isn’t just any BLT — it’s Canadian through and through. Peameal bacon, often called “Toronto’s signature dish,” is lean pork loin rolled in cornmeal and fried until golden. A legend at St. Lawrence Market since the late 1800s, it remains a proud local favourite. Layered with lettuce and ripe tomatoes, this BLT takes a familiar classic and gives it a distinctly Canadian identity.
Newfoundland Touton Bread
Golden and crisp outside, soft and chewy inside — toutons are Newfoundland’s beloved pan-fried bread. Traditionally made from leftover bread dough fried in pork fat, they were a hearty breakfast for families who lived close to the sea. Today, they remain a comfort food classic, still paired with molasses or jam, but just as at home carrying lobster salad or prawns. A humble bread that has grown with the province, toutons are a true taste of the East Coast.