5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (2024)

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (1)© Kimberly Vardeman on Flickr

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (2)

Food

© Kimberly Vardeman on Flickr

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (3)© NZPocketGuide.com

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (4)© NZPocketGuide.com

NZ Pocket Guide is 10 years old. Thank you for trusting us with your trip for over a decade!

Traditional Kiwi Recipes!

Food is just another way, if not the most popular way, to immerse yourself in a culture. Why not take your New Zealand trip to the next level by making some traditional New Zealand recipes?

After tying a Maori hangi and eating savoury pies from every gas station you stop at, challenge yourself to make your own Kiwi dish. If you’re a traveller on a budget, there are often many reasons to cook, whether it is to save money for yourself or to impress your travel mates or loved ones in a shared dinner.

We’ve included five New Zealand recipes that would go down well at a pot luck dinner party. Make your own onion dip with vegetables or chips for starters, make Southland cheese rolls as party food, whitebait fritters with your main course, and pavlova for dessert with some hokey pokey on the side. Did we just plan your entire dinner party here? I think we did.

And if you’re interested in planning a trip to New Zealand, make sure you check outThe Best Travel Guide to New Zealand.

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (5)

What You’ll Need for These Recipes

Although hostels and flats tend to be well-equipped with cooking utensils, these are the common things you don’t often find lying around, so may want to buy other than the ingredients listed in the recipes below.

  • Measuring cup – use millilitres to convert directly into grams, and ‘cup’ measurements. They are usually small enough to fit in your backpack and come in handy pretty often.
  • Baking paper – Ok, this is not going to travel around with you, but ask around if anyone has some or just buy some anyway.

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (6)© NZPocketGuide.com

Kiwi Pavlova Recipe

Pavlova is creamy meringue goodness topped with fruit fresh fruit that New Zealand grows so well, so you can’t get more Kiwi than that! We recommend decorating with kiwifruit, but a mix with strawberries tastes and looks good too.

It’s the hardest to make out of our recipes here, but well worth a try to impress anyone willing to eat your creation. You will especially blow the minds of your peers if you have picked these yourself as part of the hugely popular backpacker job here in New Zealand. Check out more about the picking seasons and jobs here. Here’s how to make pavlova:

Ingredients

  • 3 – egg whites
  • 3 tablespoons – cold water
  • 1 cup – caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon – vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon – vanilla essence
  • 3 teaspoons – cornflour
  • 300 ml (1.3 cups) – cream (whipped)
  • 4 – kiwifruit

Steps

  1. Preheat oven to 150ºC (300ºF).
  2. Beat egg whites until stiff. (FYI: it is so much easier with an electric whisk).
  3. Add water and beat again. (Sorry).
  4. Add sugar very gradually while still beating.
  5. Add vinegar, vanilla essence and cornflour while still beating.
  6. You can finally stop beating and line an oven tray with baking paper.
  7. Draw a 22cm (8-9″) circle on the baking paper and spread the pavlova mix to within 2cm (0.8″) of the edge of the circle, keeping the shape as round possible.
  8. Smooth the top surface.
  9. Bake the pavlova for 45 minutes.
  10. Leave to cool in the oven.
  11. Carefully lift the pavlova onto a serving dish and decorate with whipped cream and kiwifruit.

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (7)© Lou Stejskal on Flickr

Onion Dip Recipe

This one is super easy and a New Zealand classic! New Zealand onion dip is perfect with chips or vegetables.

Ingredients

  • 1 can – reduced cream
  • 1 sachet – onion soup
  • 1 teaspoon – vinegar

Steps

  1. Put the cream in a bowl and stir in the onion soup mix and vinegar.
  2. Place in the fridge for an hour or until it is thick and cold.

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (8)© Joy on Flickr

Hokey Pokey Recipe

Hokey pokey, otherwise known as honeycomb, is most commonly found in New Zealand ice creams. Making it yourself is a bit like a science experiment. Here’s how!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon – butter
  • 5 tablespoons – sugar
  • 2 tablespoons – golden syrup
  • 1 teaspoon – baking soda

Steps

  1. Grease a baking tin with butter and leave aside.
  2. Put sugar and golden syrup into a saucepan.
  3. On a low heat, stir constantly until the sugar dissolves.
  4. Increase the heat and bring to boil.
  5. Boil for 2 minutes and stir occasionally to prevent burning.
  6. Add baking soda and stir quickly until the mixture froths up.
  7. Pour into the buttered tin immediately and leave until cool and hard. Break into pieces.

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (9)© NZPocketGuide.com

Southland Cheese Rolls Recipe

Otherwise known as Southland Sushi, this is a famous food item in the Southland region of the South Island. It’s basically cheese and onion rolled in toasted bread (with a unique taste straight out of Southland, of course).

Here’s how to make Southland cheese rolls:

Ingredients

  • 2 loaves – bread (sliced)
  • 200 g (7 oz) – colby cheese (grated)
  • 150 g (5.3 oz) – parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 1 can – evaporated milk
  • 1 cup – cream
  • 1 sachet – onion soup
  • 1 – onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons – mustard
  • Spread or butter (for topping)

Steps

  1. Mix cheese, evaporated milk, cream, soup mix, onion and mustard in a bowl.
  2. Heat in the microwave for 4-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Put in the fridge to cool for a few minutes.
  4. Spread cheese mix over one side of the sliced bread.
  5. Roll each slice up into a spiral and place join-down on a baking tray.
  6. Put spread the spread or butter on top of each cheese roll.
  7. Toast in the oven for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (10)© Graeme Churchard on Flickr

Whitebait Fritters

You either love it or hate it. Whitebait fritters are tiny freshwater fish in a batter. Fish is a huge part of the New Zealand diet, mainly because so many Kiwis enjoy going out on fishing trips, which you can learn more about in Fishing in New Zealand and see how you can do it yourself.

So if you want to try a classic Kiwi dish which is more on the fishy side, give whitebait fritters a try.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup – flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon – baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon – salt
  • 1 – egg
  • 1/2 cup – milk
  • 125 g – whitebait
  • 2 tablespoons – oil
  • lemon wedges

Steps

  1. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.
  2. Add egg and half of the milk.
  3. Mix into a smooth batter. Keep adding more milk if not smooth enough.
  4. Drain whitebait and mix in with the batter mixture.
  5. Heat oil in a frying pan. (If you use a small frying pan, you can make multiple small fritters).
  6. Add fritters and cook until golden on both sides.
  7. Drain the fritters on absorbent paper and serve with lemon!

More Food for Thought

Everyone’s got to eat, so here’s some more food articles and recipes to see you through your New Zealand trip.

  • Why Every Traveller in New Zealand Should Cook With Kumara
  • Backpackers’ Food Shopping List: 10 Must-Have Food Items
  • 10 Meals Easy to Cook in a Hostel

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (12)

About The Author

Robin C.

This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.

Contact Robin About Our Team

Was this article useful?

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (13)

Related Posts

© NZPocketGuide.com

8 Tips for Cooking in a Shared Kitchen with Food Allergies

© NZPocketGuide.com

5 Potluck Dinner Recipes for Backpackers

© Mark Clinton - THL

The Best Camping Meals, Inc. Camping Food List

© Unsplash

10 Best New Zealand Ingredients to Cook With

© Pexels

5 Meals Under $5 to Cook in a Hostel or Holiday Park

© NZPocketGuide.com

Why Every Traveller in New Zealand Should Cook With Kumara

Recommended For You

© Tourism NZ© Tourism NZ

Inspiration

10 Ways to Convince Your Kids to Take a Gap Year in New Zealand

© Pixabay© Pixabay

Inspiration

The 12 Worst Travel Advice Ever

© pbkwee on flickr© pbkwee on flickr

New Zealand Culture

What is Matariki – The Maori New Year

5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes - NZ Pocket Guide (2024)

FAQs

What is New Zealand's traditional dish? ›

New Zealand cuisine
A pavlova, a popular dessert in Australia and New Zealand
Country or regionNew Zealand
National dishesFish and chips, meat pie
National drinksBeer, coffee, lemonade, wine
See alsoBeer in New Zealand, list of restaurants in New Zealand, Māori cuisine, pub food, wine in New Zealand

What is an iconic NZ dish? ›

New Zealand offers a range of iconic dishes such as pavlova, hāngī (a Māori earth-oven-cooked feast), and kumara (sweet potato).

What food is only found in New Zealand? ›

New Zealand Foods You Can't Find Anywhere Else in the World
  • Seafood. Whether you crave their famous bluff oysters, tuatua shellfish, mussels or incredibly fresh fish, you'll find plenty of options wherever you go in NZ. ...
  • Hāngi. More Content. ...
  • Hokey Pokey Ice Cream. ...
  • Kiwiburger. ...
  • Lamb. ...
  • Manuka Honey. ...
  • Feijoa. ...
  • Pāua.
Mar 30, 2020

What is a typical New Zealand breakfast? ›

Breakfast. A typical New Zealand breakfast is simple. Kiwis start off with cereal and toast accompanied by a cup of coffee, tea, freshly made orange juice, or local milk. Unlike Americans, cooked breakfast is not very common except during the weekends.

What is a typical lunch in New Zealand? ›

Savoury Pies

… Or just “pies” in New Zealand. Pies with savoury fillings like mince and cheese, steak and cheese, and even fish pies are the go-to lunch at any gas station or bakery. Kiwi pies warm the soul and fuel you for a great New Zealand road trip!

Why is New Zealand food so good? ›

New Zealand's position in the world provides the right ingredients to grow a wide variety of healthy produce. Great soil, clean air, plenty of water, and a temperate climate create the perfect growing conditions. There are fewer pests and diseases than in many other countries and a lot more space to grow.

What is the most consumed fruit in New Zealand? ›

Data from Statistics NZ shows that kiwis drop more dough purchasing bananas than any other fruit. We munch our way through around 18kg of them a year (each!), which amounts to roughly two bananas per week.

Does NZ have a national dish? ›

We may not have a national dish that everyone can agree upon, but there's an abundance of delicious, unique food (or Kai, in Te Reo Māori) throughout the country.

What is the national fruit of New Zealand? ›

List of national fruits
CountryCommon nameScientific name
New ZealandKiwifruitActinidia deliciosa
NigeriaAckeeBlighia sapida
North KoreaAsian PearPyrus pyrifolia
NorwayCloudberriesRubus chamaemorus
67 more rows

What is the New Zealand seafood delicacy? ›

Pāua is a popular New Zealand delicacy. The dark green pāua meat is encased in a palm sized thick oval shaped shell. The inside of the shell reveals swirls of bright purple, green and yellow. Imitation pāua shell jewelry can be purchased from gift shops in New Zealand.

What is the most eaten food in New Zealand? ›

10 Most Popular Dishes of New Zealand Cuisine
  • Hangi. A traditional Maori method of cooking. ...
  • Pavlova Cake. Possibly New Zealand or Australia is where pavlova first appeared. ...
  • Fish and Chips. Fish and chips is a cherished and classic dish. ...
  • Māori Boil-Up. ...
  • Kiwi Burger. ...
  • Lolly Cake. ...
  • Pāua.
Aug 31, 2023

What is the main dish of New Zealand? ›

The first dish most New Zealanders would claim represents their country is the classic fish and chips, or as the Kiwis say, "fush and chups." The origin of this staple takeaway meal is almost certainly Great Britain, where the tradition of eating fish on a Friday due to religious reasons boosted the meal's ranking in ...

What is traditional New Zealand cooking? ›

In traditional hāngī cooking, food such as fish and kumara (sweet potato), were cooked in a pit dug in the ground. Today, pork, lamb, potato, pumpkin and cabbage are also included. Hāngī was traditionally wrapped in flax leaves, but a modern Hāngī is more likely to use mutton cloth, aluminium foil and wire baskets.

What is classic Māori food? ›

Traditional foods
  • Īnanga (whitebait) Whitebait, small freshwater fish, are plentiful in spring when they run upstream. ...
  • Huhu grubs. Huhu are still eaten by some Māori today, especially the inland, bush iwi and hapū. ...
  • Kōmata (cabbage tree) ...
  • Flax seeds. ...
  • Pikopiko (fern shoots) ...
  • Karaka berries. ...
  • Karengo. ...
  • Toroi.
Sep 5, 2013

What is hāngī in New Zealand? ›

Hāngī (Māori: [ˈhaːŋiː]) is a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven, called an umu. It is still used for large groups on special occasions, as it allows large quantities of food to be cooked without the need for commercial cooking appliances.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 6181

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.