Ingredients
Boab Tuber / Adansonia gregorii
(Really the root of young plants not a tuber)
Garnding-ni gerdewoon woothoo-woothoong - Rerroob goorroomendawoon jilam-banjilng warnka-mageny. Lerlbbe berranben-nging jamerlng wayini jangeb berrandawoon.
The root of small Boab trees - People pull it out of the ground in the cold time. After peeling the skin it is eaten.
Silver Cobbler / Arius Midgelei
Jajan (Catfish)
Jajan woothoo-woothoong thoorrgib berrandawoon goowayirrm. Ngerregoowoong jajan warlayib berrandawoon goorrgoom. Waniwoogeng yarrengendayan.
People cook little catfish on the coals. They roast big catfish in an earth oven. We eat it all year round.
Water lilly / Nymphaeaceae
Garrjang, Gerloowoorrng (two names)
Yibooboong waterlily flower and stem – peel stem and eat Gajajeng waterlily seeds – eat raw Garnding-ni gerlooworrrng root of waterlily – cook in coals.
Green Tree Ant / Oecophylla smaragdina
Goombing
Nheng-era ngerr gejawoolem nyindenkoo. Ngooja-ngoojaleng yawib nyindanyan jamang beg, warnbagoong-ji ngalyarrng jangeb berrandawoon. Barndenyirriny jangeb berrandawoon.
They used to break open the nest and throw it on the fire. All the green ones run away and then they break it open and eat the white eggs. People eat it in the hot time.
Native Stingless Bee / Austroplebeia
Honey from the native bee - general term ngareng is used for the hives and their products. This word is also used to mean ‘sugar’. The pollen sacs are called lernjeng.
Bush Banana / Marsdenia australis
Ngamoorrwarding
Gijalnga jangeb berrandawoon. Waniwoogeng goorroongendawoon.
People eat it raw. People eat it all year round.
Other Ingredients
- Bunya Nut
- Marron
- Kangaroo
- Quandong
- Red Gum
- Sandalwood Nut
- Seaweed
- Finger Lime
- Lemon Aspen
- Salt Bush
- Kurrajong
- Lerp
- Desert Lime
- Wild Flowers
- Macadamia
- Wild Rosella
- Lemon Myrtle
- Muntrie
- Blood Lime
- Geraldton Wax
- Lilly Pilly
- Pearl Meat
- Pepper Berry
- Wallaby
- Passion Berry
- Eucalyptus
- Kutjera
- Midjim Berry
- Kulyu
- Acacia Honey
- Davidson Plum
- Wattle Seed
- Green Ants
It is important to note that you need to apply for a permit before collecting foods from the wild, and heavy fines are possible if restrictions are not adhered to. Above and beyond this, it is very important to respect and acknowledge that the Traditional Custodians of this land we now share, have been utilising these ingredients for thousands of years before us, and have done so in harmony with nature.
Translations: Miriwoong Language Centre
Illustrations: Eve Young
“Our field of Australian produce is ever expanding as we visit different regions, change with the seasons and incorporate unique ingredients into our cuisine.”
Paul 'Yoda’ Iskov
