Best Australian Foods You Have To Try

You’ve probably heard of some of Australia’s most famous dishes, but have you tried them all? Some of them will be discovered on a Mojosurf tour! My personal favorite is the mighty Vegemite (pronounced Veggiemight), a delicacy enjoyed only by the most refined palates.

Table of Contents

1. Vegemite

The most common one that ‘foreigners’ discover and, more often than not, despise is Vegemite! Regardless of how many people tell you it’s disgusting, you should at least try it once. It takes some getting used to…

So, what exactly is Vegemite? Vegemite is a dark brown paste made from a combination of vegetables, yeast extract, and spice additives. The most common way to consume it is on toast with butter. It’s also eaten with avocado, melted cheese, or tomato in Australia. I expected it to taste like syrup, but it’s very salty and not at all sweet. It’s best eaten with lots of butter and a thin layer of vegemi

2. Fairy Bread

This one is quite unusual, and you’re unlikely to come across it unless you happen to be at a children’s party. Fairy Bread is simply white bread with butter and hundreds and thousands sprinkled on top!

3. Tim Tams!

Any backpacker who has visited Australia will have tried the country’s favorite chocolate biscuit… the Tim Tam. After a Mojosurf lesson in Byron Bay, I ate my first Tim Tam, and I loved it! If you eat one, it’s difficult not to eat another or third. Warning!! It has hidden addictive properties.

According to one of the Mojosurf Crew, the best way to eat a Tim Tam is to bite the diagonal corners off the Tim Tam and drink a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Suck the drink through the Tim Tam and use it as a straw. Then, before it becomes too soggy and falls into your drink, you eat the soft, gooey (warmness!) #chocolateheaven, which tastes even better after a winter surf lesson!

4. Meat Pies

Pies are a popular on-the-go snack, and almost every corner shop, bakery, and supermarket will have a display case full of hot meaty pies to choose from. Even specialty pie shops exist! There are many different savoury pies available in Australia, but they are typically stuffed with minced meat, gravy, mushrooms, onions, and cheese. It’s also a satisfying snack after a night of partying (better than a kebab!). After a night of drinking and dancing, you end up on the street with a meat pie in your hand, waiting for your taxi home.

Pies come in a variety of flavor combinations; we particularly enjoyed the cauliflower and cheese pies for vegetarians in need of a late-night snack!

5. Anzac Biscuits

The acronym ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

During WWI, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps fought alongside each other. ANZAC Day is an Australian public holiday commemorating the men who fought for their country. During the war, wives baked these delectable ANZAC biscuits to send to their servicemen. They were inexpensive to produce and could withstand long boat rides. They contain coconut, golden syrup, and oats… yum!

(Never call these Anzac Cookies; it will irritate Australians more than you can imagine!)

6. Chicken Parma (AKA Chicken Parmigiana)

Okay, this may not sound particularly Australian, but it is one of the most commonly found foods in an Australian pub. A lot of pubs have a parma night where you can get a good chicken parma with a beer for a reasonable price. A chicken parma is a chicken schnitzel (flour-egg-breadcrumbed chicken) topped with a tasty tomato sauce and melted cheese. It’s like Australia and Italy collided on a plate!

7. Pavlova

The sovereignty of Russel Crowe, Crowded House, and the mighty Pavlova – a meringue cake base topped with whipped cream and fruit – has long been contested by Australians and New Zealanders.

Whatever its origin, pavlova is absolutely delicious! Pavlovas can usually be found in most cake shops or bakeries. Most major supermarket chains also sell them ready-made (look in the bread or frozen dessert section). Hot Tip: Make friends with an Aussie girl or guy and ask to be invited to their next family BBQ, where you can sample Nanna’s Pav, which will knock your socks off!

8. Witchetty Grub

If you want to experience true Aussie Bush Tucker, a Witchetty Grub is the way to go. These little guys taste like chicken and have the same amount of protein as an entire piece of steak! For years, the first Australian indigenous community ate these, and the nutritional benefits may just help you overcome the texture.

9. BBQ’s

When you think of Australia, you probably think of surfing, warm weather, kangaroos, and barbecues. “Throw another shrimp on the barbie,” as the Australians say, despite the fact that they are prawns, not shrimps! In fact, many Australians dislike this phrase and see it as yet another Australian stereotype.

A typical Aussie barbecue consists of sausages, burgers, steak, fresh seafood, bread, and tomato or barbecue sauce; salad is occasionally served, but it is primarily about the meat and fish (and, of course, a few stubbies – beer to non-Australians).

Australians will have a barbeque almost anywhere, not just at home. Local governments provide barbeques for the general public to use at popular tourist destinations such as beaches. (Just make sure you clean up after yourself!) You’re bound to have at least one Barbe a week if you stay with Mojosurf or meet a few locals!

10. Kangaroo

Visitors typically photograph kangaroos bouncing around. Kanagroo meat is consumed in Australia. They’ll be plentiful on supermarket shelves and restaurant menus. Kangaroo is a lean red meat that can be prepared in a variety of ways, including steaks, burgers, sausages, and much more.

Aussies also eat Emu, yes, Emu – in case you didn’t know, the Kangaroo and the Emu are on the Australian coat of arms, I kid you not, google it! Could the Australians be the only people in the world who eat their coat of arms?

11. Lamingtons

If you like coconut, you’ll love this traditional Australian dessert, The Lamington.

The ol’ Lamington has been a dessert table staple for generations, consisting of a deliciously, delicate soft sponge cake topped with decadent chocolate topping and immersed in coconut flakes.

Topic: Best Australian Foods You Have To Try

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