Canadian Bacon For Canada Day

Where would a Canadian cook celebrate Canada Day, in the kitchen of course (or the backyard kitchen we all know as the barbeque) When thinking of Canadian foods to showcase this Canada day it was a bit of a challenge: poutine, maple syrup and Tim Hortons all are well documented as Canadian. No, we are not doing a write up on Tim Hortons drive through menu options. Today we will take a deeper look into peameal bacon.

What we as Canadians have come to know and love as peameal is known as Canadian bacon elsewhere on the globe. The Americans can take the bellies, the British can have their version, but for us it is the simplicity of a brined pork loin coated in meal that is our version of bacon.

Peameal bacon is an odd name for our dish currently, but it is most likely a salute to the humble origins of our style to which the name derives. Originally the loin was rolled in true pea meal, dried split peas were at one time milled down into meal and used to coat and presumably preserve the loin. Once cornmeal became more plentiful and possibly more economical it took the pea meals’ place, however the name remained the same.

Peameal bacon has a certain appeal as it can be served at any point in the day. Most often you can find bacon of this style pan-fried for breakfast with eggs and toast, however it is not unheard of to see it on top of a burger, or tied and cooked as a roast.

While it is rare, this time we are not going into a full on recipe. It was surprising how much thought was required to recall this unsmoked and cured piece of Canadiana. In a strange way it is quite Canadian; not too in your face, but always there in case the need arises. Canadian bacon does not starve for attention, nor does it feel the need to compete with the traditional strip bacon of a little farther south. So if you feel so inclined, pick up some peameal bacon to go along with your coffee, your beer or your barbeque this Canada day. If not, that’s all right; this Canadian specialty will be at the store patiently waiting for you.

Happy Canada Day

Chris