Australia is a popular travel destination for many reasons. Travellers go to Australia to take a ride in the outback, relax on the sandy beaches or take photographs of Sydney’s famous opera house. There are always cheap international flights to Australia year round so it’s no excuse not to go. Besides several must-see sights, Australia also has several must-try dishes. Although some of the favourite foods of Australians actually originated in other countries, there are many popular native dishes.
From condiments to desserts, no holiday in Australia is complete without sampling the five following foods.
Vegemite
Vegemite is the quintessential Australian food. This dark spread is put on just about anything including crackers, toast, sandwiches, English muffins and slices of fruit. It is a bit salty with a bitter, yeast flavour that is similar to Marmite. It is best to only spread a small amount if you have never eaten it. However, Australians eat it regularly.
Kangaroo and crocodile meat
No outback experience is complete without sampling kangaroo or crocodile. Although meat pies are more popular in Australia, they actually are not a native food. Kangaroo and crocodile are widely available in Australia and laws are in place to make sure the population of kangaroo is not depleted due to agriculture. Kangaroo resembles veal or pork in taste. It is often either barbecued or prepared in stew. Crocodile meat is very lean and does not have an overpowering flavor. Crocodile can be found as steak or jerky. Even though it is easy to find crocodile steak, Australian families do not actually eat it on a regular basis.
Seafood
Because Australia is an island, fresh seafood is abundant. Prawns (especially cooked on the barbie) are a perennial favourite and easily available. However, barramundi (found mainly in Northern Australia), red emperor and coral trout are also favourite native seafood worth sampling.
Pavlova
Pavlova is often called Australia’s national dessert, though some claim it originated in New Zealand. Either way, it was created in the 1920′s to honor the visit of Anna Pavlova, a famous ballerina. The “standard” recipe has a meringue base, followed by whipped cream and topped with fresh, local fruit. It might be topped with strawberries, kiwi, passionfruit or other types of berries. There are a variety of ways to prepare Pavlova, however, and all of them are equally sweet.
Lamingtons (or Lemmingtons)
Lamingtons are so treasured in Australia, particularly Queensland, that they have their own holiday. National Lamington Day is on July 21st. They were named for Lord Lamington, who was the governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. However, he actually did not care for Lamingtons. The traditional Lamington is a small sponge cake that is covered in chocolate and rolled in coconut. Lamingtons might also have fruit in the centre, though some fancier ones are filled with cream.
They are available in most bakeries in Australia.
So whether in the mood for dinner, dessert or a quick Vegemite sandwich, Australian cuisine provides a variety of new and delicious options for travellers.
