Finest Australian Meals: 15 Should-Attempt Australian Specialties

Once we first arrived in Australia, attempting native meals wasn’t actually on our to-do record. In contrast to many different nations all over the world, Australia simply didn’t strike us as a vacation spot for wonderful delicacies. So, we definitely didn’t have a listing of Australian meals to strive in Australia.

We’ll be sincere: Australian meals is admittedly not that totally different from what you may be used to in North America or within the UK. In any case, not so way back (nicely, within the 1800s), Australia was nonetheless a British colony, so loads of its culinary habits and tastes are strongly influenced by British traditions.

Don’t get us flawed, Australian meals is admittedly good. A whole lot of it’s recent, native, and sustainably sourced from farmlands across the nation. Seafood, cheese, wine, and sure cuts of beef (ever heard of wagyu beef) are notably famend for his or her prime quality and nice style. However it’s nothing new or notably totally different.

A hearty meal after an extended day of mountain climbing in Corinna, Tasmania
Native produce, tea and one hell of a view on the Holy Cow cafe in a small city of Pyengana, positioned 2 hours east of Launceston. Tasmania

Finest Australian Meals

It took us over 2 years to find the true gems of Australian delicacies. Most of these things is so authentically Australian it hurts, and it is unnecessary! Preserve studying, and also you’ll begin to perceive what we imply.

If you’re visiting Australia and need to style some native favourites and a listing of well-liked Australian meals to strive, here’s what it is best to search for. Let’s begin with the obvious and well-known Australian meals.

Vegemite

A darkish brown meals paste made out of brewer’s yeast extract. This Australian favorite is as polarising because it will get. Folks both adore it or hate it; there isn’t a in-between. It appears to be like wealthy, and it doesn’t actually scent dangerous, which might be why loads of first-timers typically confuse it for an alternative choice to Nutella.

It’s not. In reality, it’s fairly the other. It’s actually salty, barely bitter and malty. Finest consumed in a skinny layer of toast with butter and a few avocado on high. It’s just like the English model of Marmite.

We adore it.

Have you ever actually tried actual Australian meals with out Vegemite?

Chocolate And Vegemite?

In 2015, Australia took their Vegemite obsession a bit too far. They mixed this savoury ingredient with chocolate in a brand new Cadbury creation: a vegemite-flavoured block of chocolate.

Candy on the within, salty on the skin…or not less than, that was the thought. Supposedly, critics described the style as “just like salted caramel with a nice aftertaste.”

We weren’t in a position to deliver ourselves to strive it, and the product has since been discontinued however you may at all times give it a go at residence with a bathtub of Vegemite and a bar of chocolate. Tell us what you assume.

Chocolate with vegemite by Cadbury. Aussie meals development gone a bit too far?

Tim Tams

Talking of chocolate, Tim Tams are presumably THE BEST CHOCOLATE bars on earth. We’re not even kidding. Made by an Australian meals firm, Arnott’s, Tim Tams are composed of 2 layers of chocolate cream filling and coated with a skinny layer of chocolate. Anybody who has travelled via Australia could have tried this Australia’s favorite chocolate biscuit!

Oksana doesn’t even like chocolate, however in case you put a field of Tim Tams in entrance of her, she is going to eat all of it! And we’re not the one ones with a Tim Tam obsession.

Supposedly, there are over 35 million packs of Tim Tams bought yearly in Australia!

Tim Tams by Arnotts

The Tim Tam Slam

However what makes Tim Tams particularly wonderful is the magical mixture of the gooey goodness of a Tim Tam mixed with a scorching cup of tea or scorching chocolate (or espresso, we guess). They name it a Tim Tam Slam, a method of consuming a scorching beverage via a Tim Tam.

Chew off the other corners of the Tim Tam, submerge one finish into your drink and suck the drink utilizing the Tim Tam as a straw. The within of the Tim Tam melts in your mouth, making a good mix of candy goo and scorching tea. We’re salivating simply eager about it.

Finest loved on a seaside after an extended swim or a fantastic surf, or at a campsite after an extended day of trekking.

Dreaming of a Tim Tam Slam!

Lamington

Sticking with the candy theme, subsequent up is Lamington, one among Australia’s favorite desserts. Lamington consists of squares of sponge cake coated with a layer of chocolate sauce and desiccated coconut.

The dessert is typically served as 2 halves with a layer of cream or strawberry jam between. It’s a nice little deal with, easy and all the way down to earth, one {that a} candy tooth traveller will certainly love.

The place To Purchase Lamingtons

Lamington is commonly bought in bakeries throughout the nation, could be discovered at varied markets and are particularly well-liked at native bake gross sales.

Lamington

Pavlova

Pavlova is a meringue dessert with a crispy exterior and a moist marshmallow heart and is commonly topped with whipped cream and recent fruit. It was named after the Russian ballerina who visited Australia and New Zealand on a tour again within the Twenties thus the origin of the recipe has been a supply of argument between the 2 nations for nearly a century.

Regardless of its historic roots, Pavlova stays a well-liked dish and an vital a part of each Australian and New Zealand tradition. It’s a light-weight and recent dessert typically consumed throughout summertime at typical Aussie barbecues and household gatherings. It’s value a strive, however it’s nothing to write down residence about. (But, right here we’re writing about it).

Pavlova with Kiwis and Strawberries.

Avocado Smash

We fell in love with avocado smash after we found it on a brunch menu in Melbourne. It appeared to be a little bit of a Melbourne obsession that has now made its method alongside the coast and throughout the nation.

It’s wholesome, it’s nutritious, and it’s to die for! Avocado is mashed with feta cheese or goat cheese together with chilli and different spices blended with it, then served on rye toast beneath a poached egg. 

You’ll discover avo smash on brunch recipes throughout the nation.

Brunch isn’t full with out an Avo Smash
Avocado toast, simply lacking the poached egg!

Kangaroo Meat

The truth that Australians eat their nationwide animal is a weird reality. But when you may get over the truth that Roo has made its method from the outback to your plate, you may actually get pleasure from its gamey style and its excessive dietary worth.

You should purchase kangaroo meat at any grocery store and chuck it on the BBQ (don’t overcook it, it’s best-enjoyed medium uncommon), or attempt to eat Kangaroo meat at one of many many eating places throughout the nation.

It gained’t be on each menu, particularly not at low cost eating places, however in case you discover a spot that serves genuine Australian fare, Roo lean pink meat will certainly be on the menu. One other correct Aussie bush tucker meals it is best to strive is the emu meat and crocodile meat.

Once we lived in Australia, we used to like the dietary advantages of kangaroo and located many scrumptious methods to include it into our diets.

Kangaroo within the Vineyards, Hunter Valley
Croc sausages on sale on the Adelaide Central Market. Would you dare strive them?
Crocodile burger

The Aussie Burger

Australians have a method of creating many issues their very own, and their twist on a traditional burger is by far the most effective instance. They take a daily burger and high it with an egg and beetroot slices.

They name it a “Burger with the Lot”. It’s nearly essentially the most weird rendition of the American favorite, and naturally, the locals liked it. We will do with an egg, it provides a little bit of “gooeyiness” generally, however the beetroot is simply odd.

Aussie burgers are usually messy however oh-so-good
Aussie burger

Meat Pies

Meat pies have gotten to be the most well-liked snack in Australia. You possibly can seize one on-the-go at most bakeries, markets, and generally even gasoline stations; there are even specialty pie retailers! These savoury, handheld pastries are typical Australian meals well-liked at weekend sporting occasions like cricket or footy.

The commonest pie is the new meaty pies and gravy selection, however steak & mushroom, and veggie are additionally well-liked selections. Most Aussies like meat pies loaded up with tomato or barbecue sauce.

A traditional Australian mince meat pie with tomato sauce

Weet-Bix

This iconic breakfast meals will remind most Aussies of their childhoods. The dry whole-wheat desserts want an excellent dousing of milk to melt them up, however they’re full of fibre and are actually nutritious. Usually, Aussies will high their Weet-bix up with berries or sugar.

The Aussie invention is marketed as Australia’s number-one breakfast cereal and tends to be a staple of most Australian households.

Weet Bix

Hen Parm

Whereas not classically an Australian dish, the Aussies have positively put their very own twist on the Hen Parmigiana. It’s quintessential pub fare, and a great deal of pubs have a parma evening the place you may get decent-priced Hen Parma. Typically providing a pot of beer paired with it.

The dish consists of a hen schnitzel topped with ham, tomato sauce, and engaging melted cheese. We problem you to discover a pub in Australia that doesn’t have Hen Parm on their menu!

Hen Parm

Tea

In fact, tea isn’t a meals, however you didn’t assume we’d miss out on the chance to speak about tea, did you? Nicely, the unlucky fact is there’s actually nothing particular about tea in AustraliaT2 is the largest Australian tea model, providing the biggest vary of loose-leaf tea, natural tisanes (their phrase, not ours), and wonderful tea wares.

T2 has retailers throughout the nation (brace yourselves, the costs are a bit steep), with each carrying extra tea varieties than you possibly can strive throughout your time right here. A few of it’s good, however most of it is rather like some other tea you should buy on the grocery store.

The award of our favorite tea in Australia goes to The Artwork of Tea, a small Tasmanian tea model we found on our latest journey to Tassie. Their Tasmanian Breakfast mix, a full-flavoured, robust black tea is the one we attain for within the morning and all all through the day.

One other favorite is Tielka Tea: Established in 2009 in Queensland, Australia, Tielka is a family-owned, Fairtrade natural licensed enterprise dedicated to sustainability and moral sourcing. Over the previous decade, it has develop into Australia’s most-awarded natural tea model, profitable 18 Golden Leaf Awards, together with “Finest Boutique Natural Tea Firm 2021.” Tielka affords a various assortment of natural loose-leaf and pyramid tea bag blends that includes revolutionary combos and Australian-grown substances. Their on-line retailer supplies tea subscriptions and wholesale choices, reflecting their dedication to high quality and eco-friendly packaging 

T2 Tea, Australia’s hottest tea model
Chocolate Tea… ummm YES PLEASE! There are precise bits of chocolate within the combine
Looking for the most effective tea from The Artwork of Tea assortment in Hobart, Tasmania

Bush Tucker

Bush tucker, or bush meals, refers to native Australian meals historically consumed by Indigenous Australians. For a real Aussie Bush Tucker expertise, strive a Witchetty Grub; they style a bit like hen and pack the protein punch of a steak! 

For those who’re in Sydney and desperate to style Australia’s indigenous meals, think about becoming a member of this Botanic Gardens Bush Tucker tour. Study concerning the secrets and techniques of Indigenous bush meals and trendy diversifications of those distinctive meals, all whereas treating you to some tasty samples!

Valley Bush Tucker chocolate bars

Wines

Australia is famend globally for its vibrant and numerous wine business. The distinctive terroirs in wine areas throughout Australia yield wines of remarkable high quality. 

The nation’s wine tradition has advanced over centuries, with European settlers planting the primary vines within the late 18th century. Immediately, Australia is acknowledged as one of many New World wine leaders, with areas like Barossa Valley, Margaret River, and Hunter Valley incomes worldwide acclaim. Shiraz, a daring and strong pink varietal, has develop into an Australian signature, producing wines with deep, concentrated flavours and attribute spiciness. Moreover, the nation is widely known for its crisp and fragrant white wines, notably the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay varieties, which thrive within the cool climates of areas like Adelaide Hills and Tasmania.

Australian winemakers are recognized for his or her revolutionary approaches, incorporating trendy methods whereas respecting conventional practices. Sustainability is a key focus in lots of vineyards, reflecting a dedication to preserving the setting and producing wines that categorical the distinctive traits of the land. 

There are a variety of improbable wine areas throughout the nation, so make sure you go to a number of or be a part of a wine-tasting tour throughout your time in Australia!

Rolling vineyards in Hunter Valley, NSW.


Wolf Blass Vineyard, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Fish & Chips

Craving the Aussie model of this iconic conventional Australian meals? Fish and chips retailers are plentiful everywhere in the nation, however not all fish and chips are the identical. From the oil used to cook dinner it to the salt and pepper batter, fish, chips, and tartare sauce, there are massive variations. 

Barramundi fish and chips are a must-try conventional Australian delicacies. The title Barramundi comes from the Aboriginal language, that means “massive scaled river fish,” or, as we wish to name it, scrumptious! It’s the most well-liked Australian fish, seemingly as a result of it’s versatile, good for frying, baking, grilling, or barbecuing. Most Aussies pair it with deep-fried salt and pepper calamari or prawn cocktail.

Fish and Chips at Noosa Seashore Home. Picture courtesy of Mark Fitz/Tourism and Occasions Queensland.

ANZAC Biscuits

We discovered that Anzac biscuits are about as prevalent and well-liked as chocolate chip cookies within the U.S., although they’ve been round a bit longer (don’t confuse it with fairy bread on Australia Day). These candy golden syrup biscuits have been initially made by the wives of the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Military Corps) throughout World Struggle I. The baked items have been despatched to the entrance strains or bought to lift cash for the warfare efforts. 

Though these scrumptious Anzac biscuits have been fairly sturdy, even rock arduous, in the present day these biscuits are peacefully loved throughout tea time and to commemorate ANZAC Day on April 25. To many, this date can also be an excellent excuse to eat Anzac Biscuits, that are simply superior in case you haven’t tried them but!

ANZAC cookies

So there you’ve got it. This record ought to provide you with one thing to look ahead to and a listing of meals to strive in Australia when you’re visiting.

Suppose One thing Is Lacking From This Checklist? Let Me Know Your Favorite Australian Delicacies In The Feedback Beneath!