Canadian Classics

Smoked fish pâté is Canadian at heart — simple, rustic, and refined all at once. I usually make it with smoked trout, a nod to Canada’s lakes and rivers, but…

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.

On Canada’s West Coast, salmon is more than food — it’s a way of life, a symbol of the coast itself. Flaky, tender salmon or trout served with a bright dill and caper sauce feels effortlessly elegant yet remains wonderfully simple. Piled on toasted bread or served over greens, it captures the balance of richness and freshness that defines West Coast cooking.

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.

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.

Chicken noodle soup is the go-to comfort food in Canada — the cure-all for colds, the warm hug on a snowy day, and the dish that makes the most of leftover chicken or turkey from holiday dinners. Simple yet deeply satisfying, it’s the kind of soup that carries both nostalgia and nourishment in every spoonful.

Macaroni and cheese was a staple at my grandma’s table — rich, creamy, and always made with Balderson cheddar, that iconic Ontario cheese with a sharp, nutty bite. She never bothered with fancy toppings or baking it in the oven; her version went straight from the pot to the plate, gooey and comforting. For us, it wasn’t just supper — it was tradition, rooted in Canadian flavour and simplicity.

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.

Unlike its Greek cousin, the Canadian version swaps lamb for spiced beef and is paired with a sweet, garlicky sauce that’s unlike anything else. Created in the 1970s by restaurateur Peter Gamoulakos in Halifax, the donair quickly became a late-night staple, especially after a night on the town. Traditionally cooked on a vertical spit, many home cooks make it loaf-style in the oven: seasoned beef shaped, baked, then sliced thin and served in pitas with onions and tomatoes. In 2015, Halifax even declared the donair its official food — proof of just how iconic this messy, delicious wrap has become.

Fermented cabbage, or sauerkraut, has deep roots in Central and Eastern European cooking, and immigrants carried the tradition to Canada where it became part of everyday food culture. Few dishes show this history better than the Reuben sandwich or Montreal’s smoked meat on rye. The combination of tangy kraut, sharp pickles, and savoury meat is deli food at its finest — old-world tradition meeting Canadian identity. Jewish delis in Montreal perfected smoked meat in the early 20th century, turning it into a national icon that now rivals pastrami in fame.

Few dishes feel more Canadian than a lobster roll — sweet shellfish tucked into a soft bun with just enough dressing to let the seafood shine. In Atlantic Canada, lobster rolls are a summer staple, found at seaside shacks, fairs, and family gatherings. Prawns make this version more affordable but no less satisfying. For a Newfoundland twist, some families serve it on a warm, pan-fried touton instead of a bun — rustic, hearty, and uniquely East Coast.

Bison has been central to Indigenous food culture for thousands of years, while Canadian beef reflects the ranching traditions of the Prairies. From Indigenous hunting grounds to Alberta’s cattle country and the Calgary Stampede, these burgers celebrate a proud Canadian food story — lean, flavourful, and best enjoyed straight off the grill.

Cedar-planked salmon is a classic Canadian preparation with roots in Indigenous cooking traditions, where fish was smoked over fragrant cedar wood. Today, it remains a beloved West Coast dish — the cedar imparts a gentle smokiness while keeping the salmon moist and tender. The drizzle of maple syrup adds a touch of Canadian sweetness, balancing the rich, buttery fish.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

These pancakes have become a true kid sleepover favourite — easy to whip up in the morning, fun to stack high, and always greeted with smiles. Golden on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, they’re perfect with fresh fruit, a pat of butter, and of course a generous pour of Canadian maple syrup. The best part? They keep beautifully — any extras can be popped into the toaster the next day for a quick, warm treat.

Nothing beats a homemade bagel in the morning — warm, chewy, and spread with cream cheese. Brought to Montreal by Jewish immigrants in the early 1900s, these bagels are smaller, denser, and sweeter than their New York cousins. Dipped in honey water and traditionally baked in wood-fired ovens, they carry a flavour that is both comforting and distinct. Fun to make at home, they freeze beautifully, and always feel like a treat — especially with smoked salmon, lemon, and capers.

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.

Shepherd’s pie may have roots in Britain and Ireland, but in Canada it found a second life as pâté chinois — a French-Canadian classic that’s become part of everyday food culture. Simple layers of seasoned beef, sweet corn, and buttery mashed potatoes made it a staple in Quebec households, school cafeterias, and community suppers. It’s comfort food at its most familiar: hearty, humble, and tied to Canadian winters where a single dish could feed the whole family.

Few dishes capture the essence of French-Canadian tradition like tourtière. Golden and spiced, this meat pie has graced holiday tables since the 1600s, when early settlers adapted Old World pies to the ingredients of New France. Over time, it became inseparable from réveillon, the late-night Christmas Eve feast, where families gathered after midnight mass to share food, stories, and song. In many homes, including Grandma’s, tourtière was paired with homemade chilli sauce. Today, tourtière endures not just as a holiday classic but as a symbol of French-Canadian heritage, a dish that ties family, memory, and culture together in every slice.