6 Must Try Australian Food

When somebody asks me what is Australia’s national food or dish, I find it a little difficult to answer. We’re a multicultural country, with many nationalities and cultures which add diversity to our cuisine. There is no question that the food is wonderful in Australia – but if you’re wondering what are some of the classic Australian foods then this post will help.

# Chicken parma

This hugely popular Aussie meal won’t go down in history as being the most flavoursome thing you’ll ever eat. But, it is oh so satisfying and comforting. If you ask me, the classic chicken parmigiana (it’s no surprise we’ve shortened its name to just chicken parma) is best served from the kitchen at an Aussie pub. Also, it tastes best alongside a pot of cold beer.

A chicken parmigiana is a chicken fillet, bashed a few times to flatten it out, make it bigger. It’s then prepared by dusting in flour, egg wash and covered in breadcrumbs and then shallow fried in oil.

Once it’s golden brown, it’s covered with a homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, then grilled until it’s melted. Sometimes a piece of crispy bacon or a few slices of ham is added to the mix too.

# Meat pie

This is THE classic Australian food that you must try while you’re here. Don’t waste your time and try just any meat pie, ask a local where you can find a great pie. They’ll most probably direct you towards a bakery, small cafe, or corner store.

An Aussie meat pie is a savoury meal and it’s most popular at lunchtime. If you can get one that has just come fresh from the oven, you’re in luck.

There are many fillings to choose from, yet the most common is minced beef or chunks of steak with gravy. For the adventurous, the standard fillings of steak often come with onion, pepper, or mushrooms too.

# Fish & chips

I have to admit it, we cook fish and chips pretty well in Australia. It makes sense that it’s on our list of classic Australian foods. We’re a country that is completely surrounded by the ocean, so the fish is usually freshly caught that day.

There’s nothing better than going for a weekend away to one of the smaller coastal towns in Australia to order fish and chips, then enjoying it on the beach. You can unwrap your meal right there and enjoy it as you watch the sun go down.

Your fish will typically be battered and deep-fried. If you prefer it grilled, you can ask the shop to prepare it this way instead, no worries. If you really want to pimp out your first Aussie fish and chips experience, order a few fried dims sims and potato cakes too.

# Vegemite on toast

You either love it or hate it, but most Aussies have grown up with this stuff and we love it! No visit to Australia is complete without having tried vegemite at least once.

So what is vegemite? It’s a dark paste made from leftover brewers yeast extract with different vegetable and spice additives. It’s kind of similar to marmite in the UK, but let’s not get into that debate between Brits and Aussies about which one tastes better; we’d be here all day.

The most popular way to enjoy vegemite is on toast with loads of butter. You can also spread it on bread or even dry biscuits too. The secret here is in the application of the vegemite. Don’t overload your toast with too much of the stuff. It can be a little overbearing as the flavour is quite savoury and a little salty.

# Pavlova

Both Australia and New Zealand lay claim to being the creators of this famous dessert. It’s usually Christmas time or special occasions when you’ll see this eye-catching delight adorn the kitchen table.

Crispy meringue crust under fruit filling of strawberries, mangoes, kiwi fruit, and passionfruit and fresh whipped cream on top. It’s pretty special.

# Sausage roll

Sausage rolls are another lunchtime favourite and the best ones can be found in small family-run bakeries. A sausage roll is made of minced sausage meat, wrapped in puff pastry and baked until perfectly golden. You know you’re onto a good thing when the pastry is nice and flaky.

Sausage rolls have really kicked it up a notch over the past decade, with so many new flavour creations. I’m talking flavour combinations such as lamb, rosemary and pine nuts or feta, spinach and pumpkin and pork and fennel, to name a few.

Add a dollop of homemade chutney to your sausage roll or just stick with the standard tomato sauce on top. Don’t miss this classic Australian food during your visit.