Popular Foods in Australia

A look at the Australian cuisine introduces one to a wide variety of interesting and delectable food items. So which are the ones commonly relished by people here? Let's find out with this article.

Australia is a land that has a wide variety of cuisines to offer to those who are complete foodies at heart! The cuisine finds its base in the traditional style of British cooking. A wide variety of seafood is also enjoyed here. The varied types of delicacies only reveal the diversity of this land. Certain items, ranging from appetizers to desserts, have come to be associated with the identity of this country. Find out more with the list below.

Vegemite

Vegemite is an extremely well-known product in this country, to the extent that it is considered a national food item today. It is actually a black-colored paste which is used as a spread on sandwiches as well as crackers. At times, vegemite is also used as a filling for pastries. It is known to be a rich source of Vitamin B and is basically made from a byproduct of beer brewing, yeast extract. Food technologist, Cyril P. Callister, first created the vegemite. It has a smooth but sticky texture and is slightly bitter to taste. For someone who is trying vegemite for the first time, the taste may be too strong. However, it is said that the flavor grows on you eventually.

Australian Meat Pie

 

The meat pie is a dish that is savored in different forms all over the world. However, the meat pie of Australia has attained the status of a national dish. Hot pies are actually a favorite with all the local people. Such is the fame of the meat pie that an annual Great Aussie Pie contest is celebrated to attract various pie makers. The prize is given to those pie makers who meet the required standards of quality. Typically, an Australian meat pie contains minced meat with some gravy. It is also served with onions, mushroom, and cheese. It is a takeaway snack that is a favorite among people during games.

 Pie Floater

The pie floater is unique to areas of South Australia. A pie floater is actually a meat pie that is inverted and placed in a thick green pea soup. It is then covered with tomato sauce and mint sauce, along with salt and pepper to taste. Generally, pie floaters are available late in the evening at caravans parked along the streets. This is mainly seen in areas of Adelaide. The National Trust of Australia gave the pie floater the status of a South Australian Heritage icon in the year 2003. This dish has also been mentioned in the novel The Last Continent, written by Terry Pratchett.

Pavlova

Named after a Russian ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova, pavlova is a notable dessert in Australia. It is a meringue-based dessert that is soft on the inside and has a crispy crust outside. The pavlova is different from meringue as a result of the addition of cornflour, which gives it the crunchy crust on the outside and a soft texture on the inside. This dessert tends to deflate if it is exposed to cold air and thus, is left in the oven until it cools down. Fresh fruits like strawberries, kiwifruit, bananas are used along with whipped cream as topping.