Australians are increasingly using home cooking as a way to explore other cultures, according to HelloFresh’s inaugural Plate of the Nations trends report.
The study found that 67 per cent of Australians see cooking as a gateway to global culture, with more than a quarter saying they cooked more international dishes at home over the past year.
“HelloFresh’s inaugural Plates of the Nation report showed the dinner table is fast-becoming our passport to the world, as just over two-thirds (67%) of Aussies report using cooking as a way to explore new cultures,” said Hannah Gilbert, Senior Director, HelloFresh Australia.
“Aussies have always been an adventurous bunch, so it isn’t surprising we’re seeing this translate into the kitchen. Home cooks are no longer waiting for a holiday to discover new food. They are bringing those flavours into their kitchens and recreating the dishes they love at home. That appetite for exploration is only expected to grow as well.”
Aussie dinner tables are changing
Italian, Indian and Thai emerged as the most cooked cuisines, with Italian leading the way. Despite the variety on offer, one familiar favourite still topped the list, with butter chicken named Australia’s most cooked dish overall.
“I think the reason Butter Chicken has come out on top in terms of the nation’s favourite dish is owed to it hitting that sweet spot between comfort and adventure,” Gilbert said. “It’s rich, mildly spiced and incredibly customisable, so it appeals to home cooks who want bold flavour without the complexity.”
The report suggests travel and social media are shaping what ends up on the dinner table. More than a third of respondents said they draw inspiration from dishes they’ve tried while travelling, while 35 per cent pointed to social media as a key influence.
Meanwhile, enthusiasm for cooking globally does not always translate into action. A lack of ingredients, limited time and confidence in cooking unfamiliar cuisines were cited as the biggest barriers.
Australia is watching two trends unfold at once: growing interest in native ingredients and rising curiosity about global cuisines. According to Gilbert, the two are far from mutually exclusive.
“These trends actually complement each other beautifully. They are mutually enriching, representing a mature evolution of Australian culinary identity,” she says.
“What we’re seeing is that Aussie cooks are becoming more confident and experimental, so they’re blending global techniques with uniquely local ingredients. Rather than choosing one direction, people are using global inspiration as a framework and elevating it with homegrown flavour.
“It’s creating a really exciting, distinctly Australian fusion.”
Australia’s most cooked dishes
When it comes to global flavours, Australia’s top five cuisines cooked at home were:
Italian, 44.28 per cent
Indian, 29.28 per cent
Thai, 27.86 per cent
Mexican, 26.85 per cent
Japanese, 19.76 per cent
Compared with other countries, Australians sit somewhere in the middle. The UK, US and Canada reported a stronger preference for cooking Italian food at home, while Australia’s appetite for Thai food outpaced the UK and US but fell just behind New Zealand. Mexican food proved especially popular in North America, with Australia following closely behind.
The report also highlighted the most cooked HelloFresh recipes among Australian customers:
Indian Butter Chicken and Garlic Tortillas with Nutty Rice
Hearty Beef and Spinach Cottage Pie with Cheesy Mash Topping
Golden Chicken and Mushroom Sauce with Sweet Potato Mash and Sautéed Veggies
Super Easy Chicken and Green Bean Curry with Garlic Tortilla
Herby Italian Beef and Truffle Mayo Burger with Parmesan Potato Fries and Side Salad
Overall, the findings point to Australian home cooks growing more confident in the kitchen and more open to letting global flavours shape everyday meals.
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