What Are Bush Foods?
Bush foods include wild-harvested fruits, seeds, herbs, roots, and proteins that grow naturally across Australia. Some popular native ingredients include:
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Kakadu plum – the world’s richest source of vitamin C
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Quandong – tart, fruity, and high in antioxidants
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Wattleseed – nutty, coffee-like flavour, great in desserts
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Bush tomatoes – earthy and tangy, used in sauces and soups
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Warrigal greens – a native spinach substitute
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Lemon myrtle, native pepperberry, finger lime, wild figs, bush coconut – flavour-packed herbs and fruits
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Honey ants and nectar sources – traditional Indigenous sweeteners
“Bush foods connect us to the land and bring a new level of depth to the dishes we create,” says Chef Ha Nguyen of Otao Kitchen.
Bush Foods in Modern Australian Cuisine
While bush tucker was once relegated to remote areas or Indigenous communities, modern chefs and restaurants are now celebrating native ingredients in mainstream cooking. Events like the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival have spotlighted native flavours, and Indigenous chefs are helping lead the conversation around local food sovereignty and sustainability.
Two Bush Food Recipes You’ll Want to Try
🦘 Kangaroo Kofta with Warrigal Greens and Beetroot
This vibrant dish, inspired by taste.com.au, brings together lean kangaroo mince with native greens, sweet beetroot, and creamy feta. It's healthy, high in protein, and full of flavour.
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Kangaroo: A sustainable, lean red meat with a unique taste
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Warrigal greens: A native leafy green, similar to spinach
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Beetroot & feta: Add sweetness and creaminess for balance
Pair this dish with a native herb yoghurt sauce for a flavour-packed Aussie dinner.
Bush Tomato Soup or Sauce
This simple yet flavourful bush tomato soup recipe from BushFoodAustralia.com can also double as a pasta sauce.
Ingredients include:
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Dried bush tomatoes
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Native pepper leaves
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Ripe tomatoes, onion, olive oil
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Salt and fresh basil
Tip: Prepare it in advance—the flavour deepens as it rests!
Why Bush Foods Matter
Native Australian ingredients aren’t just trendy—they're deeply nutritious, often outperforming common superfoods in terms of vitamin and antioxidant content. The Kakadu plum, for instance, contains up to 100 times more vitamin C than an orange. Similarly, quandongs are rich in folate and iron, while pepperberries have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
More importantly, cooking with bush foods connects us to the land, culture, and people of Australia. It’s a respectful way to celebrate Indigenous knowledge and promote sustainable, local food systems.
Discover Bush Foods at Otao Kitchen
At Otao Kitchen, we offer immersive cooking experiences that highlight native Australian ingredients alongside Asian culinary traditions. Our Cooking with Australian Ingredients Masterclass introduces you to unique ingredients like:
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Kangaroo
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Kakadu plum
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Wattleseed
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Lemon myrtle
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Finger lime
You'll prepare a 3-course meal that celebrates Australia’s culinary heritage—flavourful, nourishing, and unforgettable.
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