March is the month to celebrate our cultural heritage, and what better way than to share your favourite food with others? Like many workplaces here at Rubbedin, our team come from diverse backgrounds. This month we share our teams’ favourite recipes from over six (6) different cultural backgrounds.
Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. Some ways to celebrate Harmony Week are:
- Harmony Day and Harmony Week. Harmony Week is about celebrating the unique cultures that make up our country
- Share a meal
- Check out local community events
- Share your story
- Watch/Read/Listen!
- Ask others about their culture
- Reconnect with the people you miss
- Reconnect with the places you miss
If you want to create an event, get some great ideas from the A Taste of Harmony website.
Now, what are our team’s favourite foods?
Our heritage extends from Scotland, England, Netherlands, Indigenous Australia, New Zealand and Australia.
Scottish Recipes
Our Scottish team members reminisce about the warm feeling in their bellies after eating Stovies, and they had to include Scottish Shortbread. Visit here for some great Scottish recipes.
SCOTTISH BUTTER SHORTBREAD
“Scottish Shortbread is always on my Christmas list to make, to the point I am asked to make it every year.”
Ingredients:
- Unsalted butter (softened)
- Caster sugar (plus extra to sprinkle)
- Plain flour
- Semolina
Click here to get the full instructions
SCOTTISH STOVIES
“Stovies are so good on a cold night—the best thing to warm you up, and they are great after a big night.”
Ingredients:
From the previous day’s roast
- Roast Beef or meat of your choice
- Roast Potatoes or raw potatoes
- Other leftover Vegetables
- Beef Dripping, or butter, oil, dripping or lard
- Beef Jelly *Optional – If you put the Beef fat from the roast into a container and leave it to cool overnight, it will separate into dripping, and meat jelly
- Stock or leftover gravy with water
- Onion
Click here to get the full instructions
Australian Recipes
Our Aussie team members laughed about how vegemite is always a contender, but it did not make the top of their list. Visit here for some great Aussie recipes.
FAIRY BREAD
“I know I am now an adult, but I still LOVE Fairy Bread. This is my ultimate favourite apart from Vegemite straight from the jar. Oh, and do not forget to load the bread with butter.”
Ingredients:
- Bread of your choice (best with white bread)
- Coat with loads of butter
- Cover with sprinkles (100s and 1000s)
Click here to get the full instructions
SHEPHERDS PIE
“A good Shepherds Pie is soo yummy on a winter’s night. I love it when there are lots of carrots and veggies. I loved coming home from school to the smell in the kitchen.”
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Ground ginger
- Lamb mince
- Frozen peas
- Onion diced
- Plain flour
- Soy sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Tomato paste
- Beef stock
- Salt and pepper
- Mashed potatoes *to taste
- Water
Click here to get the full instructions
Indigenous Australian Recipes
Our team with indigenous Australian heritage remembered how simple a meal could be and taste delicious with just a hint of some bush herbs. Visit here for some great Indigenous Australian recipes.
LEMON FISH WRAPPED IN PAPERBARK
“I love mum’s Lemon Fish cooked wrapped in paperbark.”
Ingredients:
- Butter
- Saltbush seeds
- Lemon myrtle
- Lemons
- Macadamia oil
- Swordfish or your choice of fish
- Paperbark
Click here to get the full instructions
New Zealand (Kiwi)
We would be in trouble if we didn’t include our Kiwi team’s favourites. There were too many to choose from, but the bottom was top of their list.
Visit here for some great Kiwi recipes.
SMOKED FISH EGG SOUP
“I aways smile when I mention my gran’s Smoked Fish Egg Soup. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but Smoked Fish Stew/Soup is a close second.”
Watch this video to see one version of this recipe.
LOLLY CAKE
“I have to say the lollies and sweets from home are awesome. The Lolly cake would be my favourite.”
Ingredients:
- Butter
- Malt biscuits
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Fruit puff sweets (or lollies of your choice)
- Desiccated coconut
Click here to get the full instructions.
Dutch (Netherlands)
Funnily, the tall ones in the office have a dutch heritage. Visit here for some great Dutch recipes.
SAUERKRAUT AND POTATO
“Sauerkraut and potato, without a doubt. SOOOOO GOOD! And it’s good for you too.”
Ingredients:
- Potatoes
- Sauerkraut
- Milk or Soya Milk
- Margarine or butter
- Sausage
- Gravy
Click here to get the full instructions.
English
When we think of pastries, we usually think of France, but what an excellent choice from the pom in the office. Visit here for some great English recipes.
YORKSHIRE PUDDING
“Before I immigrated to Australia, the Yorkshire Pudding was a must-have with our Sunday roast. Followed by fruit mince pies and cream.”
Ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Whole milk
- Large eggs
- Salt
- Fat of choice: vegetable oil, bacon fat, beef drippings, or melted butter mixed with vegetable oil
Click here to get the full instructions.
We hope you enjoyed our post and would love to know your favourite dish. For more great international recipes, visit A Taste of Harmony Recipes and SBS Recipes.