Australian cuisine is the food and culinary practices of Australia and its inhabitants. Food preparation techniques have varied over time, but it is common for cooking to be heavily influenced by the cultures of those who have immigrated to the country.
Aboriginal Australians
have been consuming native plant and animal foods for approximately 60,000 years, and their traditional methods of processing these foods evolved over time. European carp, which is common in the Murray River as an invasive species, is not considered edible by most Australians. The Australian gold rush introduced immigrants and more varied cuisines, mainly Chinese, while post-war immigration programs led to a large scale diversification of local food, mainly due to the influence of immigrants from the Mediterranean, East Asia and South Asia.These foods were the first sign of an exclusively Australian cuisine and have touches of a unique emerging culture. A classic Australian cookie is the ANZAC cookie, which is usually homemade and is so called because family and friends sent them to Australian soldiers fighting in Europe and the Dardanelles during the First World War. After World War II, the subsequent waves of multicultural immigration, mostly from Asia and the Mediterranean region, and the strong and sophisticated food cultures that these ethnic communities brought with them influenced the development of Australian cuisine. Indigenous Australians have occupied Australia for some 65,000 years, during which time they developed a unique hunter-gatherer diet, known as the tucker bush, extracted from plants and animals in the region of Australia. Traditional Australian food can't get much more Australian than a meat sandwich with pineapple, beetroot, lettuce and smoked barbecue sauce. Its use dates back 40,000 years ago, and Aboriginal Australians incorporated the plant in both cooking and medicine.
So they brought with them their own traditional foods and ways of eating, forming the basis of Australian cuisine. Australia's wine regions are mainly found in the south and the coldest parts of the country are in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Brisbane cuisine is derived from conventional Australian cuisine, as well as from many cuisines of international origin. When it comes to South Australian cuisine specifically, there are a few traditional cooking methods that are used to create delicious dishes. One such method is slow cooking over an open fire or on a wood stove. This method has been used for centuries by Aboriginal Australians to cook their bush tucker.
Slow cooking over an open fire allows for a more intense flavor to be imparted into the food. Another traditional cooking method used in South Australia is baking or roasting in an oven or on a spit. This method has been used for centuries by European settlers to cook their meats and vegetables. In addition to these traditional cooking methods, there are also some traditional recipes that are popular in South Australia. One such recipe is a classic meat pie made with beef mince, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, tomato paste and herbs.
This dish is often served with mashed potatoes or chips on the side. Another popular dish is a lamb roast with potatoes cooked in a red wine sauce. This dish is often served with steamed vegetables or a salad on the side. Finally, there are some unique desserts that are popular in South Australia. One such dessert is called Lamingtons which are small sponge cakes covered in chocolate icing and desiccated coconut.
Another popular dessert is Pavlova which is a meringue-based dessert topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
