Discover Canada’s best seafood recipes—from East Coast chowders to West Coast salmon. A flavorful roundup of regional favourites across the country.
Celebrating Canada’s Regional Seafood Excellence
Canada’s rich coastlines and abundant waterways have long inspired some of the most beloved seafood recipes in North America. From the Atlantic shores of Nova Scotia to the Pacific waters of British Columbia, Canadians have created diverse, flavourful dishes that reflect local ingredients, cultures, and culinary traditions.
This roundup highlights some of the most iconic and delicious seafood dishes from across the country—perfect for home cooks, food lovers, and summer gatherings.
East Coast Favourites: Chowders and Lobster Rolls
In the Maritimes, seafood is a way of life. Nova Scotia seafood chowder—a creamy, hearty mix of scallops, shrimp, haddock, and potatoes—is a staple on coastal menus. Its rich flavour and comforting texture make it a go-to for both locals and tourists.
Lobster rolls from Prince Edward Island also stand out, typically served cold with a lemony mayo dressing inside a toasted bun. Fresh Atlantic lobster is the star, and its sweetness is unmatched.
Quebec’s Unique Seafood Spin
Quebec adds its own twist with smoked trout pâté and seafood tourtière. These traditional dishes blend French culinary techniques with locally caught fish. Smoked trout, often farmed in the Laurentians, offers a smoky, elegant alternative to typical spreads, while seafood pies mix shrimp and whitefish with herbs and buttery pastry.
Ontario’s Lake-Inspired Dishes
While Ontario isn’t coastal, its Great Lakes fisheries deliver fresh catches like pickerel (walleye) and lake trout. Popular recipes include pan-fried pickerel with lemon butter sauce and grilled lake trout with maple glaze—an ode to local flavour and Canada’s iconic syrup.
Ontario’s chefs also frequently incorporate Asian and Caribbean flavours, making dishes like spicy jerk shrimp skewers and miso-glazed salmon regulars on urban restaurant menus.
West Coast Delicacies: Salmon and Spot Prawns
British Columbia is famed for its wild Pacific salmon, often served grilled, cedar-planked, or cured as lox. A must-try is grilled sockeye with dill and lemon, best enjoyed during peak salmon season in summer.
Equally prized are B.C. spot prawns, celebrated for their sweet, delicate meat. Sautéed with garlic and butter or tossed in noodles, they’re a short-season delicacy that draws chefs and seafood fans from across the globe.
Indigenous Culinary Traditions
Many of Canada’s best seafood recipes are rooted in Indigenous food culture. From smoked salmon prepared over open fires to clam bakes and seaweed-wrapped cod, these dishes reflect centuries of sustainable fishing and food preparation knowledge. Today, Indigenous chefs are leading a revival of these traditions, blending ancestral techniques with modern approaches.
Bringing Coastal Flavour to Your Kitchen
Whether you’re on the coast or inland, Canada’s seafood bounty offers something for everyone. These recipes are not only delicious—they also represent the cultural and ecological diversity of the country.
From chowders to cedar-planked salmon, bringing these recipes into your kitchen is a celebration of Canada’s rich seafood heritage—one dish at a time.
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