Maple syrup and apologizing. That’s what people often associate Canada with. But, stereotypical memes aside, Canadian cuisine is still incredibly underrated. You need to experience the Toronto food scene or try out some of the best restaurants in Regina. Canadian food is immaculate. It’s not a secret to anybody that’s tried it out.
The issue is, Canadian food doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves. We’re about to change that. Here are Canadian dishes that deserve more clout!
Underrated Canadian Dishes to Try in Your Lifetime
Much like Filipino food, Canadian cuisine struggles to find a unique identity. You can find food from all over the world. In some cases, they do it better than their place of origin.
But, if you want a truly Canadian experience, check out these five Canadian dishes:
Poutine
Source: YouTube/Joshua Weissman
Underrated? Poutine!? While poutine is one of the most popular Canadian dishes out there, it’s something that never had its breakout moment.
Which is crazy because, it’s made up of three of the most popular ingredients—French Fries, Cheese curds, and Seasoned Brown Gravy. These three build poutine’s foundations.
You can try it in its traditional form with basic ingredients or go for modern takes on the dish that incorporates proteins like salami, scamorza cheese, and other sauces like mornay.
It’s a perfect blend of textures and flavors. You got the crispy crunch from the fries, rich, beefy flavors from the gravy, and mild milky and salty flavors from the cheese curds.
Pro tip: When ordering poutine for delivery, ask if they can bring it to you separately so you can add the gravy to the fries yourself and avoid the poutine being soggy.
Montreal Bagels
These bagels are built different. It’s thinner than typical bagels and they’re boiled in honey water before baking to give it that distinct Montreal taste.
They have a sweeter taste thanks to the honey water. But, because they’re typically made in wood-fire ovens, they provide a crunchier crust.
Just eating it in its base form is enough to get you to say “This is what’s right in the world”. But, you can also elevate it by adding meats, cheese, or avocado spreads.
Tourtière
If you’re looking for a dish that’s authentically Canadian, tourtière is a dish you need to try. It’s a meat pie recipe that’s been around for generations. Each family probably has their own recipe.
This meat pie is made with a variety of meats cut into small cubes. There’s ground pork, ground beef, veal, bacon, and even rabbit, pheasant, or pigeon meat (the traditional recipe).
The pie is also rich in herbs and spicy. You’d often see bakers use thyme, cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg.
Creton
While we’re still in the realm of meats, we need to give a shoutout to cretons. It’s a cold pork spread that’s been a part of a staple Canadian breakfast for generations.
The spread is made with ground pork, pork fat, water, or milk. To give it texture and flavor, bread crumbs, onions, and a variety of spices are added to the mix.
You can try it out on Montreal bagels to get a great contrast of taste. But creton can still elevate even the simplest of breads.
Ice Wine
Not technically a dish, but, ice wine is a great choice to help down the food on this list. This type of wine isn’t for everybody but it’s a “you won’t know until you try” situation.
It’s like a dessert because of its high sugar content. You’ll get an explosion of fruit flavors, so you’d want to pair it with something to balance out all that sweetness like soft cheese.
Grapes used in making ice wine thrive in the cold Canadian climate. Some of the best ice wines include Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Cabernet Franc.
Pro tip: If you want to get it fresh, wait till it hits -8C or 17f before harvesting. Most of the water you’d extract will be left as ice. This way, you can get hyper-concentrated sweet and fruity juice.
Key Takeaways
Canadian dishes are the perfect blend of comfort and flavor. So, if you have the chance, don’t miss out on the following dishes:
- Poutine
- Montreal Bagels
- Tourtière
- Creton
- Ice Wine
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