Are you headed to Australia? Or are you just curious what that lot down under eat? Well you're in luck. In this article, you’ll learn all about the Australian food that Aussies can’t live without and what they eat when they step out of bed. You will even learn how to host an Aussie barbie (BBQ) and the classics they just love (and nope, it’s not vegemite!).
First Thing in The Morning
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Aussie breakfast starts out pretty similar for most people (no, we don’t have avocado on toast every day). Firstly, there's the classic Weet-Bix; throw some in a bowl of milk, sprinkle it with a little bit of brown sugar, and top it off with a dollop of honey or some sliced banana. As a kid this was the usual goto, not mention that every sporting hero on our tellies (TVs) was sponsored by Weet-Bix. Next, you have vegemite egg soldiers. First, you want to throw some bread in the toaster and soft boil a few eggs. When they are cooked find yourself an egg cup, spread some vegemite on your toast, and cut the toast into 8-10 finger-sized dippers. Knock the top off your egg and dip those tasty soldiers in!
Some Sweet Treats
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Now in Australia when you go for your sweet afternoon treat, there are pretty much only three things you need to know about. The first is the classic Tim Tam. Now, this Australian food will most likely be life changing for you. Grab your Tim Tam and bite off two opposite corners. Use one corner as a straw to drink your cold milk or hot coffee from. You can thank us later.The next Australian food you reach for is your good old lamington. This is a brilliant snack made up of sponge cake rolled in chocolate and coconut.
Lastly, you will want to grab yourself a Vanilla Slice from the bakery. The name might seem unassuming, but the Vanilla Slice is an iconic treat… The slice has a crispy pastry bottom and top, with a thick, vanilla custard filling.
Host Your First Barbie Right
To start off the barbie (BBQ) right, you need to get yourself some snags (sausages). Snags are an essential item for pulling off an Aussie barbie. When you're grabbing the snags make sure you’ve got bread, tomato sauce, and onions ready to go with them. BBQ’ed onions are essential for an Aussie BBQ. All you need to do is thinly slice a few onions, throw them on the barbie with some oil and sugar (only a tablespoon or so), and caramelize. There are plenty of Australian-approved ways to classy up your BBQ (or barbie) if snags aren’t for you. You could try some beetroot burgers or prawn and avo skewers ( yep, we call them prawns, not shrimp). Now a beetroot burger might sound strange, but that tangy and sweet veggie will have you wondering why you haven't tried it before. We recommend grabbing a fresh beetroot and roasting it beforehand. The flavor is much better than the tinned variety!
When you're invited to an Aussie BBQ, make sure you bring a salad. A favorite at all Aussie barbies would be the Asian crunchy noodle salad — everyone will have a story of how there mums used to make this classic. As we mentioned, most Aussie BBQs involve (a lot of) beer, so make sure everyone is aware of your gas smoker safety. You might want to dedicate someone to enforce this so you don't have a trip to the hospital ruining your barbie.
But What About The Classic?
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Now one thing that can’t be forgotten is your good old Aussie classics and in that group, there are a few that come to mind. We all know that vegemite is a classic Aussie condiment, so we might just introduce you to something a little different. A true Aussie favorite is Milo. Whether you have it hot, cold, or on top of your ice cream, it is delicious. However, some mums got really creative with it and made some unique beauties. We remember the likes of Milo bubble bars, Milo ice blocks and even Milo-filled macaroons. The kids who had mums who made these treats were pretty popular at recess.
A true favorite at every Aussie birthday party under 10 (maybe 20) is fairy bread. You make fairy bread by buttering some white bread, pouring hundreds and thousands of sprinkles on it, and then cutting it into small triangles or squares. Now that may sound odd, but it is truly a delicacy. If you mention fairy bread to any Aussie adult, you will see memories of childhood and happiness floating in their eyes.
So there you have it; the key Australian food you should know about if you want to eat like a local here in Australia.
Now go out and enjoy yourself a fairy bread sandwich. You'll leave more cultured than you though you would.
Related Article: Korean Food: 20 Mouthwatering Meals
Brittnay Sharman
Brittnay is an Aussie and one half of The Travelling House Sitters. She has been living in London for the past two years and recently moved home to Melbourne. She has visited over 21 countries in Europe and Africa in that time. You can find all her adventures in housesitting and travels on The Travelling House Sitters. If you're interested in house sitting, she also has a guide on how to become a house sitter.
