Fusion dishes combine elements of various culinary traditions while not fitting into any one of them specifically. It is food that offers the best of both worlds. In culture and tradition menus are limited to the availability of food. The lucky thing about a country like Australia is the wide range of fresh, seasonal produce – fruits, meats, herbs, spices – available to us removes some of those limitations. The inclusion of uniquely Australian flavours and produce into other the food of other cultures offers an exciting menu opportunity not available anywhere else in the world.

Australia has a wealth of delicious, fresh foods available. Australia is a country in which people from many different cultures reside, socialise, and marry. Over time through community networks, neighbours and families great food styles, fantastic flavours and different methods of cooking have become fused. Chefs in Australia are lucky to have food experts and chefs from so many different backgrounds to learn from. They are also incredibly fortunate to have such a wide range of fresh produce, including spices, herbs and seasonings to draw on.

Australia’s isolation offers advantages to fusion food. Beyond just the produce available and range of backgrounds of chefs our isolation allows us some distance from the strictures of tradition. Tradition and culture are still celebrated but guests from other cultures are invited. The culture and traditional base of the families grows over generations. Our isolation and multiculturalism leads to blending of families and traditions and that blending leads to exciting fusion food.

Anyone with a passion for food, or an excitement about flavour has an abundance of opportunity to experiment. Even local supermarkets stock wider ranges of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and cuts of meat than ever before. A feast of flavours and a flair for food create rewarding taste sensations. Combining the best of many worlds in delicious new dishes that can become part of our dining pleasure is the benefit of the growth in fusion menus in modern Australian cuisine.

Most fast food is extremely processed, with a high proportion of salt, sugar, fat, preservatives and additives; low in fibre and nutrients. A natural, healthy diet, in comparison, contains a wide variety of unprocessed or raw foods, prepared as freshly as possible. But if you are a busy householder pressed for time, it may seem that there is just not enough time to prepare a spectacular feast from scratch every night. Here are some ideas to help you bridge the gap, and serve up some healthy meals for your family:

1. Obtain a slow cooker. These wonderful devices can cook your meat or chicken while you’re at work, then all you have to do is steam accompanying vegetables when you get home.

2. Keep that barbeque on the verandah operational over winter. This is a fast way to cook chicken or fish, then serve with some salad or steamed vegetables. If you do not have a barbeque, then a stove top char grill will do.

3. If you own a wok, meals can be created in just a few minutes using meat, vegetables and a spicy sauce.

4. When you create a labour intensive dish for dinner like tuna mornay or lasagne, make double. Serve half, and freeze the other half to reheat on a busy night.

5. Preparing a simple home made soup from scratch only takes 30 minutes. You could serve it with wholemeal bread on a cold winter’s night.

Taking a few minutes to prepare home cooked meals will give you and your family a better standard of nutrition. It will be easier on your wallet too!