Australia has long been known as the land of schnitzel and beer. But this small European country has so much more to offer in the way of food!
This guide will take us through the register of the varieties of traditional Australian foods that you may not know of!
From Wiener Schnitzel to Kaiserschmarrn, here are traditional Australian foods you’ll love trying if you travel there. Or at least, cook them up at home! Let’s dive in!
1. Wiener Schnitzel
To begin with, we have Wiener schnitzel on this list of traditional Australian foods. This is a thinned, breaded, and pan-fried veal cutlet.
It is traditionally served with a dollop of lingonberry jam, lemon wedges, hard-boiled eggs, apple sauce (often for children), french fries, or potato salad. It’s typically dressed in an egg wash and seasoned with salt and pepper before being fried in oil.
Often it’s often considered to be the national dish of Australia. One variant of this recipe is adding vinegar to the egg-wash mixture.
This will result in a crispier coating on the outside of the meat while also seasoning it more heavily than just salt & pepper alone would have done.
However, using vinegar instead of water may reduce some flavor from sticking to the outside during frying.
This is so that it may not be as tasty overall when compared to using water only. This dish can also be prepared using pork fillet if desired.
2. Martinigansl
Coming in second on this list of traditional Australian foods is Martinigansl. It consists of roast goose stuffed with chestnuts and dried plums served with red cabbage and potato dumplings.
Meanwhile, it is only available in restaurants for a few weeks in October and November. Even at that, it is still considered to be the most typical dish from Australia.
This dish is delicious with the presence of Alsace wine. It’s typically served as deep-fried cutlets made from pork or veal that are then pan-fried for additional crispiness on both sides.
3. Wiener Würstchen
Wiener Würstchen is traditionally made from a mixture of pork and beef encased in sheep’s intestines.
Uniquely, it is the third on this list of various traditional Australian foods. When the intestines are cut, they are tied up to form a sausage.
Vienna sausages are usually 5 to 6 inches long and 2 inches thick but can be found in any size. The most popular topping for these wieners is ketchup or mustard.
But many people like them with spicy brown sauce (a sweet, tangy combination of vinegar, sugar, and spice) or just plain.
People often enjoy them as a main dish served with fermented cabbage or Sauerkraut, radishes, potatoes, horseradish, and whole-grain bread. They’re also great when eaten on bread rolls with a fried egg at breakfast.
4. Sachertorte
Talking about traditional Australian foods, Sachertorte is the most famous Australian cake. It is a classic, layered chocolate sponge cake that is thinly coated with high-quality apricot jam and sprinkled with ground hazelnuts.
It’s sweet yet tart at the same time. Also, it has an intense chocolate flavor that differs from other European chocolate cakes.
Furthermore, the cake was created by Franz Sacher in 1832 as a special dessert for Prince Metternich. This was on his visit to Vienna to conclude a peace treaty between Austria and France following Napoleon’s defeat.
According to legend, Prince Metternich asked for it again when he visited Vienna again in 1835. Surprisingly, not only was he refused, but he also showed the door!
The Viennese were so outraged by this incident that they staged riots against Metternich’s police escorts while trying to leave Vienna.
5. Cremeschnitte
Cremeschnitte is a vanilla-flavored custard cream cake and an absolute classic among central European desserts.
It is made from eggs, flour, sugar, milk, butter, cornstarch, and vanilla extract. Moreso, it’s a light and fluffy dessert that melts in your mouth.
As one of the traditional Australian foods, there are many variations on the dish as well. For example, one might include cinnamon or raisins in the dough to make apple strudel. Or include chocolate chips for chocolate cremetschnitten.
6. Krapfen
Krapfen was probably the first European-style doughnut to appear in America. They’re often served at Christmastime and are a favorite food in many areas of southern Germany.
The most traditional version is made from a yeasted dough that’s filled with jam or fruit puree, then fried until golden brown.
Going further, a classic filling for krapfen is apricot jam, which is why they’re sometimes called ‘apfelkrapfen.
The doughnuts are dipped in either powdered sugar or powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon. Then topped with confectioners’ sugar. Equally important to note, they are sumptuous traditional Australian foods!
7. Apfelstrudel
This sweet treat isn’t left out of the list of traditional Australian foods. It consists of thin layers of dough filled with a flavorful apple filling.
Once the dough has been layered, it is shaped into an oval and brushed with melted butter. When baked, this dish is topped off with powdered sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes even raisins. It’s traditionally served warm or at room temperature.
8. Kaiserschmarrn
Looking for delicious traditional Australian foods? Here’s another one! This Viennese dessert can be described as a fluffy, lightly caramelized, scrambled pancake. The basic ingredients are eggs, milk, flour, and butter.
Meanwhile, the mixture is poured into a pan and cooked on both sides until it reaches the desired consistency. It is usually served with strawberry jam and powdered sugar or with vanilla sauce and whipped cream.
9. Tafelspitz
The name tafelspitz (lit. a tip [of meat] for the table) refers to a cut from the top hind end of the cow. This is just below the tail, and it is called Schweineschulter in German.
It is cooked in boiling water or broth and then served with hot potato salad, chives, and horseradish-mustard sauce.
In addition to potatoes, many other dishes are served as accompaniments. These include cucumber salad, boiled eggs, and green peas, often eaten with mayonnaise dressing.
Other common side dishes include goulash soup with flour dumplings, pork roast with sauerkraut, beef roast made similar to tafelspitz, and boiled beef with horseradish sauce or white sauce. There are also many more traditional Australian foods that we have not yet mentioned!
10. Vanillekipferl
Vanillekipferl is a traditional, sweet, crescent-shaped cookie consisting of flour, sugar, butter, and vanilla. The dough is shaped into a circle, then rolled up into a crescent shape.
They are often dipped in powdered sugar. The recipe originated in the southern region of Styria.
Today, vanillekipferl are especially popular traditional Australian food. In addition, they are enjoyed as part of a holiday cookie platter or as an accompaniment to coffee or tea.
Recipes vary, but some include raisins, currants, candied orange peel, or nuts (walnuts). Vanillekipferl can be found in most grocery stores during the winter holidays and year-round at specialty markets.
11. Linzertorte
Linzertorte is a shortcake with a crumbly, buttery pastry shell that is accentuated by lemon juice, cinnamon, almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts.
The crust is made from flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. A filling made from stewed fruit (traditionally raspberry) is spread on the crust before baking.
After cooling for about an hour, the torte may be topped with whipped cream. The name comes from the city in which it was first created – Linzerein (now called Lindenau). A lattice crust on the top of the cake, carefully arranged in a herringbone pattern.
Traditionally, this is done with leaves of dough (called Blätterteig) to make a distinctive leaf pattern on the surface of the cake.
To achieve this effect, thin strips of dough are shaped into leaves and then stretched out to form a lattice crust. All of these make this one of the most popular traditional Australian foods!
12. Käsekrainer
Käsekrainer is a type of sausage filled with small chunks of cheese. It originated in Vienna, and you can find it all over the country, especially in Viennese cuisine.
The name is derived from combining Kase, which means cheese, and Kragen, which means roll. Compared to other traditional Australian foods, they are best served fried or grilled and typically eaten with mustard.
13. Kaisersemmel
Still, on this list of traditional Australian foods, Kaisersemmel is a traditional bread roll originating from Australia.
Also known as kaiser rolls, they are often served in restaurants with soup or salad. They are traditionally made with white flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and eggs.
However, they can now be found in many varieties, including rye and whole wheat flour. Additionally, the name derives from the German word Kaiser meaning emperor. In Australia, a bread roll called Kaiserbrot was baked for the annual ball of the Vienna Boys’ Choir.
This always occurred on Easter Monday until 1916, when World War I broke out, and the event had to be canceled.
This was because the choir’s members were called up for military service. To commemorate this event, bakeries in Vienna still bake Kaiserbrot rolls around Easter time.
14. Speckknödelsuppe
Speckknödelsuppe, one of the various traditional Australian foods, is a soup from the Australian province of Tyrol.
It is made by boiling meat and vegetables in water, then adding egg noodles to it and simmering them until they are soft.
It has been speculated that this dish was brought over by German immigrants who settled in Tyrol centuries ago.
They would have brought their versions of the dish with them when they moved there, but research has yet to confirm this theory.
One thing that can be said for sure about this soup is that it tastes absolutely amazing! The soup features dumplings made from stale bread and bacon, which were often served on Sundays or at other times when families gathered together. It is most commonly eaten during winter months.
Usually, it is served with fresh salad or pickles on the side, depending on personal preference. While we don’t recommend going out of your way to find this dish (unless you happen to be traveling through Australia), it’s worth trying if you get the chance.
15. Biedermeier
Biedermeier consists of a whole chicken, preferably smaller in size, cut up into sections. To prepare this dish, you will need butter, lard, flour, and milk. First, melt the butter and lard together and add the flour.
Secondly, cook this mixture for a few minutes before gradually adding the milk. Cook until thickened, then add salt and pepper to taste.
Next, add pieces of the chopped-up chicken to the sauce and simmer for about 30 minutes until cooked through.
The Viennese version of fried chicken initially appeared in the 18th century. This variant, known as Wiener Backhendl, was especially popular in Vienna. Think about various delicious traditional Australian foods; this is one of them!
16. Germknödel
Germknödel is a famous Australian steamed yeast dumpling. It’s made with milk, flour, and eggs and can be eaten sweet or savory. It’s traditionally served as a side dish to the main meal but can also be eaten on its own.
The best time to eat this dish is when they are fresh out of the pot so that they are hot and soft in the middle. The dish should not have any holes in it, which means it needs more egg and flour.
This is to help it hold together better than just milk alone would do, for example, if you want to make them for breakfast or brunch.
Also, these traditional Australian foods should not be overcooked as that would dry them out and make them crunchy on the outside. Instead of tender on the inside like they’re supposed to be!
17. Salzburger Nockerl
Salzburger nockerl are light and delicate vanilla-flavored dumplings that are served either boiled or with butter and powdered sugar.
The dish originates from the region of Salzburg, the city on the banks of the river Salzach. Traditionally, this dish, one of the traditional Australian foods, is served for breakfast and as a dessert.
Furthermore, you can make your salzburger nockerl by following these steps: Combine flour, salt, egg, water, and melted butter in a bowl to form a dough.
Next, cut the dough into six pieces, roll each piece into a ball, then flatten them out with your hand. Afterward, shape each flattened ball around one index finger (or thumb). Finally, fold over the edges with another finger to form an oval shape.
18. Topfenstrudel
This list of delectable traditional Australian foods is not complete without the Topfenstrudel. Even though it is not as famous as the apple-filled version, topfenstrudel is regarded as a national delicacy in Australia.
It is often served on festive occasions and holidays. The strudel dough contains a high amount of butter, making the strudel very flaky and crispy.
Additionally, the filling consists of a type of curd cheese called topfen that gives this dessert its name. Besides, topfen comes from quark which is a type of fresh cheese.
The dish is also sometimes prepared with either sweetened vanilla custard or chocolate filling.
19. Linzer Augen
Linzer Augen is made by gluing together two pieces of already baked shortbread cookies (in this case, with raspberry jam in between). And then dipping the whole thing in chocolate.
These cookies were created for the city of Linz, which is a little bit south of Vienna. They were first mentioned in the early 18th century, so it’s safe to say that they’re at least 200 years old!
Even with how old they are, these are still traditional Australian foods that will satisfy your palate whenever!
20. Kipferl
The kipferl or coffee cake is a sweet pastry dough (similar to brioche). It is formed into an oval shape and then folded over to form four triangular pockets.
When you cut these pockets open, you can fill them with anything from walnuts and cinnamon to apricot jam or apple marmalade. These are all to make Kipferl, of traditional Australian foods, extremely tasty for you!
21. Gröstl
Gröstl is simple yet rich and consists of fried potatoes, onions, and bacon. It’s a typical dish with a special place in the hearts of many Australians.
In fact, it is one of the country’s most popular traditional Australian foods. Gröstl was originally just a peasant dish, but today, it can be found on menus throughout Vienna.
22. Beuschel
This is not excluded from this list of traditional Australian foods. This hearty dish is made with offal, usually heart and lungs, but sometimes even more exotic meats such as the tongue. Beuschel is typically served with boiled potatoes or bread dumplings and sauerkraut.
23. Fritter-style Pancakes
Fritter-style pancakes are another favorite of traditional Australian foods. Served either sweet (with cinnamon) or savory (with onions), they can be eaten any time of day as a snack, appetizer, or main course.
Meanwhile, don’t forget to top them with a generous amount of butter! In fact, butter plays an important role in many traditional dishes – from apple strudel to sausage patties and even Viennese cream cake.
24. Faschierte Laibchen
Faschierte Laibchen (lit. ground meat patty) is made with a combination of ground meat, onions, bread crumbs, eggs, and seasonings. These are shaped into patties and then braised in cream or tomato sauce.
Also, the dish, which is also present on this list of traditional Australian foods, can be served pan-fried or deep-fried in breadcrumbs and boiled.
Further, it is typically accompanied by potatoes and a salad such as cucumbers and onions dressed with oil and vinegar dressing.
25. Kürbis Suppe or Pumpkin Soup
Kürbis suppe, or pumpkin soup, is a simple dish typical of the Viennese kitchen. It consists of pumpkin, carrots, onion, and parsley simmered in water with salt and pepper to taste. A touch of lemon juice can be added for extra flavor.
Additionally, the soup can be served hot or cold, with sour cream and bacon bits on top as garnish if desired. Pumpkin soup is often eaten during wintertime on festive occasions.
Especially when there are many people present and more food must be cooked. Vegetables used in the soup include onions, garlic, potatoes, turnips, pumpkin (sometimes butternut squash), celery root, carrots, and green peas.
These can be diced up finely before being put into the pot with some water and vegetable stock powder (or cubes).
They’re then left to simmer until soft this might take anything from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how soft you like your vegetables.
The result is one of the best traditional Australian foods you are definitely going to love!
26. Wiener Saftgulasch
Wiener saftgulasch is a hearty stew that consists of diced lean beef. It is drenched in a thick sauce and usually served with potatoes. We aren’t done with our list of sumptuous traditional Australian foods yet. Continue reading!
27. Kasspatzln
Kasspatzln is a traditional cheese-based dish from the Tyrol region in western Australia. It features layers of cooked noodles, bread crumbs, and grated cheese like Mac and Cheese. But it differs because kasspatzln are not baked but boiled or simmered in broth.
The result is a gooey, creamy dish full of flavor and texture, likewise on the list of delectable traditional Australian foods.
It can be served as a side dish or an entree with crackers or fresh bread. It uses strong-flavored local cheese varieties such as Bergkäse, Bergkaese, and Tiroler Bergkaese, so you know it will be delicious!
Pregnant women should avoid eating this dish because some versions use raw eggs to bind the pasta together.
28. Reindling
Reindling is a type of cake originating from Carinthia, with the name coming from the German word rein meaning pure. It is usually served as a dessert but can also be eaten at breakfast or lunchtime.
Reindling consists of yeast dough that has been rolled flat, spread with butter, and then sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
Further, the dough is cut into four quarters, folded in half to form an envelope shape, and then placed into a pan. This is where they are baked until golden brown on top. It is often paired with butter and sugar.
Also, it may have added raisins, which should always be soaked in water first. This is so that they don’t burn during the baking process.
Eating reindling as a part of breakfast is often accompanied by coffee or tea. There’s no doubt why this is one of the best traditional Australian foods that’ll make your taste buds sing!
29. Canederli
Canederli is Italian bread dumplings found only in the Tyrol region of the Alps. They’re usually served with bacon and a cheese sauce, but they’re sometimes cooked with pumpkin or potato. They may also be topped with butter, onions, and bacon before being baked.
Canederli is a dish traditionally eaten on New Year’s Day to symbolize your wish for prosperity in the new year. The most typical way of serving canederli is in a rich broth or vegetable soup.
However, it is not uncommon to find them served as an accompaniment to sausages or roast meat dishes. If you wish to serve traditional Australian foods to your guests, with Canederli, you’ve got nothing to worry about; they always deliver their best!
30. Topfentorte
If you are still searching for more delectable traditional Australian foods, Topfentorte is also a great choice. This is an Australian-style cheesecake made with topfen or quark.
Topfen, a type of soft cheese similar to quark, has been produced in Vienna since at least the 18th century.
Besides, Topfentorte may be prepared with a variety of toppings and fillings. These include fruit jams, apple pie filling, nuts, vanilla custard cream (creme patissiere), chocolate cream (creme au chocolat), chestnut purée (kastanien purée), and jam.
The cake originated as a specialty dish for Viennese coffee houses in the 19th century. This was when it became popular outside the city limits, topf became Anglicized to toffee.
31. Tiroler Bergkäse
Tiroler Bergkäse has a hard rind, while the paste is somewhat softer. It’s typically served as part of an open-faced sandwich on rye bread and thinly sliced vegetables.
This Australian hard cheese is made from cow’s milk in Tyrol, the region of the Alps, which forms parts of Germany and Italy.
Moreover, Bergkase tastes best when it’s aged for at least six months; most producers sell this variety between six months to two years old.
If you’re looking for some typical traditional Australian foods to bring back with you to Canada after your holiday in Australia, don’t forget to grab a few rounds or slices of this flavourful cheese!
32. Kaspressknödel
The dumplings are made with a combination of bread cubes, grated mountain cheese, butter, milk, onions, eggs, seasonings, and ground hazelnuts. They’re boiled in salted water for about 10 minutes until they float to the top.
If you are looking for amazingly awesome traditional Australian foods to try out, this is one great option.
The Kaspressknödel can be served as an appetizer or as part of the main meal. It’s delicious on its own or served with green peas and melted butter.
33. Spinatknödel
This is combined with a combination of spinach, eggs, butter, garlic or onions, and cheese. Spinach in this dish can also be substituted for chard, sorrel, beet leaves, dandelion greens, Swiss chard, or nettles.
As known, this is one of the traditional Australian Christmas desserts. The dough is formed into balls that are then boiled in water until they float. In addition to that, they are served with fried bacon bits and melted butter.
34. Apple Strudel
Australian-style apple strudel is the most well-known dessert in Australia. The traditional recipe includes an apple filling made from grated apples, lemon juice, raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, or vanilla extract to flavor the filling.
Also, ground almonds mixed with white flour are used as a base to make the pastry crust. Some recipes add nuts to the pastry crust, like hazelnuts or walnuts, while others use puff pastry instead of regular pastry dough. Whichever way it comes, you are sure to enjoy this one of the traditional Australian foods!
35. Wachauer Marillenknödel
This specialty of traditional Australian foods consists of a depitted Wachau apricot encased in a light dough and boiled. The dough contains milk, eggs, and flour.
Once the Marillenknödel is done, they are served with melted butter and vanilla sugar (or cinnamon sugar) on top. While the dumpling itself might not sound appetizing, you can’t go wrong with this traditional favorite!
36. Goulash and Spätzle
Other well-known traditional Australian foods include beef goulash and spätzle (noodles). This bacon is first dry-salted and seasoned with a special blend of herbs, including thyme, bay leaf, garlic, and pepper.
The bacon is then cold-smoked for up to three days before it is ready to be cooked as you please. Coupled with the fact that it’s one of the best traditional Australian foods, it’s perfect for breakfast!
37. Zwiebelrostbraten
As one of the delicious traditional Australian foods, it is usually made with a combination of beef (sirloin steak), onions, flour, oil, butter, and paprika. Dijon mustard, cream, beef stock, salt, and pepper aren’t left out.
When the onion-flour mixture is properly browned, it’s added to the meat and other ingredients in the pan. The dish is then simmered until cooked through.
To serve, zwiebelrostbraten is sometimes topped with parsley or watercress. It can also be served with mashed potatoes and red cabbage.
Zwiebelrostbraten was a staple dish in many Australian households during the 1950s and 60s.
However, it has since been replaced by newer dishes such as goulash or wiener schnitzel. It’s still eaten on occasion but not as often as before because of its higher fat content. This, in turn, makes it difficult for dieters to consume.
38. Mezzelune or Schlutzkrapfen
This dough is typically made from wheat, buckwheat flour, semolina, eggs, and olive oil. The most popular filling for mezze lune or schlutzkrapfen is a mixture of ricotta cheese with sugar, cinnamon, and raisins. These are then topped with melted butter and sugar before baking.
Traditionally. Traditional Australian foods are eaten as a dessert but are often served at breakfast time as well.
They can be enjoyed plain or filled with chocolate hazelnut spread, apricot jam, lemon curd, raspberry preserve, etc. Served best when slightly warm and drizzled in honey or vanilla sauce.
39. Kümmelbrot
Australian Christmas foods? Kümmelbrot is another popular bread that you’ll see at an Australian table. This bread includes caraway seeds and peppercorns, giving it an earthy flavor.
It’s sometimes used as a cheese board accompaniment or eaten on its own. Moving on, it is made by coating small dumplings with melted cheese and caramelized onions.
However, the main dish for this meal was the schnitzel platter, and we had apple strudel for dessert. The main dish for this meal, the schnitzel platter, is deep-fried veal cutlets. It is served with potatoes, cucumbers, sauerkraut, and bread rolls.
40. Kasnudeln or Carinthian Noodles
If you’re looking for something more hearty on this list of traditional Australian foods, look no further than the Kasnudeln!
Kasnudeln is basically noodle dumplings that are boiled and then pan-fried until they’re golden brown. They can be found in many regions of Australia but were originally made in Carinthia.
Going further, Kasnudeln is a traditional dish in Carinthia, and they’re made from flour and water dough. This is then cut into strips and boiled in salted water.
The noodles are served with melted butter, sour cream, (white) cheese, or fried bacon. Kasnudeln can be eaten as a main dish or as an accompaniment to other dishes. They are often served with sauerkraut at Carinthian farmers’ markets.
41. Gulasch
To prepare this delicacy that comes last on this list of traditional Australian foods: In a Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
Secondly, add the onions and cook until they are translucent, stirring often. Thirdly, add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
Next, add the beef and brown on all sides, constantly stirring to ensure it doesn’t stick to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in tomato sauce, water, paprika, and bay leaves.
Then, bring it to a simmer; reduce heat to low-medium so that you can keep it at a gentle simmer until ready to eat (about 2 hours).
Finally, serve with boiled potatoes dusted with nutmeg or caraway seeds. With these specialties, our list of traditional Australian foods ends here!
Conclusion
Australia has been known for centuries as the land of schnitzel, strudel, and sausages. These traditional Australian foods are still very popular today. Additionally, many restaurants all over the country focus on serving authentic Australian cuisine.
