We’re always on the hunt for a show-stopping recipe, but in reality it’s often the traditional dishes that are the true crowd-pleasers.
From a classic roast chicken to much-loved sweet treats like chocolate cake, scones, American-style pancakes and brownies, we’ve rounded up 10 unbeatable dishes that are worth mastering.
Lookin for more nostalgia recipes?
01
Vanilla slice
Dotted with tell-tale passionfruit seeds, this classic vanilla slice recipe is a true Aussie icon. Be prepared to lose your dignity at any attempt eat with a fork.
02
Pancakes
Nothing beats a homemade buttermilk pancake stack for breakfast or brunch. It’s the best thing to wake up to on the weekend! The secret to silky-smooth pancakes lies in well-beaten batter.
03
Sausage rolls
The perennial party favourite! Sausage rolls taste so much better homemade, so what are you waiting for? From start to finish, you’ll need 10 ingredients and you can decide whether to make hearty portions, like the ones pictured, or smaller party-sized ones. Whatever you decide, serve with tomato sauce (obviously).
04
Quick grilled nachos
Perfect for those ‘it’s been a long day’ days when you don’t have the time or energy for anything fancy, but still want to put a smile on everyone’s face. Nachos make a great midweek dinner or home movie snack and, the best bit is, they only take 10 minutes to cook so you can whip them up for surprise visitors too. These are vegetarian, but you can easily add meat to the mix, too.
05
Chocolate cake
Satisfy that chocolate craving with this delicious, moist chocolate cake. It’s easy, it’s quick and the family will love it. So will you.
06
Ramen
‘Ramen’ is the name of noodle, as well as the name of the dish. Delicious rich broth with tender pork, slurpable noodles, and fresh veg.
07
Classic scones
Tea time gets a whole lot more delicious when scones are part of the equation. They’re not as hard to make as people think either; the secret to success lies in the temperature of your ingredients. Cold milk and butter work best so chill them before mixing together for the ultimate after tea delight.
08
Potato salad
Nothing says ‘summer barbecue’ quite like a potato salad. It’s pretty hard to go wrong with burgers, sausages and skewers, but potato salad can take a little perfecting. It’s all about the homemade mayonnaise (very easy; only four ingredients!) and the perfect garnishes in parsley, dill, mint and spring onions.
09
Brownies
This classic treat is one that’ll never go out of style. There’s something so delicious about the crispy tops and edges and soft, fudgy centre
10
Classic roast chicken
If you nail just one roast, make it a roasted chook. Versatile, always a hit and economical too, it’s a dish that transcends time. There’s an art to ensuring the skin is crispy and the meat is beautifully tender. The trick? Regular basting during cooking and resting the meat, once cooked.
