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Taste the Australian Bush: A Guide to Cooking with Native Bush Rub

The Australian landscape is home to a pantry of unique and powerful flavours that have been cherished by First Nations peoples for millennia. From the roasted, coffee-like notes of wattleseed to the salty tang of the saltbush, these ingredients tell the story of this ancient land. Our Native Bush Rub is a handcrafted celebration of these flavours, blending iconic bushfoods with familiar spices to create a versatile and authentically Australian seasoning.

This isn't just a mix of herbs; it's an invitation to explore a new culinary frontier. Today, we're diving into the unique flavour profile of this blend and sharing simple, delicious ways you can use it to transform your everyday cooking into a true taste of the Australian bush.

Deconstructing the Flavour Profile

Our Native Bush Rub is a carefully balanced blend designed to hit all the right notes: savoury, salty, aromatic, and spicy.

• The Savoury Base (Wattleseed): Roasted and ground wattleseed provides the deep, dark foundation of the rub. It has a wonderful coffee, chocolate, and hazelnut character that adds incredible savoury depth (umami).
• The Salty Earth (Saltbush): Old Man Saltbush brings a unique, mineral-rich saltiness that is more complex than regular salt. It has a savoury, earthy flavour that enhances the taste of everything it touches.
• The Aromatic Lift (Lemon Myrtle): This is the queen of Australian citrus herbs. It provides an intense, beautiful lemon-sherbet aroma and flavour that cuts through richness and adds a bright, fragrant top note.
• The Unique Heat (Pepperleaf): Tasmanian Pepperleaf delivers a heat unlike any other. It starts with a herbal, woody flavour, followed by a sharp, spicy kick that builds slowly and lingers.
• The Familiar Friends (Cinnamon, Pepper, Parsley, Salt): These classic spices round out the blend, providing a familiar warmth, a pungent bite, and a fresh, herbaceous touch that ties all the native ingredients together.

Cooking with the Rub: Tips and Recipes

This blend is incredibly versatile, but its robust flavour profile truly shines with grilling, roasting, and barbecuing.

The Perfect Dry Rub for Meats
The most direct way to use the rub is to coat your favourite cut of meat. The wattleseed and spices will form a delicious, dark crust when cooked.

• Method: Pat your meat dry with a paper towel. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Sprinkle the Native Bush Rub liberally over all surfaces, pressing it in gently with your hands. For the best flavour, let the rubbed meat rest for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight in the fridge) before cooking.
• Best Pairings:
  • Lamb: Sensational on lamb cutlets, a leg of lamb, or backstraps cooked on the BBQ.
  • Beef: Perfect for a thick-cut ribeye steak, beef brisket, or slow-cooked ribs.
  • Game Meats: The robust, earthy flavours are a natural match for kangaroo, wallaby, and venison.
  • Chicken: Excellent on chicken thighs or a whole roasted chicken.

Recipe Idea: Bush Rub Crusted Lamb Cutlets

1. Take 8 high-quality lamb cutlets and pat them dry.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and coat generously with the Native Bush Rub.
3. Heat a barbecue or griddle pan to high heat.
4. Cook the cutlets for 2-3 minutes per side for a perfect medium-rare, or until cooked to your liking.
5. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Seasoning for Vegetables
This rub isn't just for meat! Its savoury, salty character is fantastic on roasted or grilled vegetables.

• Method: Chop root vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and parsnips into chunks. Toss them in a bowl with a generous glug of olive oil and a few good spoonfuls of the Native Bush Rub until everything is evenly coated.
• Roasting: Spread the coated vegetables on a baking tray in a single layer and roast at 200°C (180°C fan-forced) for 30-40 minutes, or until golden and cooked through, turning halfway.

Beyond the Rub: Other Creative Uses

• Flavourful Marinade: Mix a few tablespoons of the rub with olive oil, a splash of red wine vinegar, and a crushed garlic clove to create a quick and flavourful marinade.
• Native Damper: Add a tablespoon of the rub to your favourite damper or savoury scone recipe for an authentic bushfood flavour.
• Seasoned Salt: Mix the rub with extra salt flakes to create a finishing salt with a unique Australian twist. Sprinkle it over chips, eggs, or avocado toast.
• Compound Butter: Soften a block of butter and mix in a tablespoon of the rub. Roll it into a log using baking paper and refrigerate until firm. Slice off a round to melt over a hot steak or grilled fish.

A Taste of Home

Our Native Bush Rub is more than just a spice blend—it's a celebration of the unique and delicious flavours of Australia. It's an easy and accessible way to begin exploring the world of native ingredients and to add a truly special touch to your home cooking. Fire up the barbecue, get roasting, and enjoy the taste of the Australian bush.