Monday, November 17, 2014

ABC Mondiale - Australia

The World Culinary ABC has reached its third stop. We have enjoyed the cuisines of Samoa and India and now it is time to explore my home country of Australia.

Australia

"We don't have a very traditional, laid down set of rules around our culinary culture so we are able to take our multicultural influences and infuse it in our food in a very subtle and intricate way. We have the freedom to explore ideas and the freedom of spirit...to express that through our food."
Chef Peter Gilmore

When it comes to describing the food culture of Australia you soon realise that it isn't an easy task. Most of the food we love and the food we eat has its origins elsewhere.

Any historical overview always begins with the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of our indigenous people. Colonisation brought with it the foods of England - our country thriving with the introduction of sheep, cattle and wheat. The Gold rush of the mid-1800's drew many Chinese to settle (1861 - 7% of Victoria's population were Chinese) while the post-war period saw mass migration from Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. The 1970's heralded the start of what we now see as the modern Asian influence on our cuisine brought by Vietnamese and Thai immigration. Skip forward to today and you'll see African and Latin American influences in our food.

In regards to indigenous food, our most famous and successful export has to be the Macadamia nut. Other native ingredients remain more novelty item than store cupboard staple, though I am interested in the work done by the CSIRO in creating new citrus hybrids from our indigenous fruit. Kangaroo meat tends to divide with people hysterically claiming that they can't eat our national emblem. It is a hard attitude to change especially when you consider that the sale of kangaroo meat for human consumption was only legalised nationally in 1993. A similar scenario has played out in regards to Emu farming - you'll find more of them in China, India, Peru and the US.

When it comes to recipes that we consider our own, we are safe to claim - lamingtons, damper and Anzac biscuits though Pavlova will start arguments with New Zealanders. Meat Pies are English but the Pie Floater is all ours.

Traditional Australian dishes have their foundation in English classics while Modern Australian cuisine is a fusion of foods brought here by our immigrants. To help provide some inspiration on what Modern Australia food is like, I will direct you to these two links - Link 1 and Link 2.


In selecting a dish to feature, I decided to focus on one created for a very famous Australian by an equally famous chef - Escoffier's Peach Melba.

During her time, it could be easily argued that no singer was more renowned than our very own Dame Nellie Melba. Escoffier presented this dish at the opening of the Ritz Carlton in London.

Escoffier wrote "Pêche Melba is a simple dish made up of tender and very ripe peaches, vanilla ice cream and a purée of sugared raspberry. Any variation...ruins the delicate balance of its taste."

peach melba© by Haalo

Peach Melba
[Serves 2]

2 ripe peaches (not clingstone)
150 grams fresh raspberries
50 grams icing sugar
milk ice cream (or your favourite vanilla ice cream)

Mark the base of each peach with an X. Blanch the peaches in boiling water for 5 seconds and then remove to a bowl of iced water. Carefully peel the skin from each peach - then cut in half.

Place the peaches on a tray cut side up, dust over with icing sugar and rest in the fridge.

Puree the raspberries with icing sugar and then sieve to remove any seeds.

To serve:

Fill a serving bowl with ice cream. Carefully place a peach half on top and then drizzle over with the raspberry purée.

Serve at once.


If you'd like to participate in this journey through Australia:

You will need to post an Australian recipe by December 7th
In your post include a link to this post and to the World Culinary ABC then leave a link to your post in the comments section below - you can also add them to the linky.
You can use old posts just update the details to include the relevant information and multiple entries are welcome.
If you don't have a blog but would like to submit a recipe - just send me an email at hellohaalo AT gmail.com and I'll post it for you.

Recipes for ABC Mondiale - Australia



76 comments

  1. I like how you presented the complex landscape of Australian cuisine. I must admit I had no idea that macadamia nuts are an Australian export. I just finished reading a mystery novel set in Sydney and it brought me back to my visit to the city many years ago, right before Christmas. I remember eating some nice fish and lots of mangoes. Very interesting choice of dish to celebrate your country. I particularly like Escoffier's quote. The photo, as usually, is exquisite: your peach Melba glows enticingly.

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  2. Ciao Haalo, Lovely introduction. Thank you.
    I think I will have to make some recipe together with Sofi, she's the Australian "expert" around here. :)
    Take care
    Brii

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  3. Thank you so much for your info about your country, one on my wish list :-)
    Hard but not impossible to find some traditional authentic Aussie food, let's go studying :-)
    Warm regards ;-)

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  4. Thank you so much Haalo for suggestions about Australian food, I cooked meat pie thinking it was Australian, then it's wrong?
    Hugs

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    Replies
    1. Meat pie is much loved here, no problem with them at all.

      Delete
  5. Hello Haalo, thanks for the nice introduction to your country. I knew of macadamia nuts and I've seen a recipe, cook and photographer and then back to you. See you soon! Morena

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  6. Hi Haloo, thanks of culinary information and congratulations for the beautiful recipe.

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  7. Thanks for this post and for being part of our trip! It'll be a pleasure to know something about Australian cooking and I hope that a lot of recipes will come :-)
    Tomorrow, I'll update the "official" web site and I'll prepare the pinterest page. Stay tuned.
    Thanks again,
    Aiu'

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  8. Now everything is ready! We've the "official" website waiting for all the contributions :-) http://abcincucina.blogspot.com.es/2014/11/c-come-canberra.html. Thanks for hosting this stop and sorry for the delay!
    Aiu'

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  9. Hello Haalo, your recipe is delicious. This is my first recipe, see you soon!!
    http://le-tenere-dolcezze-di-resy.blogspot.it/2014/11/aussie-meat-pie-la-torta-salata-tipica.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Resy - the meat pie looks perfect!

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  10. Hello Haalo, I'll leave you the link of my Pavlova, I made a few months ago, I could not do it again, but I put the link to your blog, a hug

    http://www.unpezzodellamiamaremma.com/2014/04/pavlova-ai-frutti-di-bosco.html/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Haalo,
    my first recipe for you is a Chocolate Pavlova ;-)

    http://cindystarblog.blogspot.it/2010/06/june-db-challenge-pavlova.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cinzia! I'm starting to crave pavola ;)

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  12. Bellissimo post Haalo!!!
    here is my first recipe

    https://crumpetsandco.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/damper-with-olives-and-oregano-pane-veloce-australiano-con-olive-e-origano/

    Hygs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Terry - the damper looks beautiful, would love some now!

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  13. Hello Haalo,
    my first recipe is a Prawn, Mango and Avocado Salad http://armoniapaleo.blogspot.it/2014/11/prawn-mango-and-avocado-salad-insalata.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Hallo, here I am, and this is only the first!
    http://arbanelladibasilico.blogspot.it/2014/11/aussie-shrimps-ovvero-gamberi-grigliati.html
    Kisses

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carla Emilia - very australian!

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  15. Hi Haalo! Here's my lamingtons for you: http://muvara.blogspot.com.es/2014/11/labbecedario-culinario-mondiale.html. I've another recipes to try, stay tuned :-)
    Ciao!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Aiu - they do look very authentic. Look forward to your other recipes!

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  16. Haalo cara ciao, ecco la mia seconda e penso ultima ricetta purtroppo, la zuppa di papaya e zenzero,
    http://www.unpezzodellamiamaremma.com/2014/11/zuppa-di-papaya-e-zenzero.html/
    un abbraccio

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    Replies
    1. Grazie Tamara - una optima e bellissima zuppa!

      Delete
  17. Cara Haalo ecco la mia prima ricetta dolce!! Ciao ciao a presto
    http://le-tenere-dolcezze-di-resy.blogspot.it/2014/11/homemade-iced-vovos-i-tipici-biscotti.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grazie Resy - sono cosi contenta di vedere questi biscotti!

      Delete
  18. Hi Haloo, this is my recipe for you ^__^ http://viaggiarecomemangiare.blogspot.it/2014/11/monte-carlo-cookies.html

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Marta - monte carlo are a favourite!

      Delete
  19. Hi Haalo!
    I'm here with another recipe

    https://crumpetsandco.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/friands-ai-lamponi-raspberry-friands/

    Ciaoooo ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Terry - picture perfect friands!

      Delete
  20. Eccomi con la mia prova australiana:
    http://pinkopanino.blogspot.it/2014/11/potato-and-leek-soup.html
    A presto!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Here I am again!! This is my second recipe for you
    http://tor-te-e-din-tor-ni.blogspot.it/2014/11/curried-eggsuova-al-curry.html
    I hope to post another a.s.a.p.!!!!!
    Kiss
    Rosa Maria

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  22. Hi Haalo!!! I noticed that my first recipe for you is not here!!!! i'll post the link again so you can put the recipe in your ABC's collection!!!! I'm sorry :(
    http://tor-te-e-din-tor-ni.blogspot.it/2014/11/anzac-biscuitsa-traditional-aussie.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Rosa - the anzac biscuits look beautiful!

      Delete
  23. Secondo dolce australiano Haalo, a presto!!
    http://le-tenere-dolcezze-di-resy.blogspot.it/2014/11/raspberry-white-chocolate-coconut-bread.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grazie Resy - piacerebbe avere un pezzo (or due ;) ) adesso!

      Delete
  24. Thanks Morena - love the lamb and the macadamia crust makes it super australian!

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  25. Replies
    1. Thanks Aiu - another great classic!

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  26. Questi Haalo dopo aver fatto il golden syrup in casa dovevo proprio provarli, Forse provo anche i dumplings!!http://le-tenere-dolcezze-di-resy.blogspot.it/2014/11/anzac-biscuits-gli-storici-biscotti.html

    ReplyDelete
  27. Haalo ho provato a fare i dumplings che tu ci hai suggerito, eccoli!!
    http://le-tenere-dolcezze-di-resy.blogspot.it/2014/12/golden-syrup-dumplings-gli-gnocchi.html

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Haalo, this is the link for my first aussie recipe:

    http://dalbagnoallacucina.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/damper/

    Ciaoooo!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Haalo,
    Even if someone else made them , i wanted to try them too...

    https://crumpetsandco.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/anzac-biscuits/

    Ciaooo
    Terry

    ReplyDelete
  30. Haalo these mini - pavlovas for you!! Ciaoooo
    http://le-tenere-dolcezze-di-resy.blogspot.it/2014/12/pavlova-un-candido-dessert-australiano.html

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hello! ^^
    This is my recipes for Australia
    Greetings! :)

    ANZAC BISCUITS
    http://gatadaplarr.blogspot.it/2014/12/anzac-biscuits-per-laustralia.html

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Haalo. I'm Manuela. And I made ... some more Anzac cookies ... yet.
    But they are so delicious ;-)
    http://adietadalunedi.blogspot.it/2014/12/anzac-cookies-per-labc-culinario.html

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ciao Haalo,
    I tried the damper..both inside and outside the camp fire.
    It was fun, even if I burned the camp fire one. :)
    Take care
    baciussss
    brii

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ciao Haalo
    This is the third and last one!!!
    Kisses

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi Haalo. This is my second recipe: the Lamingtons.
    Thank for your hospitality. Greetings
    http://adietadalunedi.blogspot.it/2014/12/lamingtons-da-un-paese-bruciato-dal-sole.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Manuela - the lamingtons are perfect!

      Delete
  36. Hello Haalo! This is my vegan lamingtons!
    https://broccolocarota.wordpress.com/2014/12/06/c-come-canberra/
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you - what wonderful lamingtons!

      Delete
  37. Ciao Haalo, ho appena pubblicato la mia seconda ricetta australiana, ma forse ho dimenticato di lasciarti il link della prima...le lascio entrambi...
    della serie semprepiùsuonata!!! ;)
    http://zibaldoneculinario.blogspot.it/2014/12/insalata-di-mango-gamberi-e-lime.html
    http://zibaldoneculinario.blogspot.it/2014/11/la-mia-pavlovainvernale.html
    un bacione! elena

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grazie Elena - sono deliziose ricette!

      Delete
  38. Hello Haalo!
    this is my 2^ recipe :)

    TORTA-FRITTATA DI ZUCCHINE
    http://gatadaplarr.blogspot.it/2014/12/frittata-di-zucchine-per-laustralia.html

    Kiss!!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Haalo,
    a huge toast to all Aussie friends! :-)

    http://cindystarblog.blogspot.it/2014/12/kangaroo-vodka-martini-dallaustralia.html

    Thanks again for hosting ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cinzia - what a wonderful story and cocktail!

      Delete
  40. Hello ! I bring you another recipe , the third! ^________^
    Thanks a lot for having us in your kitchen! Kiss!

    PUMPKIN AND MACADAMIA SOUP
    http://gatadaplarr.blogspot.it/2014/12/pumpkin-and-macadamia-soup.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Mony - would love to have a bowl of that soup right now.

      Delete
  41. Replies
    1. Thanks Aiu - love the ripple cake and the "parma"!

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  42. Here's all the recipes: http://abcincucina.blogspot.com.es/2014/11/c-come-canberra.html! Thanks again for hosting this stop...and now are you ready for Senegal? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  43. nice blog .. thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete

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