The Ultimate Aussie Christmas Feast

Australians celebrate holidays like no other. While the other part of the world is enjoying a traditional white Christmas, Australia is basking in heat and humid while the jingles can be heard all around the neighbourhood. Chilled wine is constantly poured in and of course, lots of beers. Tables are filled with delectable dishes and everyone is pretty cheerful.

The majority of Australian households spend the holidays with barbecue, picnics, or in beaches and parks. Only a small number of them stay holed up in the kitchen, going all-day baking a lot of different dishes. However, for huge celebrations, some families opt to hire catering Melbourne professionals instead of cooking for a huge number of people.

While other families just order to-go foods, here's what a classic Aussie Christmas feast looks like.

Prawns, prawns, prawns!

It is not an Australian Christmas experience without the prawns. Fresh prawns can be ordered earlier from your local grocery stores or the nearest fish market if you prefer that. Prawns can be cooked into a huge variety of dishes from starters to main. You can even smoke it for a short while and mix your choice of dips. It is also good if it comes with the salad, or baked, fried, and even grilled - your choice.

Plates full of oysters

Have I mentioned that Australians love all kinds of seafood in general? Well, they do and oysters are one of them. It is easy to cook and prepare. No fancy leaves and complicated recipes needed. It is best consumed while extremely fresh so don't store it for too long. Just smoke it for a good while, squeeze it with lemon, and then suck it out of the shell (or use a small fork if you must).

Classic glazed ham

Ham has been one of the Christmas food staples in most countries all over the world. It's like the star of the table and nobody else can steal its light. While you can just buy the ham in your local restaurants, most Australian households are used to preparing it, especially for their families. Also, it is the one dish that will never be forgotten during the holidays. As for the preparation, it is nothing grand and you can prepare it a day or 2 days before the big event. And then just bake it during the day so you can serve it while it's still warm.

Chicken barbecue

Summer Christmas celebrations are not complete without a barbecue, specifically a chicken barbecue. It is easy to prepare as you can marinade it a day before. You just have to combine all the ingredients needed for marinating and then add the chicken. Make sure to thoroughly coat the chicken with marinade, cover, and then chill. You can also choose to marinade it for only an hour and then have it ready to grill. Serve with your choice of dip.

The great Australian Pavlova

What's a full-meal course without the necessary dessert? While there is a huge selection of perfect desserts for the Australian Christmas celebration, a pavlova is the lightest option out of them all and just perfect for the temperature. It is crispy outside and supposed to be soft in the inside which also makes it easy to consume. It is very easy to make with just a few ingredients to use and very little time. All you need is egg whites, sugar, cornstarch, vinegar/cream of tartar, vanilla extract, and your choice of fruits to top it with. You can also add whipped cream if you must and that's it! A perfect dessert for the Christmas season. Here are some creative recipes for your pavlova if you ever decide to give it a twist.

Christmas spirit

Amidst the scare of the pandemic, we all hope that everyone can still safely and enjoyably spend the holidays with their loved ones.