New Zealand Famous Food

New Zealand is not only a land of scenic beauty but also a haven for food lovers. The country’s culinary scene is rich with local flavors, influenced by Māori traditions and modern cooking styles.There are a lot of options to explore from. Therefore, if you are visiting New Zealand anytime soon, you must be aware of the New Zealand famous food specialities and iconic dishes. In this blog get ready to explore the famous dishes in New Zealanand and know what makes the country’s cuisine so unique.

New Zealand Food Culture

New Zealand’s food culture is all about the seasonal harvest, regional specialities along with a few traditional dishes found commonly in all homes. Their cuisine is derived from agricultural produce and seafood. You can find great similarities between Australian food and New Zealand Food.

New Zealand is mainly based on British based cuisine with Mediterranean and Pacific influences. There is a great deal of Maori food that has become a part of the New Zealand culture, like Hangi. The abundance of seafood is because the place is surrounded by water. They have their own iconic specialities like pavlova, hokey pokey ice cream and Manuka honey.

New Zealand Traditional food 

There is no as such traditional food of New Zealand, just like in India. It depends on region specialities and seasonal produce. If I want to list a few classic New Zealand dishes, it may be fish and chips, Hangi and the Lamb. Hangi is a signature dish of the New Zealanders. It is kind of feast cooked in earthen oven for hours with vegetables and chicken, pork or lamb as ‘kai’ (stew). New Zealanders enjoy their tea, coffee and wine very well.

Top 10 Famous Dishes in New Zealand

1. Hangi:

Hang out is a traditional Maori method of cooking which is practiced in New Zealand. We have Maori feasts which include chicken, pork or lamb and vegetables like sweet potatoes that are put in a ground oven. Steam is used as a method which is produced by heating rocks for cooking with that  it results in very juicy and smoky flavoured meat and root vegetables. Price goes from 4560 to 39 dollars based on the size of the meal.

2. Fish and Chips:

Fish and chips is a favourite meal in New Zealand. We see white fish like hoki or tarakihi coated in batter and deep-fried. Chips are thick cut and fried until they are golden. This dish has a saltie, crisp taste and is usually served with lemon, vinegar or tartar sauce. The price goes from $12 to $22 NZD which may vary by the restaurant.

3. Meat Pie:

Meat pie is a very popular dish in New Zealand. In it you will find beef mince, steak and cheese, or chicken and mushroom. The pastry is soft and very flaky. This pie has a warm, meaty and buttery taste. At bakeries and shops, a pie goes for between $4 to $7 NZD.

4. Lamb:

Lamb is a favourite in New Zealand. It is put on the grill or in the oven with garlic, rosemary, or mint. This is a tender meat which has a rich, powerful flavour. In restaurants, lamb dishes range from $25 to $45 NZD.

5. Hokey Pokey ice cream:

Hokey pokey ice cream is a very popular Kiwi dessert. It has vanilla and honeycomb which are present in small quantities. The taste is of a very slight crunch, sweet, and creamy. At supermarket, this ice cream tub goes for between $6 to $10 NZD and a shop scoop for $3 to $5 NZD.

6. Crayfish Seafood:

Fresh and at your disposal in New Zealand are crayfish and various types of seafood. Crayfish has a sweet and tender taste, which is usually paired with garlic butter. Also, we see mussels, oysters and fish as a staple diet, which are very salty and fresh. The issue of cost for crayfish is goes from $60 to $100 NZD per kg, to which the season plays a big role.

7. Pavlova:

Pavlova is a delicate, sweet dessert. It is crisp on the outside and very soft in the middle. We put cream and fresh fruit like kiwi and strawberries on top. It is a light sweet treat which also has a bit of tang from the fruit. At home, a pavlova will set you back $10 to $15 NZD and at the bakery you can expect to pay $20 to $35 NZD.

8. Kiwi Summer BBQ:

In New Zealand culture, a Kiwi BBQ is a summer must do hobby. Grilled sausages, lamb chops, beef burgers and seafood are put on the barbecue. We have sides of salad and bread rolls. The flavour is of smoke and freshness. For a family, a full BBQ meal will set you back between $50 to $80 NZD.

9. Whitebait fritters

Whitebait fritters made of small fish and eggs. They are fried until light and flaky. This dish has a mild, salty and eggy taste. They are eaten with lemon or in a sandwich. A serving of fritters is between $18  to $30 NZD, especially during whitebait season.

10. Kumara (Sweet potato):

Kumara is a main ingredient in most Kiwi dishes. We roast it, mash it, put it in soups. The taste is of earth and sweetness, the texture when prepared is soft. At the supermarket, Kumara goes for $3 to  $5 NZD per kg.

Vegetarian food in New Zealand

• Vegetarian Kiwi Burgers – These burgers are a delectable vegetarian option. The preparation of these burgers includes the making of vegetable patties by beans, lentils, or chickpeas. Fresh vegetables such as lettuce, tomato, beetroot, and avocado are placed on it. The flavour is fresh, juicy, and slightly earthy. The price of a burger ranges between $10 to $18 NZD in a café or food truck.
• Baked Spaghetti Pie: It’s a pretty good and filling meal, baked spaghetti pie. Spaghetti is cooked, combined with a vegetable, tomato sauce, and sometimes cheese and eggs, all being baked. The mixture is poured into a pie dish and baked until golden brown. It is cheesy, soft, and slightly crunchy on top. This serving has about a price range of $8-14 NZD for restaurants or cafes.
• Cheese/Vegetable Pizza: Cheese and vegetable pizza is for kids as well as adults. Cheese and vegetable pizza is as soft crusted pizza with tomato sauce and melted cheese, sprinkled with a topping of capsicum, mushrooms, and onions. It’s cheesy or savory with a bit of tang. A normal-sized pizza would range anywhere between $10 and $20 NZD, depending on the toppings and the location.
• New Zealand Spinach Gratin: New Zealand spinach gratin is a hearty baked dish. It has NZ spinach (also known as kokihi), cream, garlic, and cheese. It becomes golden brown and crispy on the surface since it will go into the oven. The taste is rich and cheesy, slightly bitter from the greens. For a small-sized serving, you can find it between $7 to $12 NZD in cafes or can very easily whip up one at home-very simple.
• Chocolates Brownies: These are rich, chewy, sweet morsels of chocolate brownies. It is made of cocoa or melted chocolate, butter, flour, and sugar. It is also possible to have nuts or chocolate chips in brownies. The flavour is fudgy, rich, and chocolaty. A single brownie costs about $3-6 NZD in a bakery or cafe.

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