14 Of The Best Recipes From Australia

When anyone thinks of Australian food, a few things should come to mind. Namely, the barbecue and seafood though there is so much more to it than that.

Australians enjoy their meat but also delicate sponges, pavlova, and they even have their own soda bread. From meat pies to Malteser slices, sausage rolls, and rissoles. In this guide, we will look at 14 of the best recipes from Australia.

1. Sausage Rolls

It may be surprising to find out simply how popular the humble sausage roll is in Australia and it proves really versatile to go with many dips and for several occasions.

You can use fresh sausage meat or rip the casing and use the meat from sausages that have already been seasoned.

Add your own blend of flavors though garlic and paprika work well and you should add breadcrumbs and milk. Place the meat into puff pastry sheets, wrap them, apply some egg wash, and bake.

2. Australian Meat Pie

Just like the sausage roll, a meat pie is quintessentially Australian. These can be made to form individual pies or a large one fit for a family meal.

Try to use sirloin cuts for your meat filling and combine them with button mushrooms, onion, and carrots which are all diced really small.

The gravy is also important and comes flavored with tomato paste, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock.

Encased in a buttery bottom crust and covered in a puff pastry sheet, this is a decadent meal. You can also use an Australian meat pie for the centerpiece of a summer picnic.

3. Australian Pie Floater

If you enjoy a meat pie, try to create a traditional Australian pie floater. This delicacy involved a meat pie being flipped upside down in a bowl.

The pie essentially floats in a few ladles of thick pea and ham soup and is served with an onion and tomato chutney. The dish was made famous in Adelaide and is said to have been created by a Scottish immigrant back in 1880 yet lives on to this day.

4. Rissole

Another popular Australian dish is rissole which can be served as a main dish with veggies and mashed potatoes though can be a snack served with ketchup or a gravy.

Rissoles are typically made to resemble flattened meatballs made from ground beef and flavored with Italian herbs, sweet chili sauce, relish, Worcestershire sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard sauce, steak sauce, curry powder, and herb-seasoned stuffing mix. Each meatball is then fried on both sides before serving.

5. Six-Egg Pavlova

Instead of heavy cakes and pastries, Australians prefer a pavlova for a classic dessert. This is ideal during summer, especially at Christmas, and it does not take long to prepare.

Beat together egg whites, white vinegar, salt, vanilla essence, caster sugar, cornflour, and boiling water. Once stiff, bake for 15 minutes at 160°C then 150°C for a full hour, leave to cool, and top with whipped cream and your favorite fruit.

6. Australian Soda Bread (Also Known As Damper)

Another recipe that looks to have been passed down generations is Damper, which sits in between scones and bread. The recipe only uses five ingredients so it can be really easy to do for afternoon tea when served with jam and butter.

Rub cubed butter into self-raising flour and salt, make a well in the middle, and pour in water and milk to create a dough. Knead into a ball, cut two slits across the top of the dough and brush the top with milk before baking until golden brown.

7. Malteser Slice

Another simple recipe is this Malteser Slice which does not even require an oven.

Blitz chocolate cookies (known as Choc Ripple biscuits in Australia) in a food processor then add crushed Maltesers, Milo (a chocolate-flavored malt powder used for drinks), salt, melted butter, and condensed milk.

Press in more Maltesers, and layer on broken plain or malt biscuits. Cover with melted chocolate and crushed Maltesers then refrigerate overnight before slicing into pieces.

8. Australian Cheesy Potato Bake

Alongside sausages, burgers, and grilled fish, you can also expect to see an Australian Cheesy Potato Bake at a barbecue. This is an incredibly filling dish so it may prove to be really popular with vegetarians.

Create two layers of thin and starchy potato slices covered with garlic and onion which are then covered with seasoning and cream, cover with cheese, and bake.

9. Australian Steak Sandwich

Of course, you can expect some grilled meat to be featured on a list of the best recipes from Australia.

The steak sandwich is a classic dish where grilled steak slices are encased in Turkish bread which is covered with a layer of mayonnaise, lettuce leaves, beetroot slices, tomato slices, pineapple rings, and topped off with barbecue sauce. Place the bread lid on the top and dig in.

10. Bush Tomato Scones

Also known as Akudjura, these savory scones are ideal for an afternoon snack though the key ingredient may be difficult to source. Bush tomatoes are a native berry known as akajura which possesses a caramel-esque flavor when dried.

Combine salt and baking powder with butter until it looks like breadcrumbs. Add the bush tomato, then gradually add the milk until a soft dough is formed. Knead the dough, cut it out into scones, brush the tops with milk and bake until browned.

11. Chicken Parmigiana

You can find Chicken Parmigiana served in many pubs across Australia. You can even use chicken pieces that have already been crumbed if you do not want to make the dish completely from scratch.

Once the schnitzels have turned golden brown in the oven, add layers of tomato paste, bacon slices, pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and smashed tomatoes. Return to the oven to cook until the cheese has melted.

12. Roasted Leg Of Lamb

Another typical Australian recipe is a roasted leg of lamb which is typically served as a family meal or with guests on a special occasion.

Use a leg of lamb with the bone in and spread on a blitzed paste of garlic, thyme, oregano, oil, and rosemary for an intense layer of flavor.

Surround the lamb with potatoes and garlic then add stock and roast under foil until cooked through and the potatoes have crisped up. Serve the lamb with more roasted vegetables and a mint salsa.

13. Kangaroo Fillet

Kangaroo Fillet should certainly be considered an Australian delicacy and should be treated well. This is a delicate slice of meat that uses a dry rub of thyme, sea parsley, wattleseed, rivermint, mountain pepper, and kutjera powder.

Cook until medium rare then create a sauce from melted butter, flour, beef stock, red wine, and more mountain pepper, stirring to ensure there are no lumps before adding hibiscus flower. Rest the fillets, slice, and then drizzle over the sauce.

14. Lamington Squares

Of course, a list of Australian recipes would not be complete without Lamingtons. These are typically served at a bake sale or on Australia Day.

First, create a sponge from plain flour, baking powder, cornstarch, butter, caster sugar, vanilla extract, whole milk, and eggs.

Ideally, bake the sponge the day before and then cover it with chocolate icing from butter, dark chocolate, powdered sugar, and milk so that it has a viscous consistency. Dip the sponge into the chocolate icing and then roll it into desiccated coconut.

Bonus Section: Biscuits

Australians love their biccies and some recipes have existed for decades. This includes Anzac biscuits as, perhaps, the most famous biscuits to come from the country, as well as Kingston and Milo biscuits.

1. Anzac Biscuits

One of the most iconic Australian recipes is of Anzac biscuits that were baked during wartime and sent to Australian soldiers. They are still recreated to this day using oats and golden syrup yet, crucially, no eggs.

Combine melted butter and golden syrup in a pan, remove from the heat and then mix together bicarbonate of soda with hot water to add in. This should froth and you can add it to dry ingredients, mold into balls, flatten and bake until golden brown.

2. Kingston Biscuits

Another biscuit that tastes similar to an Anzac biscuit are these Kingston biscuits. The flavor still comes from golden syrup but also desiccated coconut and rolled oats.

There is also a chocolate filling from confectioner’s sugar, cocoa powder, melted dark chocolate, and boiling water. Simply bake a batch of biscuits and use the filling to sandwich them together.

3. Milo Biscuits

These biscuits use a typical Australian ingredient in Milo which provides a rich taste. Simply blitz together caster sugar and butter then add condensed milk, Milo, and self-raising flour.

Roll the dough into balls, lightly flatten with a fork, and then bake until lightly brown. Allow the biscuits to cool and then serve them with a cup of tea.

Final Thoughts

It can be said that Australians have an acquired taste when it comes to their food. Though a lot of the cuisine is focused on meat, they can also boast some delicate desserts including Lamingtons and pavlova.

A lot of these recipes can be seen at social gatherings so you may see a Cheesy Potato Bake at a barbecue or Anzac Biscuits on Australia Day.

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