Australia and New Zealand share many dishes due to similar colonial ties and shared publications.
Main dishes
Breakfast NameDescriptionImageAvocado toastCommon breakfast/brunch dish consisting of avocado on toast, often sourdough. It can be served mashed (‘smashed avo’) or sliced with a variety of additions; commonly including poached eggs, feta (often goat's), lemon, lime, tomato, pepitas etc. It is a common dish in cafes but also prepared at home. It is now a very popular dish internationally.How the Internet became ridiculously obsessed with avocado toast Washington PostChilli scrambled eggsBrunch dish of toast, topped with scrambled eggs and chilli. A staple in many modern cafes, each with a unique recipe. Eggs BenedictCommon in cafés, most Australian eggs Benedicts (colloquially "eggs Benny") differ greatly from the traditional, American breakfast staple. The most commonly seen version pairs pulled pork, poached eggs, hollandaise and sourdough toast. Most cafes have their own version with sriracha hollandaise, hash browns and ham hock being other common additions. Vegemite/Marmite toastToast smeared with Vegemite or Marmite and other toppings; butter, avocado, tomatoes and cheese are common additions. Can be served on sourdough in cafés. Wheat biscuitsBreakfast cereal biscuits made from malted wheat. Usually eaten with a combination of milk and fruit, honey or sugar. It is sold commercially packaged. Weet-Bix and Vita-Brits are the most popular brands.
Salads NameDescriptionImageBeetroot and pumpkin saladCommon salad combination, especially in cafés. Mixed with a variety of ingredients such as quinoa and kale. Cheese slaw A salad which at its simplest consists of cheddar cheese, shredded carrot and mayonnaise. It is particularly associated with Broken Hill and rarely seen elsewhere. It can be used as a filling for sandwiches or as a side dish, particularly at barbeques.Curried rice saladA salad served at barbecues, usually consisting of capsicum, raisins, apple and rice with a curry powder- and white vinegar-based dressing.
Dips NameDescriptionImageCashew Parmesan dipA type of dip, similar to pesto, consisting of cashew nuts blended with Parmesan mixed with other ingredients. Usually store-bought, variants include; spinach, capsicum, rocket, sweet chilli and basil.Cob loafA dish consisting of a hollowed-out cob loaf (a large round bread), with a dip inside. Recipes for this dish can vary family-to-family. Common fillings include spinach dip or caramelised onion and bacon dip. Commonly eaten at barbeques. Cob loaves have seen a recent surge in popularity with many new, creative versions appearing.Kiwi onion dipReduced cream, onion soup packet mix and vinegar.
Breads NameDescriptionImageCheese and bacon rollWhite bread roll topped with cheese and diced bacon. Common lunchbox filler.Damper Traditionally baked on ashes of a campfire or a campfire oven. It was originally prepared by swagmen, drovers, stockmen and other travellers. Often served hot with golden syrup and lashings of butter. Modern variations such as cheese and bacon, wattleseed and spinach and feta have been increasing in popularity.Damper on a stickA variant of damper, with the dough wrapped around a stick and cooked over an open fire. Typically prepared whilst on camping trips.Pipe loaf, tank LoafA type of bread sold in bakeries. Baked in an enclosed corrugated tin. It is easily sliced and made into sandwiches.Pizza rollA style of bread roll typically sold in bakeries and served at room temperature. The roll is topped with tomato sauce and cheese, along with additional toppings generally aligning with common pizza varieties. Also available to a lesser degree in scroll and pull apart varieties.PuftaloonA quick bread fried in dripping, often served with jam.Pumpkin sconeScones with mashed pumpkin through the dough.Parāoa parai / Fry breadA Māori fried dough.Parāoa rēwenaA Māori bread made from fermented potato flour.Sweet chilli scrollSavoury rolled bread bun with sweet chilli sauce and toppings such as cheese.Cheesymite scroll, Vegemite scrollSavoury rolled bread bun filled with Vegemite and cheese and topped with cheese.
Sandwiches NameDescriptionImage|-Burger with the lot/Aussie burger/Kiwi burgerA burger variant which consists of a burger patty, bacon, egg, lettuce, cheese, beetroot slices and sometimes pineapple in a bun. Sold in fish and chip shops and burger shops.Cheese rollA cheese roll (occasionally known by the older name of cheese roll-up) is created by covering a slice of bread in a prepared filling consisting mainly of grated or sliced cheese, and then rolling it into a tube shape before toasting. Cheese rolls are a very popular food in Otago and Southland in New Zealand, where they are commonly found as a menu item at cafeterias and similar food outlets.Continental rollA Western Australian sandwich influenced by Italian cuisine. A crusty, chewy roll filled with mortadella, salami, coppa and vegetables such as pickled eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, beetroot and grated carrot. Curried Egg sandwichAn egg sandwich made with chopped boiled eggs mixed with mayonnaise, and seasoned with a mild curry powder, often Keen's.Hot chicken roll Long bread roll filled with rotisserie chicken and often gravy. Sold in chicken shops. Versions which add hot chips or supplant the gravy with mayonnaise are common. Salad Sandwich Sliced bread, butter or margarine and layers of shredded lettuce or alfalfa sprouts, shredded carrots, sliced or shredded cucumbers, and canned red beetroot.Sausage Sizzle/Sausage on bread/Sausage sandwichA slice of white bread topped with a pork or beef sausage and usually grilled onions and tomato sauce. A sausage sizzle is a community event where the sales of sausage sandwiches are donated to a charitable cause. Sausage sizzles are usually found outside hardware stores and polling booths.Steak sangaA thin piece of steak with bacon, fried onions, tomato, tomato sauce and lettuce between two slices of white toast. Cheese, beetroot, barbeque sauce and pineapple might also be added. Strasburg/Devon/Fritz/Polony and sauceA sandwich filled with sliced strasburg, devon, fritz or polony sausage and tomato sauce.Vegemite sandwichSandwich with butter and Vegemite. Cheese and tomato are common additions.
Savoury pastries
NameDescriptionImageCheese and Spinach RollPuff pastry with cheese (usually feta and ricotta) and spinach.Curried beef pieA meat pie with curry powder and sometimes raisins in the gravy.Parrot pieSettlers in Australia baked a pie containing parrot meat, by itself or with other meats.Meat pieThe most common style in Australia, often considered a "national dish". Gravy and minced beef encased in shortcrust pastry and topped with puff pastry. Ned Kelly pieA meat pie topped with bacon and egg instead of puff pastry.PastieAn adaption of the British Pasty. Consists of a combination of beef, potato, carrot and onion enclosed in a D-shaped puff pastry pocket. Scallop pieA pie filled with scallops in a lightly curried, creamy sauce. Originally from and most popular in Tasmania.Shepherd's pie/ Potato pie/ Cottage pieBeef and Gravy with a suet base, topped with mashed potato instead of the usual puff pastry.Steak and Cheese piePie filled with diced or minced meat and cheese, often cheddar. The most popular style in New Zealand. Steak and pepper pieMeat pie with beef chunks instead of mince and a heavily peppered gravy.Vegetarian PastieVegetarian version of a Pastie. Omits meat for extra vegetables.
Deep fried snacks NameDescriptionImageChiko Roll Spring roll inspired snack invented by Frank McEncroe. Chiko Rolls contain Beef, barley, cabbage and other vegetables, partially pulped and deep-fried in a thick egg and flour pastry tube. Usually served in Fish and Chip shops.Corn JackChiko Roll casing with a sweetcorn based filling. Typically deep fried and served at fish and chips shops.Dagwood DogBattered saveloy sausage usually served dipped in tomato sauce at fetes and shows. Very similar to a Corn Dog.Dim simA dumpling consisting of minced meat, cabbage and seasonings. Primarily served in fish and chip shops, it can be served steamed or fried and is usually accompanied by soy sauce.Ham And Chicken RollAn appetizer at Australian Chinese restaurants. Ham and chicken in a deep fried spring roll wrapper.Hot Chips with Chicken SaltFried potato chips seasoned with chicken salt.Spring rollA local type of Spring roll, Larger than the original Chinese version with a thicker, doughier pastry and partially pulped vegetables. Served at fish and chip shops, optionally with Chicken Salt.Sweet chilli chicken tenders/stripsChicken covered with sweet chilli coating which often contains puffed rice. Either deep-fried in chicken shops or oven baked at home.Potato cake/potato scallop/potato fritterThin slices of potato, battered and deep fried. Served in fish and chip shops normally with the addition of chicken salt.
Fast food, pub meals