Canadian peameal bacon sandwich recipe

Canada is most commonly associated with poutine and maple syrup. But one of the most uniquely Canadian recipes is the classic Peameal bacon sandwich.

Best eaten for breakfast, this savoury dish is made with a thick slice of peameal bacon, which is a type of boneless pork loin that's been cured and rolled in cornmeal. It's served on top of a freshly-baked roll or bun and topped off with an optional condiment of honey or mustard - or for the truly Canadian, a mix of both!

Peameal bacon started out as a delicacy only available in Ontario, but has become a staple in Canadian cuisine that's enjoyed across the country. You may have heard of Canadian bacon before - and that's exactly what peameal is! It's the thick, salty cut of pork that has the taste of bacon without the thinness. You don't get much flavour from the peameal, but you do get the mildly sweet, slightly salty flavour of the smoked ham coming through.

Peameal bacon got its name as it was historically rolled in ground yellow peas as a way of preserving the meat. During shortages in World War 2, it began being rolled in yellow cornmeal, which was more plentiful. The best place to try it in Canada is at the St. Lawrence Market in Ontario, which you can easily enjoy on a guided Toronto food tour.

I grew up eating this sandwich every other Saturday with my dad, when we'd go downtown to shop for fresh fish and veggies every week. I loved finishing up the shop because I knew it meant a stop at Carousel Bakery for the crusty Kaiser roll and the deliciously sweet peameal bacon inside!

Here is an easy recipe to recreate the classic peameal bacon sandwich at home. It''s incredibly easy to prepare and will quickly become a household favourite!