Happy Australia Day from the HelloFresh team!

It’s Australia Day! Yes, for lots of us it signals the end of long, languid summer days. But it also means bloody good eating. The HelloFresh team headed straight for our nearest park to celebrate in style!

Here at HelloFresh HQ, we jump at the chance to eat, no matter what the occasion. For Australia Day this year, our head chef Tom helped us to whip up a feast perfect for a barbecue (or a smoky, chargrilled dinner that will make you feel better about being cooped up inside in the rain): Thyme garlic kangaroo steaks with chargrilled corn salad.

Kangaroo steaks are our new favourite for a summer barbecue. Not only are they a great source of lean meat, but they’re perfect when cooked medium rare – meaning they take hardly any time at all – perfect for churning out food for the hungry masses!

Our head chef Tom. A busy man who demands the best steaks on Australia Day – fast.

For an extra smoky flavour on your chargrilled corn, try removing the silk from the corn cobs (the long stringy part between the kernels and the outer layers), leaving on some of the husk. As this blackens, it will add extra smokiness to your corn – it’s also great for catching all of the lovely flavours you’ve used to season you cobs with!

Our thyme and garlic roo steaks and chargrilled corn on the cob.

This chargrilled corn is inspired by the Mexican street food elotes – seasoned corn on the cob that can be eaten on the go – because what would an Australia be without the flavours of multiculturalism? When served up with charred gem lettuce (so much more exciting than regular lettuce darling), chunky avocado, coriander and lime, this salad is kind of lazy person guacamole; i.e. ideal for preparing in between innings of backyard cricket.

This crazy corn concoction is totally vegan friendly, but you could also add some grated Parmesan or sour cream to make it really extra special and delicious.

Happy Australia Day from the HelloFresh team!

Ingredients

• For the Steaks

  • 4 kangaroo steaks, trimmed
  • fresh thyme
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  For the Chargrilled Corn

  • 4 cobs of corn
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
  • paprika
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  For the Salad

  • 1 large coriander bunch, roughly chopped
  • 2 gem lettuce, cut in half
  • 1 avocado, cut into large chunks
  • 3 limes, zested and cut into wedges.
  • 2 miniature cucumbers, sliced

Instructions:

1. For the Steaks

   1. Place your trimmed roo steaks on a clean surface. In a small bowl, combine the thyme (no need to chop or remove the leaves, just give them a bit of a rub between your hands to release their aromatics), garlic, salt and pepper and olive oil. Rub the mixture into the roo steaks and let them marinate while you get on with the chargrilled corn salad.

   For the Chargrilled Corn

   1. Shuck the corn cobs.
   2. Rub the olive oil on the corn and then season liberally with the crushed garlic, paprika, salt and pepper and lime zest. Squeeze on a bit of lime juice as well.
   3. On a hot BBQ grill, cook the corn cobs, turning, for 10 minutes. Then add the roo steaks and cook for 2 minutes on each side along with the corn. After 4-5 minutes, remove the roo steaks and wrap them in foil so they can rest for 5 minutes.
   4. When the corn is charred and juicy, remove from the heat. Placed the gem lettuce halves down on the BBQ hot plate for a few minutes until they are charred.

   To Plate it Up

   1. On a plate, arrange the charred corn and gem lettuce halves. Sprinkle over the avocado chunks, roughly chopped coriander and lime wedges, squeezing some lime juice over everything.
   2. Serve the roo steaks with the thinly sliced cucumber and some fresh thyme, if you like.
   3. Enjoy your lunch in the sunburnt country!

What will you be doing this Australia Day? Living for the tunes? Being inspired by the best our country has to offer? Skipping the pageantry entirely and just kicking back? Whatever you choose to do, make sure it’s with good company and good food.

Have a wonderful Australia Day!