The traditional Australian breakfast is very similar, unsurprisingly, to a typical British or American breakfast, with a whole fry-up made up of smokey bacon, eggs in various ways, grilled mushrooms, and tomatoes, with the optional addition of hash browns, beans, pork or beef sausages. There are, of course, a few variations that we’ll explore later on, as well as a few other standards that you’ll find at any breakfast table across the world. With Australia being such a melting pot of cultures, it’s no wonder you’re likely to find choices that are also standard options across the world.
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The five most Australian breakfasts
It’s long been known that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re wolfing down a bowl of freshly cut fruit, digging into a huge plate of fried eggs and bacon or chomping on a piece of Vegemite toast, these five typical Aussie brekkies are an ideal way to start your day like someone from Down Under.
A full-on fry up
When it comes to hot food, one of the most typical Australian breakfasts is a full plate of fresh eggs served alongside bacon, either standard or smoked, with mushrooms and grilled tomato. You’ll also have the option of grilled beef or pork sausages, some baked beans, and hash browns. Whether you’re in a major city like Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane or some of the smaller spots in the country, a full-fried breakfast can be found wherever you are in Australia. You’ll find variations of this dish all around the country that include poached or scrambled eggs, different bacon or meat options, various sides and don’t forget the cup of coffee to boot, especially if you’re in Melbourne.
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Vegemite on toast
Another hot option, or warm at least, is the ever-popular Vegemite on toasted bread. If you’ve been living outside of Australia, chances are you haven’t even heard of Vegemite, though you may have heard of its cousin, Marmite. Vegemite was invented back in 1922 in Australia and is a dark-brown savoury spread made from leftover yeast extract. It isn’t as sweet as Marmite, with a slightly more umami flavour to it. A very popular breakfast in Australia, or a light snack during the day, is Vegemite lightly spread over crackers or on toast with a little bit of butter to go with it.
If you’re buying Vegemite yourself and spreading it, remember to have a light hand. The flavour is very strong, especially for first-timers, and locals usually spread a thin layer on their toast.
Avocado on toast
This dish is a delight for both young and old, with the avocado being front and centre. The avo is usually “smashed” or finely chopped and spread on a piece of buttered toast. It can be topped with a sprinkle of spices or salt and pepper and is often accompanied by poached eggs. Served on a delicious slice of sourdough toast with a few pieces of feta is also a popular variation. To make it particularly Australian, ask for some Vegemite to be smeared on the toast before the toppings, with a little rocket on top to round it off with a little crunch and a touch of bitterness.
Avo on toast is a staple of breakfasts around the world, especially with the relatively new health craze that’s sweeping through. It’s a healthy alternative to the fry-up but not quite as healthy as a bowl of muesli and yoghurt.
Weet-Bix
If you learn nothing else about Australia, know that both Vegemite and the highly sought-after Weet-Bix are a staple in almost every Australian’s diet. Weet-Bix is a whole-grain wheat cereal that comes in slabs resembling bricks, though a lot softer if you prepare them properly. This breakfast is much lighter than the others mentioned so far and versatile in the way it’s consumed. If you’re in the mood for a bit of a crunch, stick to adding cold milk and let it sit for a minute or two while the Weet-Bix softens a little. A popular addition to this cereal is slices of banana or other pieces of fruit.
If the crunch doesn’t quite do it for you, boil a kettle beforehand and add a small amount of hot water to the cereal to soften them up (or just use hot milk). You can add in cold or hot milk afterwards, a little sugar or honey and some fruit and get ready for an unbeatable Australian brekkie.
Porridge (or oats)
Although this isn’t a very popular choice, unless you’re a regular gym goer trying to add a couple of pounds, oats are also a delightful Australian breakfast enjoyed by many. There are, of course, numerous ways to eat your oats, but one of the most go-to ways is with a little added fruit, some milk, and brown sugar lightly layered over the top. If you’re eating at home, you can cook the oats in a pot on the stove or add boiling water to them, cover, and stick them in the microwave for a few minutes. I prefer to eat my oats hot but as close to raw as possible, which is easier to do on the stove because you can control how long they’re cooked and watch out for how they look.
If you’re okay with a stodgier version of the dish, stick with the microwave and do something else while you wait for the “ding” to tell you it’s done. If you’re eating out, you can generally let the staff know how you’d like the oats or porridge to be cooked.
A few honourable mentions
Although we’ve laid out the most common choices for an Australian breakfast, there are a variety of other things Aussies like to eat first thing in the morning, and we don’t see anything wrong with mentioning a few of them.
Sweetcorn fritters
As the name implies, these delicacies are a slightly sweeter version of the savoury corn-fritters you might find in America. They’re made using a cornmeal-based batter with a touch of milk, sugar and eggs mixed and fried up. In Australia, you’ll typically find these sweetcorn fritters alongside some bacon, avo, poached eggs and sauce or pesto of some sort. It’s a little healthier than a bread-based meal.
Banana bread
Banana bread might just be popular in Australia due to the reluctance to waste food during the Great Depression and because of the popularity and wide availability of bananas in the country. Whatever the reason, we’re glad it exists, because banana bread is off-the-chain good. Banana bread recipes are often one of the most searched-for recipes in the country. You’ll often find banana bread accompanied by mascarpone and berries, which goes incredibly well with a cup of coffee or some tea for breakfast.
French toast
Across the world, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a breakfast spot that doesn’t have French toast on its menu, and Australia is no different. The great thing about French toast is its versatility. You can eat it as a savoury dish with some bacon and avocado, eat the slices alone with a rich helping of butter or give in to your sweet tooth and throw some honey or syrup over the top and dig in. French toast is a sought-after breakfast food for many Australians and is often served with coconut and fruit to boot.
Milo
Yes, Milo can also be considered a breakfast when you’re in Australia – it’s an absolute favourite for those who prefer a liquid breakfast but it’s also too early for beer. Milo is essential in most Australian households, and kids tend to grow up loving the chocolate-flavoured malt drink. Milo was invented back in the 1930s and has been a contested drink among peers ever since. The most important part of any Milo drink is the milk-to-Milo ratio, and when you’ve nailed it, you will know it.
The other debate around Milo is whether to enjoy it cold or hot. One ideal way to drink it is to add a half shot of Espresso, strong filter coffee or a spoon of roasted instant coffee per four heaped teaspoons of Milo in a mug of hot milk. Stir it up, and sip it back.
