The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Australian Foods. If you manage to be in an Australian restaurant or you are visiting Australia, I recommend the following:
1. Chicken Parmigiana
It’s a chicken milanesa (or schnitzel), with tomato sauce and parmigiano cheese on top. It sounds very Italian, because it’s really milanese with tomato and Italian cheese. It’s a favourite meal for Australian kids, and one of those dishes that’s on every pub menu.
2. Pavlova
The classic and traditional Pavlova cake consists of a meringue base, filled with sweetened whipped cream and topped with strawberries (although lately more fruits such as blueberries, blackberries and cherries have been added, the result is spectacular). Its appearance is very attractive, so it is perfect for meetings and special events, where it steals all eyes.
3. Meat Pies
Meat pie is Australia’s most famous dish. It is also known by the colourful name dog’s eye. Over the years it has earned the title of national dish. The main ingredient is minced meat, which is dipped in a base of flour, butter and salt. Australian mince pie can be served with a salad of fresh vegetables and a good red wine. It is ideally prepared at lunch or dinner time.
4. Barramundi
The barramundi is a common fish along the Queensland coast of Australia. Its name is of Aboriginal origin and means “large-scaled river fish”. It is the most popular fish in Australia, perhaps because of its versatility and delicious taste. It can be fried, baked, grilled or barbecued. Its flavour is mild and delicious.
5. A Burger with ‘The Lot’
This loaded Aussie burger is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll be rewarded with an incredible combination of Aussie burger flavours. When you top your burger with eggs, bacon, onions, pineapple, pickled beets and more, you’ve got a combination unlike anything you’ve ever eaten! It’s a national delicacy that has evolved over the years from a standard burger to something completely unique to Australia.
6. Grilled Kangaroo
It is quite a shock to see it for the first time in any supermarket fridge on a burger menu, but the reality is that, although it is not as good as chicken or beef, it is quite common. Kangaroo meat has a reputation for being low in fat and very light, if a little dry, and its flavour is reminiscent of buffalo.
7. Pumpkin Soup
It is usually made with a combination of pumpkin puree, onion, lemongrass, butter, coconut milk, flour, egg yolk, nutmeg and spices. Fry the onions and lemongrass in butter until soft, then add the pumpkin puree to the pan with a little water and freshly grated nutmeg. The mixture is simmered briefly and then mixed with a roux consisting of flour and coconut milk, while beaten egg yolks are added to the soup at the end of the cooking process. When ready, the soup is served hot, perhaps garnished with toast.
8. Lamingtons
This delicious and beautiful Australian cube-shaped dessert is a vanilla cake covered with chocolate and shredded coconut. The story goes that it was named after Lord Lamington, the governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. The story goes that the house chef accidentally dropped a vanilla cake into a bucket of melted chocolate. This chef was French and his name was Armand Galland. In addition to the history of chocolate, it’s worth mentioning the other essential ingredient of the lamington: coconut, as it was not a common ingredient in European cuisine.
9. Vegemite on Toast
This strange and obscure preparation has been spreading through Australian cupboards for almost 100 years – it’s estimated that 9 out of 10 Australian households have a jar of vegemite in their home. And one of the things Aussies enjoy most is spreading this Aussie-only ingredient on their toast. Any self-respecting Aussie will dare you to try it, as it tastes pretty special.
10. Barbecued Snags
Snags are thick, usually tender Australian sausages made from beef, pork, garlic and onions. They are a staple at almost any Australian barbecue party where the sausages are served with mashed potatoes, grilled onions, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, slaw, chutney and artisan breadsticks.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Oceanian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.