Australian Cuisine

For a long time, the Australian cuisine was considered as a not very unique copy of the English Cuisine, which itself has not the best reputation amongst gourmets. And indeed, Australia was a member of the British Empire not only politically but also culinary. But after WWII and especially during the last 20 years, Australian chefs and housewive managed to get rid of their English heritage and develop their own unique culinary identity. This was done by allowing other cultural and culinary influences and mixing them with own traditions. The result is a very unique, exciting and new 'crossover-cuisine' .

Australian Cuisine today is an exiting mix of Italian, French, Asian, Lebanese and Greek influences combined with traditional cooking methods and a variety of ingredients that can only be found in Australia.

Typical Australian food

• Kangaroo, Emu and Crocodile
  The food-scandals, and especially the BSE-scandal, in Europe caused the consumers to seek out alternatives to their local beef and pork. Especially Emu made its way on the European tables as a tasty and healthy alternative to beef. Emu-meat reminds of venison. Kangaroo and crocodile also slowly find their way onto the plates of European consumers. Kangaroo tastes venison-like, Crocodile reminds of chicken.
• Bush tomatoes
  Small tomato-like fruits, also called desert raising
• Lemon myrtle
  The fresh leaf, or ground dried leaf of the Lemon Myrtle tree
• Mountain Pepper
  The ground leaves or berries of the mountain pepper tree
• Native spinach
  Warrugul greens, a native spinach growing in coastal areas
• Macadamia nuts
  The Macadamia nut is native of Australia but is now grown in other places too
• Wattle seed
  A small, oval, black variety of the Acacia seed. Wattle seed is used in myriad foods including rice, soups, meat rubs and baked goods.
• Lemon Aspen
  Lemon Aspen is an Australian bushfood plant. Its small lime green fruit have a strong citrus tang with undertones of eucalyptus and menthol
• Honey
  Australian honey is considered as one of the best honeys in the world.
• Australian wine
  Australian wine is highly decorated and respected by wine connoisseurs all around the globe.

When it comes to vegetables, the Australian cuisine is not as diversified as one would think. Despite 'crossover-cuisine' and Asian influences, the Australian cuisine is still dominated by peas, potatoes and pumpkins which are cooked in water and only slightly salted. Fruits are a whole different thing: The whole range of tropical and sub-tropical fruits is offered in Australia.