6 traditional Canadian Thanksgiving foods

Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated by friends and family getting together for a big, festive meal. Some assume the celebration is essentially the same as the American holiday, and while there are some similarities, it's a totally unique day. The following are the six quintessential Canadian Thanksgiving foods you won't find anywhere else.

• Canadians love to make use of pumpkins and gourds because the rich, nutty flavour pairs well with the other Thanksgiving fixings.
• You can bake a pumpkin and stuff if with everything from potatoes to bacon to gooey melted cheese for a delicious, autumnal treat.

• It's a good idea to make use of the fresh maple syrup you can find all over Canada.
• One of the best ways is to make tender, roasted carrots glazed with maple syrup and sprinkled with salt.
• You can even add a little whiskey to the maple syrup for an extra warm and delicious touch.

• Mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes are a common staple of Thanksgiving dinner but changing it up with a potato gratin is something you'll find in Canada as well.
• You can slice fresh potatoes and bake them with cream, Gruyere, bacon and leeks for a rich and creamy dish with a hint of smokiness.

• The turkey is the centrepiece of the meal, so you should make sure it is as tasty as possible.
• Taking the traditional turkey recipe up a notch, many Canadians love to serve turkey with a maple-bacon glaze.
• The combination of flavours results in a mouthwatering sweet and salty taste that goes great with the rest of your Thanksgiving Day treats.

• Canadian pumpkin pie is a little different from American pie.
• In Canada, it's usually more spicy, with ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.
• The extra spices give it an even richer and hearty taste, the perfect remedy to the icy Canadian temperatures!

• Instead of using cornbread or other types of bread, some Canadians usually use a rice-based dressing for their turkeys.
• It's great when combined with strong flavours like rosemary or flavourful meats like chorizo.
• These are just a few of the traditional dishes that you might find on a Canadian Thanksgiving table. Cranberry sauce and Brussels sprouts are other staples that you'll see a lot of in this part of North America.
• Many of the recipes are similar to American dishes or feature some same main ingredients but use different spices and flavours.