Simple and Easy Popular Australian Dishes You Can Make at Home 

Australia is home to a wonderful mix of people from all over the world, bringing their cultures together in many ways—food being just one. 

The influx of people from all over the world has greatly diversified the food scene down under. Paella, tom yum, sushi, bibimbap, empanadas, butter chicken, ramen, poutine, and several other tasty meals have become readily available in Australia. 

As a multicultural society, you might ask—what then is deemed as true Australian culture? What comes to mind when we think of Australian food?

You could argue that many foods over time have become integral to the Australian diet, and this is true, but there are still a few dishes that spring to mind for Aussies when asked what they would consider the country’s most iconic foods.

As the old adage goes, the way to someone's heart is through the stomach, so in this article we’re going to introduce you to just a few of these Australian favourites. We hope you’re hungry—if you’re not—you probably will be soon!

Dim Sims 

What is often referred to as the ‘Australian dim sim’ can be found very easily across the country—at school canteens, supermarkets, or service stations, for example. 

Australian dim sims originated in the early nineteenth century as an adaptation of Chinese dumplings, particularly Siu Mai. The difficulty Australians had in pronouncing Siu Mai led to the introduction of the name ‘dim sim’ instead. 

The ingredients that make for a perfect dim sim include pork, beef, carrots, cabbage, green onion, mushrooms, seasoning of choice, and a wrapper usually made of wheat. 

Dim sims can either be deep-fried, steamed, baked, or air-fried. When looking for a classic takeaway dim sim, though, you’re most likely to come across the deep-fried and steamed versions.

Meat Pies 

Meat pies are arguably the most quintessential Australian food. 

It’s believed that the first pies in the world were in ancient Egypt, during the Neolithic period, around 9500 BC. The Greeks soon started making their pies, which then became a common dish. 

The English devised different ways of making pies in the mid-16th century, with a variant known as cherry pie. In the 18th century, British settlers arrived in Australia and one of the first things they did was make a meat pie with a pastry crust filled with meat and gravy.

The love for meat pies among Australians grew exponentially in the 1800s. Today, many Australians love a variety of meat pies with different fillings—steak, chicken, mushroom, and even kangaroo meat.  

Lamingtons 

Lamingtons are a staple on the tables of Australian kids' parties and other events. History has it that lamingtons were first made between 1896 and 1901 in Brisbane. 

There are a few different stories that circulate about the invention of the lamington—often featuring a variation of someone accidentally dropping a slice of sponge cake into gravy (although some stories say it was actually chocolate) inspiring the creation of the dessert.

Essentially, lamingtons are a sponge cake, dipped in chocolate sauce, and coated in desiccated coconut. Some variations of the desert also include jam in the centre.

The ingredients needed to make lamingtons at home include flour, baking powder, butter, vanilla, sugar, milk, cocoa powder, and desiccated coconut. 

Lamingtons are best paired with a good cup of tea!

Roast Lamb

Australians are one of the biggest eaters of lamb per capita in the world, according to Meat and Livestock Australia. 

Australians love different variations of lamb roast, although it is often served with a cranberry sauce and mint jelly, or gravy. But really, you can get creative with your spices, seasonings, and sauces to cater to your own preferences.

Anzac Biscuits

Should you ever find yourself in Australia, the Anzac biscuit is a must-try. 

The roots of the Anzac biscuit stem back to Gallipoli, where the supply of fresh food and water was limited, hence members of the Australian and New Zealand army had to resort to hardtack biscuits. Families would make them and send them across the world to their loved ones.

The style of biscuit also proved useful for other things—some soldiers even wrote notes on the biscuits. 

Others used it as paint canvases, photo frames, or Christmas cards. 

The ingredients needed to make an Anzac biscuit include butter, oats, golden syrup, baking soda, sugar, flour, and desiccated coconut. 

So, there you have it—five simple and easy Australian dishes that you can make yourself! We hope you’ve found yourself a new favourite treat.