A lover of savory and sweet recipes, you will certainly like this original recipe for salmon tartare accompanied by...
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Canadian East Coast Cuisine: a feast for the taste buds
The east coast of Canada consists of several provinces on the Atlantic side: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In the center inland, there are also Quebec and Ontario. These territories are rich and have a culinary culture of their own. Focus on the cuisine of these regions which gives pride of place to fish and seafood, while being influenced by indigenous traditions and the British, French and Irish contributions which have historically established themselves there.
East Coast Cuisine: European and Indigenous Inspirations
The cuisine of this region is primarily that of the indigenous tribes. The latter enjoyed the abundance of natural resources to meet their needs. They already ate seafood and different fish, game, berries and roots. They also grew corn, beans, squash and sunflowers.
The French were then the first Europeans to settle on the east coast of Canada in the 17th century. Their cultural and culinary contribution is felt, particularly in the Acadian communities of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The French arrivals introduced local populations to dairy products, but also to bakeries, pastries and the concept of slowly simmering cooking, such as pot-au-feu.
It was then the British who influenced the Atlantic coast. They arrived in the maritime provinces from the 18th century and brought back their ingredients and their flagship dishes. They bring potatoes, oats and cabbage, as well as food preservation processes, such as pickling or jarring.
Seafood and fish
The Atlantic coast is known for seafood. The flagship products are lobster and clams. The latter, clams, are cooked in “chowder”, a great classic of the region. This slow-simmered soup contains corn, vegetables and potatoes. Cream or milk is added for added indulgence, and it can be served with fresh or smoked fish.
Lobster from the East Coast of Canada is fished in the icy waters of the Atlantic. Canadians can benefit from it all year round thanks to rotating fishing seasons and different lobster preservation methods. The “lobster roll” is a popular snack: lobster meat is served in a hot dog-style brioche bun, with mayonnaise, celery and onions. Looking for the best place to enjoy fresh lobster and great seafood in Canada? Head to Nova Scotia! For succulent scallops, we will go to the town of Digby. If you prefer oysters or mussels, Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island is the destination of choice.
The Atlantic coast is very rich in fish, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador where fishing is the historic industry par excellence. On Prince Edward Island, fish and baked potatoes are key resources. We like to combine them in a slowly baked dish, with fresh cod as fish. One of the other flagship dishes of the Canadian east coast is British-inspired: “fish and chips”. It has been completely integrated into the region's cuisine and is made with a variety of local fish species.
Meats
Meats remain quite popular on the Atlantic coast. The Jiggs dinner is a must-try dish. This traditional stew is served on Sundays most of the time. It contains pork, veal or beef, split peas and root vegetables. It is a dish that is often found on the menu in Newfoundland and Labrador and is served with pickled vegetables, brined with mild mustard.
In Nova Scotia, Halifax is known for its donair. It's a type of kebab made from spicy ground meat, with fresh tomatoes, onions, with a sauce revisited for Canadian palates: garlic powder, sweetened condensed milk and vinegar. All rolled into a previously heated pita bread. Canadians in the region love it!
There are numerous recipes for savory pies containing meat in Canada, such as tourtière - French-inspired - or even cipaille and its multiple layers.
The vegetables
The harsh winters of the Atlantic coast have given rise to many vegetable-based recipes. In New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, “hodge podge” is served. It is a broth or soup usually containing new potatoes, new peas, green beans and carrots. They cook slowly in a milk-based broth, with butter, salt and pepper. It is usually served with canned or homemade corned beef. To taste this typical dish with fresh vegetables, you should ideally go to the Annapolis Valley during the months of July and August.
To taste potatoes in different forms, the key destination is Prince Edward Island, where they have been cultivated since the 18th century. To this day, this starchy food remains at the top of the island province's exports and an essential product of the maritime provinces. Poutine is an iconic Canadian dish. Did you know that there is an Acadian version? This is poutine râpée. In this recipe, a type of potato ravioli is filled with salted pork, then left to simmer for several hours. Hashbrown casserole is another dish to discover in these provinces. It is made with potatoes, cream and cheese. Moreover, potatoes are also eaten for breakfast, in the form of pancakes.
There is a must-try curiosity if you are passing through the Maritimes, particularly on the coasts of New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. This is dulse, a type of algae whose color varies from red-purple to black. Dried and sometimes fried, dulse is eaten like a chip. A version of the BLT (Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato) sandwich replaces the Bacon with dulse, resulting in the DLT sandwich. You can taste this famous sandwich in the market in the city of St John's in New Brunswick.
Sweets
The Atlantic coast also has some sweet specialties to discover. Ice cream lovers will be able to find a flavor of the maritime provinces there. The Moon Mist is a mixture of ice creams with flavors of banana, grape and bubble gum.
Blueberries are small berries related to our blueberries. The east coast provinces and Quebec are rich in wild blueberries. They can be enjoyed plain, dried, in ice cream or even in a pastry turnover.
Maple syrup is also essential in the provinces of the east coast of Canada. The products that contain it are very numerous: biscuits, sweets, condiments, but also cosmetics or well-being.
Discover some of them on our site, such as maple mustard, and many other authentic Canadian products in our shop online.
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