New Zealand food. Not exactly the most talked about cuisine in the world.

Why?

Is it because the New Zealand people are ashamed of their national nosh, or are they hiding something from the rest of the world? 

When we made our move to New Zealand from the UK fourteen years ago ( we were to have a new life in New Zealand with kids, and thankfully, I had heard that the ice cream was a winner, so at least I had that to fall back on!) but apart from that?

No. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t expecting much in the way of New Zealand food.

Maybe a few lamb chops and a packet of butter. A glass of milk at a push.

How wrong I was…

 

What Makes New Zealand Food So Special?

Like everything else in New Zealand, the food is rather underrated. This is a shame as it leads people to believe that New Zealand food is either boring and not worth mentioning.

(Or that it is so weird that it must only be eaten by people who reside in mud huts and cook dinosaur eggs. One of the many misconceptions about New Zealand).

People in our private New Zealand community will often ask, is the food in New Zealand better?

That’s a tricky one.

It depends on where you come from and what you class as better.

My family and I emigrated to New Zealand from England, and although this doesn’t apply to all food, I’ll stick my neck out and say that the majority of New Zealand food is waaay better than the UK.

While we are comparing NZ to the UK, I will also say my two cents worth about the cost to live in New Zealand.

This is another well-discussed topic, and (just for the record) I don’t think New Zealand is any more expensive to live in than the UK.

When you consider the amount of free things to do in New Zealand, your average monthly cost of living is the same.

Especially if you choose to take advantage of the cheap foods in New Zealand.

Take Green Lipped Mussels for example… 

 

Green lip mussels. Food in New Zealand

 

In this week’s podcast episode, we discuss 13 Foods in  New Zealand, including:

  1. Mince on toast
  2. Vogel bread
  3. Cheese
  4. Kumera
  5. Hāngī
  6. Paua
  7. Kina
  8. Kiwi burger
  9. Mussels (recipe below!)
  10. Chocolate
  11. Pavlova
  12. Asparagus sarnies
  13. Pies

 

Would You Like To Join Our Private New Zealand Community?

 

Are you Considering Moving To New Zealand and are desperate to know what life in New Zealand is (really) like? Do You LOVE New Zealand & dream of moving here one day?

Sign up HERE, and I will send you my FREE Moving to and Living in New Zealand Guide. A 5 Part Video Series!

At the end of the series, you will be offered details of how to become part of our inspiring and growing community of New Zealand-loving members!

SIGN UP NOW!

 

 

Watch The Video Podcast New Zealand Food Here!

 


 

 

 

Traditional Green-Lipped New Zealand Mussel Recipe

 

New Zealand green lipped mussels recipe.

 

Green-lipped mussels are a traditional New Zealand treat. They are found all over New Zealand in fish shops and in supermarkets.

They are healthy and, best of all? They are cheap!

 

Kūtai (green-lipped mussels)

New Zealand green-lipped mussels are not only delicious but also healthy.

They are a good source of protein, high in omega-3, low in fat and calories, and, if all that wasn’t enough to tempt you..they are delicious!

There are many ways to cook New Zealand green-lipped mussels, but the recipe below is my absolute favourite.

 

Ingredients:

1 kg New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels

3 cloves of peeled garlic (more or less to taste)

Thumbsizer piece of ginger (peeled)

3 red/green chillies or to your taste (use chilli flakes if you can’t get fresh)

Corriander (cilantro) 

Good olive oil 

 

How to cook New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussels Recipe

 

These mussels are best cooked on a BQ, but we have used an oven and it was just as delicious.

Heat the BBQ/oven to 180 degrees.

Clean and scrub the mussels (throw away any mussels that are open). 

Steam the mussels over a pan of water for approx 5 minutes or until the shells open. Put aside to cool.

While the mussels are steaming, chop the garlic, ginger, chilli and coriander.

Once cool, take the mussels and a sharp knife and carefully (mind your fingers!) separate the mussel from the shell. Throw one half of the shell away and place the mussel flesh back into the other half of the shell.

Spoon the chopped ingredients onto the steamed mussels.

Drizzle with olive oil. 

Arrange the mussels on a tray (or if using a BBQ you can put the mussels straight onto the BBQ rack)

Cook for 5 minutes or until the oil is gently bubbling.

Take the hot mussels (careful you don’t burn your lip!) and eat!

Enjoy!

 

Green lip mussels. A favourite food of New Zealand

 

Prefer to Listen? Check Out Our New Zealand Food Podcast HERE!
 

 

 

Moving or Visiting New Zealand? Here’s More Content For You!

Life in New Zealand Compared to the UK. From a Kiwi Who’s Tried Both

Leaving America to live in New Zealand

7 Things That Scared us About Moving To New Zealand

Living in New Zealand. Why 30% Of Immigrants Go Back Home

Moving to New Zealand. The How’s, the Whys and the Hoops.

Moving to New Zealand. 5 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid Making

Americans in New Zealand. Will They Ever Feel at Home?

 

Interested in Life in New Zealand? Here’s More Content For You!

Is New Zealand NEGLECTING These Essential Life Skills?

7 Weird Things About New Zealand

You Know You’re in New Zealand When…

Where To Live in New Zealand? North or South Island?

Christmas Down Under? Wonderful or Weird?

 

Behind The Scenes Podcast Episodes

(Where we share the things that are happening in our lives right now).

Episode #1: Meeting Our Teenage Daughter. Life at 17.

Episode #2: Our Son at 20. Homeschooled. No College. Three Jobs.

Episode #3: We Met Online. The Māori Subscribers Who Changed Our Lives.

Episode #4: The REAL Reason We Left the UK.

Episode #5: Quitting School. Now What?

 

Can’t Wait To Travel Again? Here’s Some Inspiring Content For You!

7 Most Beautiful Places on Earth (And Why You Need To Visit Them SOON! 

Japanese Culture. 7 Things You Should (Really) Know BEFORE You Go

How to Travel The World For Free. Or at Least Very, Very Cheap.

Italy Travel (Like You’ve Never Seen Before. In Your Life.)

 

 

 

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