Could you walk down your street and identify which local plants are suitable for eating? As the traditional custodians of the Australian lands, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have an incredible connection with the plants around us and their knowledge of the native ingredients and flavours is inspiring. That’s why Cater Care has incorporated native ingredients into our operations, helping to share their knowledge and recognise and celebrate the culture of the Australian lands.
Educating our teams and communities on the foods around them
Increasing visibility and knowledge of native ingredients and flavours starts on the home turf, making sure our teams and those we work with are familiar with a world of food they might not have realised existed. To do this, our Food Team released fact sheets showcasing some of the native ingredients around us and ideas of how they can be used in recipes.
Developing recipes: a perfect fusion of family and native flavours
Incorporating native ingredients into our recipes creates an exciting opportunity to share our knowledge, recognise and celebrate events like National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, and add an element of place and history in food that is more important than ever. Acknowledging that trying new flavours can be a challenge for some, the Food Team developed recipes that were an ideal fusion of family favourites, with key native ingredients and flavours.
These recipes are available to any Cater Care site team and the ideal way for a company that thrives on sharing great food to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ cultures and heritage. Additionally, these new recipes help to keep a site’s menu on trend, fresh, and evolving, with the added interest of educating our residents on the hidden foods around them!
Show and tell: a NAIDOC 2023 initiative
Who didn’t love show and tell at school? It’s also a perfect way to connect with clients and residents to showcase new foods and flavours, serving up education with an impact. For NAIDOC Week last year, Cater Care designed show and tell stations with some key Native Flavours and Ingredients, with jars of Native Thyme, Native Lemon Myrtle, Native Wattleseed, Pepperberry, Saltbush, Bush Tomato, Desert Lime … plenty for everyone to explore. Along with the displays, promotional and educational posters and supporting recipes helped those who wanted to explore a little more.
A 2024 Native Flavours NAIDOC Celebration Recipe: Lemon Myrtle and White Kunzea Butter Shortbread
In honour of NAIDOC Week, the Cater Care food team has developed a delightful butter shortbread recipe that features native ingredients, Lemon Myrtle and White Kunzea.
Lemon Myrtle is a shrub that thrives in the wetter coastal areas of NSW and southern QLD. Its leaves offer a delightful lemon scent and flavour, and Indigenous Australians utilise them for culinary and medicinal purposes.
White Kunzea, on the other hand, is a tall shrub native to eastern Australia. Its leaves exude a strong, aromatic fragrance with hints of eucalyptus and citrus, and Indigenous Australians also utilise it for food and medicinal reasons.
Tempting recipes with native ingredients and flavours: just for you
From Native Thyme and Lemon Myrtle to Wattleseed and Pepperberry, our recipes showcase a diverse array of native ingredients. Whether it’s Barramundi baked with lemon myrtle and chive butter or delicious damper made with native thyme, pepperleaf, and saltbush damper, each dish tells a story of tradition, heritage, and respect.
Join us on this journey of culinary exploration and cultural appreciation. By embracing native ingredients and flavours, we not only enrich our menus but also pay homage to the enduring heritage of Indigenous cultures. To explore the tastes of Australia’s ancient landscapes and celebrate the vibrant diversity of its peoples, click on the two recipe cards below to download the recipes and try making them for those in your life.
Sean Anderson
General Manager – Food
Ph: 02 8833 0296
sean.anderson@catercare.com.au
