Fish and Chips
Often eaten: Lunch or dinner
Known for: British influence
Beach Days
4 dishes to discover
Food of New Zealand
In New Zealand, food is full of flavor and stories! Traditional Māori dishes combine with fresh seafood like fish and mussels, creating meals that are both healthy and yummy. Juicy lamb, sweet kumara, and creamy pavlova are just a few tasty treats you can enjoy. This blend of old and new makes every bite exciting and special in New Zealand.
Featured Dishes
Meal Culture
In New Zealand, people love to enjoy meals made from fresh and locally grown ingredients. Food is often shared with family and friends during gatherings, and cooking together can be a fun activity.
Eating Etiquette
In New Zealand, it's polite to wait for everyone to have their food before you start eating. If you go to someone’s house for a meal, it’s nice to bring a dish to share.
When People Eat It
Anzac Biscuits
Often eaten: Often eaten as a homemade snack with tea or packed in lunchboxes
Known for: A shared Australia-New Zealand wartime baking tradition
Commemorative Days
Pavlova
Often eaten: Usually served as a celebratory dessert, especially in summer and during holidays
Known for: New Zealand
Celebrations
Hāngī
Often eaten: Lunch or dinner
Known for: Māori tradition
Traditional Feasts
Make It Yourself
👩🍳 Cook together! Always ask a grown-up to help with hot or sharp steps.
Fish and ChipsFish and Chips
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 4 filletsWhite fish fillets
- 1 cup (125 g)Flour
- 1 cup (240 ml)Cold sparkling water
- 4 potatoesPotatoes, cut into chips
- 4 cups (950 ml)Oil, for frying
- 1 lemonLemon
How to Make It
- 1Cut the potatoes into thick chips and pat them dry.
- 2Ask a grown-up to heat the oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry the chips until golden, then drain.
- 3Whisk the flour and cold sparkling water into a smooth batter.
- 4Dip each fish fillet in the batter and let the extra drip off.
- 5A grown-up fries the fish for 5–6 minutes, until crisp and golden.
- 6Serve wrapped in paper Kiwi-style, with a wedge of lemon.
Anzac BiscuitsAnzac Biscuits
Makes 20 biscuitsIngredients
- 1 cup (90 g)Rolled oats
- 1 cup (125 g)Flour
- 1 cup (80 g)Shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup (115 g)Butter
- 2 tbsp (30 ml)Golden syrup
- 1 tspBaking soda
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- 2Mix the oats, flour, coconut, and sugar in a bowl.
- 3Melt the butter and golden syrup together, then stir in the baking soda with a splash of hot water.
- 4Pour the butter mix into the dry ingredients and stir.
- 5Roll spoonfuls into balls and flatten them on a lined tray.
- 6Bake for 12–15 minutes, until golden — a treat with WWI history.
PavlovaPavlova
Makes 8 servingsIngredients
- 4 whitesEgg whites
- 1 cup (200 g)Caster sugar
- 1 tbspCornstarch
- 1 tspVinegar
- 1 cup (240 ml)Whipped cream
- 2 cupsKiwifruit and berries
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to heat the oven to 250°F (120°C).
- 2Beat the egg whites until fluffy, then add the sugar slowly until glossy and stiff.
- 3Fold in the cornstarch and vinegar.
- 4Spoon into a round mound on a lined tray and make a dip on top.
- 5Bake for about 1 hour, then cool in the turned-off oven.
- 6Top the crisp shell with cream and kiwifruit — a Kiwi summer classic.
HāngīHāngī
Makes 6 servings (oven version)Ingredients
- 2 lb (900 g)Chicken or lamb pieces
- 3 kumaraKumara (sweet potato), chunked
- 4 potatoesPotatoes, chunked
- 1/2 pumpkinPumpkin, chunked
- 1/2 cabbageCabbage, wedged
How to Make It
- 1A traditional hāngī cooks in an underground pit, but here is a safe oven version.
- 2Ask a grown-up to heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- 3Place the meat and vegetables in a deep roasting dish.
- 4Add a cup of water, cover tightly with foil to trap the steam.
- 5Bake slowly for about 2 hours, until everything is tender and smoky-soft.
- 6Serve it all together — a Māori feast for special days.
Vocabulary
Think of New Zealand foods like a tasty mix of British classics and fresh Pacific flavors. Just as you might enjoy sushi for its fresh taste or tacos for a spicy kick, New Zealand offers unique tastes like pavlova and the hearty hāngī.