Skip to content

One Canada, dozens of cultures, even more ways to cook with eggs

To be complex does not mean to be fragmented. This is the paradox and the genius of our Canadian civilization. – Adrienne Clarkson

Canada is turning 150 years young and it has got Canadians thinking about what makes our country so great. For us, part of our greatness is our complexity. This country is home to dozens of cultures from across the world. Every one of these has built the country we know and love today. We are united by our common commitment to the future we share.

In honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, we’re going to take a trip across some of Canada’s cultures, looking at the ways Canadian communities cook with our favourite product—eggs.

From France, shirred eggs

Shirred eggs are an elegant and easy way to cook eggs for breakfast. Baked in a flat-bottomed dish, Shirred eggs are a French invention—one of Canada’s founding cultures that has made an enormous impact on the history of our country. Per the 2011 census, French is the mother tongue of over 7 million Canadians.1 French-Canadians count among some of this country’s most famous sons and daughters—think George-Étienne Cartier, a Father of Confederation, or world-famous cultural figures like Céline Dion.

From Scotland, Scotch eggs… the East Coast way

Halifax chef Craig Flinn invented this delicious East Coast twist on a Scottish classic, the Scotch egg. It has scallop, lobster, crabmeat—all the Atlantic Canadian flavours you know and love. Canada’s famous founder, Sir John A. Macdonald, was born in Scotland. He set an example for generations of Scots who have played a key role throughout Canada’s history. No wonder why—some of the earliest colonies in Canada were established by the Kingdom of Scotland in Nova Scotia (Gaelic for “New Scotland”).2

From India, akoori

If you like scrambled eggs, then you’ll love this Indian dish. Akoori is a zesty cuisine decked with onion, chillies and Indian spices. It’s a flavourful twist on scrambled eggs that perfectly represents the delicious, intense flavours that define Indian cuisine. Here in Canada, Indo-Canadians are one of our country’s fastest-growing communities.3 The overwhelming majority of Indo-Canadians live in Ontario and British Columbia, specifically Toronto and Vancouver.4

From China, Chinese crêpes

Jianbing—also known as Chinese crêpes—have been called one of “China’s best-kept culinary secret.”5 It’s a popular street food from Northern China, and no wonder—crispy wonton wrappers come together with eggs to form a delicious treat. Canadian history is filled with famous Chinese-Canadians. Norman Kwong was the first Chinese-Canadian to play in the Canadian Football League, winning six Grey Cups and eventually being appointed as Alberta’s first Lieutenant-Governor of Asian descent.6 And of course, there’s Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor-General and award-winning CBC journalist of 18 years.7

From Canada, the butter tart!

We live in a country filled with cuisine inspired by cultures from around the world—but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any made-in-Canada classics! Did you know the butter tart is 100% Canadian? Though it’s precise origins remain mysterious, the butter tart has left its mark across Canada. You can find “butter tart trails” in Ontario’s Wellington Country and Kawarthas Northumberland Region, where maps take you through local bakeries.8 Without eggs, this Canadiana treat just wouldn’t exist!

For more amazing egg recipes, covering every meal of the day, check out eggs.ca—you’ll just love all the culinary possibilities eggs can offer.

1 Canadian Encyclopedia
2 Canadian Encyclopedia
3 Statistics Canada
4 Statistics Canada
5 Serious Eats
6 Government of Canada
7 Canadian Encyclopedia
8 The Food Network