Editing Australian cuisine (section)

===Indigenous Australian bush food===
{{Main|Bush tucker}}

Indigenous Australians have lived off [[Australian flora|native flora]] and [[Australian fauna|fauna]] of the [[Australian bush]] for over 60,000 years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-07-20/aboriginal-shelter-pushes-human-history-back-to-65,000-years/8719314|title=Ancient Indigenous rock shelter rewrites Australia's human history|last=Weule|first=Genelle|date=20 July 2017|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> In modern times, this collection of foods and customs has become known as bush tucker.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bush Tucker |url=https://mbantua.com.au/bush-tucker/?srsltid=AfmBOor10ek2HVAAUwdsucMsJi-B1xsO-7D2k9GSqih-s3w0X-Rw6dfk |access-date=19 December 2024 |website=Mbantua Gallery}}</ref>

It is understood that up to 5,000 species of Australian flora and fauna were eaten by Indigenous Australians.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2008/07/01/about-native-australian-food|title=About Native Australian food|date=1 July 2008|website=SBS|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref> Hunting of [[kangaroo]], [[wallaby]] and [[emu]] was common,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/kangaroos-and-wallabies|title=Kangaroo and wallaby|last=author|website=NSW Environment & Heritage|language=en|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> with other foods widely consumed including [[bogong moth]]s, [[witchetty grub]]s, lizards and snakes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/ag-blog/2017/02/eating-insects-2/|title=Grub's up!|date=14 February 2017|website=Australian Geographic|language=en-AU|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> Bush berries, fruits, and nuts were also used, including the now widely cultivated [[macadamia nut]], and wild honeys were also exploited.<ref name="cultureandrecreation.gov.au" /> Fish were caught using tools such as spears, hooks and traps; in some areas, the construction of complex weir systems allowed the development of forms of aquaculture.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://bluepapers.nl/index.php/bp/article/view/93 | doi=10.58981/bluepapers.2024.1.01 | title=Indigenous Water Engineering and Aquaculture Systems in Australia: The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape and Baiame's Ngunnhu (The Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps) | date=2024 | last1=Daniell | first1=Katherine A. | last2=Moggridge | first2=Bradley | journal=Blue Papers | volume=3 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

Resource availability and dietary make-up varied from region to region and scientific theories of bush tucker plants being spread by hand have recently emerged.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-13/aboriginal-influence-behind-distribution-of-native-plants:-study/9142142|title=Aboriginal people spread native plants by hand: study|last=Miskelly|first=Greg|date=13 November 2017|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref> Food preparation techniques also varied; however, a common cooking technique was for the carcass to be thrown directly on a campfire to be roasted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/education/programs/pdfs/aboriginal-cooking-techniques-2006.pdf|title=Aboriginal Cooking Techniques|last=Wright|first=Warwick|website=www.anbg.gov.au|access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>

Native food sources were used to supplement the colonists' diet following the arrival of the [[First Fleet]] in [[Botany Bay]] in 1788.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Eat your history, stories and recipes form Australian kitchens|last=Newling|first=Jacqui|publisher=Sydney Living Museums and NewSouth Publishing|year=2015|isbn=9781742234687|location=Sydney, Australia|pages=19–62}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Colonial Kitchen|last=O'Brien|first=Charmaine|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2016|isbn=9781442249813|location=USA|pages=Chapters 1, 2, 7}}</ref>

{{Gallery
| title = Australian bush tucker
| align = center
| File:Australian bush tucker, Alice Springs.jpg|[[Bush tucker]] fruits
| File:Witchetty grub.jpg|[[Witchetty grub]]s
| File:Santalum acuminatum fruit1.JPG|[[Santalum acuminatum|Desert quandong]]
}}