You can’t deny the fact that Australian cuisine is pretty obscure. Most people have absolutely no idea what it even is. In cities all over the world you can find American, Japanese, Chinese and Indian restaurants but rarely do you find Australian ones. The reason that Australian cooking’s obscure is not because it is not delicious but instead because the nation is quite remote. Individuals interested in trying it do not have to travel there, however. Most Australian recipes are very simple and can easily be replicated at home.
While it is possible to make basic Australian recipes at home it’s a lot better to travel to the country to try its food, however. Trying it there will give you a better appreciation of it. Who’s in a better position to cook Australian food than Australians? If you are interested in travelling there and trying the nation’s cuisine then you should educate yourself first. Taking time to learn about what to expect will make your trip much easier. Going in blind is a bad idea with new foods, especially if you have allergies or food intolerances.
This post will tell you about the delicious food you can find in Australia:
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Australian Kimchi
You might be surprised to learn that Australia has its own version of kimchi. Kimchi is a popular fermented Korean side dish that has become very popular in recent years due to its immense health benefits. Individuals interested in sampling Australian kimchi can do so by visiting specialist restaurants and cafés or ordering it online. As kimchi is a side dish and due to its preparation method it can be ordered online quite easily. One of the good things about ordering it online is that you can then incorporate it into your meals your own way. People seldom eat it on its own which means that when you go out to a restaurant you’ll have to order something to go with it. If you dislike the food that is being served in the restaurant you are visiting then you will not get to truly enjoy the kimchi that you are served. When ordering this online make sure you order from reliable, trusted vendors. Improper fermentation can cause harmful bacteria to multiply which can then be very dangerous and hazardous to people’s health.
Vegemite
Vegemite isn’t exactly the most popular type of food in Australia but it is famous. Like Marmite, Vegemite is typically spread on sandwiches and toast. In recent years boutique and artisan restaurants have started incorporating this thick, sticky food into other dishes like savoury snacks and even ice cream. It is entirely possible to buy Vegemite online meaning that you don’t necessarily even need to visit Australia to try it but because Australia is Vegemite’s birthplace you will find much more authentic and delicious Vegemite recipes and meals there. You can find Vegemite being served in most cafés and diners. However, do not expect to find it in high-end restaurants.
Before you fly overseas and start ordering every Vegemite dish you can find, try it first. Vegemite is an acquired taste. Like its British counterpart Marmite, you either love it or you hate it. Some people find Vegemite absolutely disgusting. In fact, disgust is the most common reaction to trying Vegemite for the first time. For some people they get used to it and begin to love it and for others, they feel sick every time that they even so much as see it. Order some for your house and try it first just so you can be sure that you like it.
Fairy Bread
Fairy bread isn’t something you’ll find being served in restaurants and cafés but you can usually find it in small bakeries and convenience stores. It is essentially just white bread with the crusts cut off, smothered in butter and sprinkled with small little candies. Fairy bread is something that is typically served at children’s parties. Because of this, it is a beloved Australian dish; many Australians grew up eating fairy bread. Of course, it is something you can prepare without visiting Australia. If you want to then do your best to buy a brand of white bread that’s available there and ensure you have the right candies. Ideally, you should avoid using salted butter for fairy bread because this will ruin the dish’s sweetness. It is also not exactly good for you due to the fat content in the butter and the sugar in the bread and candies. Therefore, it is a dish you should consume in moderation. Do not get carried away and eat for every meal. It is a very tasty dish and is therefore addictive so you would not necessarily be strange for wanting to eat it all of the time but for the sake of your health control yourself.
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Traditional Barbeque
Everybody’s familiar with the phrase ‘put a shrimp on the barbe.’ It is a popular term often used to mock Australians. The term was originally coined by an actor featured in an advertisement for the Australian Tourism Board. Barbeques are a very popular type of gathering for Australian families, primarily because Australians love grilled and smoked food. There is a lot of game meat in Australia which makes it the perfect place to catch, kill and cook food.
However, you do not have to eat game meat if you do not want to. While kangaroo burgers are popular you can just as easily find a barbeque restaurant that serves cow, pig or sheep meat. You can also find vegetarian barbeque joints. If you are a fan of barbequing food then you will love Australia. You can find barbeque restaurants in almost every city and town in the country. If you plan on attending these venues then make sure that you do your research beforehand and find the ones with the best reviews. A restaurant’s reviews can tell you a lot about it and help you decide if it’s worth going there or not.
Kangaroo Meat
As mentioned in the previous section you can find kangaroo burgers being sold in many of Australia’s barbeque restaurants. While the meat was only legalised for consumption a few decades ago its popularity is rising. Farmers and hunters have been eating it for a lot longer than a few decades, however. The reason outdoorsy people have been eating it for so long is that it is delicious! If you are interested in trying a type of meat that you have probably never encountered before then give it a go. People who regularly eat kangaroo meat say that it tastes gamey. Game meat of course, isn’t for everybody and a lot of people find it disgusting. However, it is very good for you. In fact, studies seem to suggest that regular consumption of game meat can significantly improve people’s health. Wild animals get a lot more nutrients in their diets than ones that are bred on farms. If you are planning on incorporating more game meat into your diet then you need to make sure that you buy it from sustainable sources. Most of Australia’s kangaroo farmers and hunters are committed to sustainability.
Meat Pies
Most people are aware of Australia’s beginnings. The nation was a prison island during the colonial period. Many of the people who live in Australia today descend from British prisoners and adventurers who set out to make new lives for themselves in different parts of the world. Meat pies are an insanely popular British dish (or at least they were during the period that Australia was settled). Unsurprisingly their popularity has endured in Australia and you can find more or less every restaurant and café selling them; if you are interested in sampling authentic Australian meat pies then do your research and try to find a vendor that’s selling genuine, British-style recipes.
Going back to kangaroo meat for a moment, in recent years many artisan restaurants and bistros have actually started selling kangaroo meat pies. If you want to try meat pies then make sure you know exactly what you want. Do your research and learn about the different flavours and types so you know what to order when you sit down in a restaurant. You can of course also make them yourself at home although as a novice there’s no way yours will be as good as a seasoned Australian chef’s.
Anzac Biscuits
Anzac biscuits (which should never under any circumstances be called Anzac cookies) were a popular type of biscuit eaten by servicemen during the Second World War. At the time these biscuits were popular because of their simplicity and how filling they were. Now, they are popular because they are delicious. You are unlikely to be able to find any restaurants or cafés selling these as they are very simple dishes although it is possible to find them for sale in bakeries and in grocery stores. You can make them yourself too. Like fairy bread, Anzac biscuits are very easy to put together. However, unlike fairy bread, you will need a little bit of experience baking in order to make them. If you want to try them then rather than making them at home it’s a lot better to buy them from a proper Australian bakery. In a bakery, you will get a much more authentic, delicious biscuit.
Make sure that you go to bakeries that have received good reviews. As mentioned earlier reviews can tell you everything you need to know about a business and help you to decide whether it’s worth shopping there or not.
Chicken Parma
Chicken parma isn’t an Australian recipe per se; it is one that is hugely popular in the United Kingdom as well. In particular, it is popular in the north of England and Scotland. Outside of these places, you’re unlikely to find chicken parmesan restaurants. Usually, parma is sold in pubs in Australia rather than in specialist restaurants. Unlike all of the other things listed here, it’s not really a dish you can make at home. While you can of course could it’s a very complicated dish and something of an art to perfect. If you are interested in trying chicken parma then bear in mind that the dish isn’t exactly healthy. In fact, it is as far from healthy as anything can be. Chicken parma is breaded chicken slathered in melted parmesan cheese.
Therefore, it is something that you should only ever consume in moderation. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you can consume it every day as if you do you will end up experiencing unwanted side effects and weight gain. As delicious as chicken parma is, try to control yourself and reduce your consumption of it.
Pavlova
Pavlova is a delicious Russian dessert. However, it is one that has been claimed by Australians. No matter where you go in Australia you will find bakeries and cafés selling pavlova, usually strawberry ones. If it’s something you are interested in trying then you will have absolutely no problem finding it. Bear in mind that this dish is extremely unhealthy in large amounts as it is basically just fat and sugar. If you are planning on eating pavlova then you can make it healthier by adding lots of fruit to it. Bear in mind that fruit also contains sugars though so try to choose healthy fruits that are low in sugars.
In addition to pavlovas, there are similar Australian desserts that take inspiration from British cooking like Eton Mess, for example. Trifles and sponge cakes are also popular. As Australia is a former British colony, British cooking plays an important role in many people’s lives even if they do not know it. Again most of these desserts are very high in sugar and should only be consumed in moderation. You should not eat them on a daily basis as doing so increases your chances of developing diabetes.
Did you know that Australian cooking is delicious? The chances are you probably didn’t. Most people’s knowledge of Australian food is lacking, to say the least. It isn’t hard to see why so little is known about Australian cooking, however, as British food (where most of it comes from) is unknown and under appreciated too.
We’ll be using: Australian Kimchi
URL: https://gutsyferments.com.au/collections/kimchi
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