Australian

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Damper (Bush Bread Baked in a Covered Pot)

Australia's bush soda bread: flour and water, baked once the fire has burned down to coals, in a covered cast-iron pot or in the ashes themselves. Irish soda bread will not wait for its oven; this one uses baking powder, which brings its own acid, so the dough can sit while the fire gets ready. There is no reading the heat of a fire, so doneness is judged by knocking on the base. Served with butter and golden syrup.

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Lamington (Coconut Chocolate Sponge Squares)

The Australian teatime square: butter sponge cut into cubes, dipped in a thin chocolate icing and rolled in desiccated coconut. Simple ingredients, simple method, and almost every failure happens in the same place. Cake baked that morning falls apart at the corners the moment it meets the icing. This is a recipe built around day-old cake, and the staleness is a requirement, not a compromise.

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Aussie Meat Pie

Australia's national hand pie: minced beef simmered in a rich gravy, packed into crisp pastry and baked golden. Flaky outside, savory and saucy inside. Store-bought pastry makes it easy at home — serve with ketchup for the true Aussie way.