Cheers to a Cruelty-Free Australia Day!

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If you're like us then you're probably already salivating in anticipation of BBQ-on-the-beach-with-your-mates-day on January 26th. Well, here's something else to salivate over!

Melbourne-based professional chefs and food authors Allan Campion and Michele Curtis have prepared a sumptuously summery, cruelty-free Australia day menu that will have your mates worship you as the culinary connoisseur you are (or, will be, once you've prepared these!).

That's because these dishes not only look and taste tremendous, but being free from animal products they have a tiny eco-footprint, help protect animals from cruelty, and are naturally free from nasties like cholesterol.

And with all that taken care of you'll have more time to focus on important stuff – like choosing the right wine to accompany your meal and slapping on the sun screen!

Download your Australia Day recipe cards!

Click on the links below to download individual recipe cards, or click here to print the entire menu.

Spiced Pita Chips Roast Capsicum Soup Moroccan Eggplant and Capsicum Kebabs Mexican bean cakes Chilli Salsa Salad of Summer Fruits with Watermelon Granita

What tips do you have for celebrating a cruelty-free Australia day? Leave a comment!

Post a commentYour Say: 33 comments

Belinda Halliwell: Who agrees? Introduce a dedicated VEGETARIAN/VEGAN SECTION IN EVERY MAJOR SUPERMARKET??? Monday, 23 January 2012 at 5:59pm

You would think in this day and age it would be an easy process to be a Vegetarian!!! Think Again when I turned vegetarian in the New year I went on my first shopping expedition and expedition it was!!!!
Who agrees we should have a dedicated VEGETARIAN/VEGAN section in every major supermarket just like they have a section for ORGANIC/GLUTEN FREE etc?????? Would be so good to be able to just go in and go straight to our own VEGGIE SECTION!!!

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Belinda Halliwell: Vegetarian Prawns from Lamyong Sunday, 22 January 2012 at 3:51pm

Hi Jane where can you buy these from??? I'm in Queensland

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Belinda Halliwell: Yes Fry's and Quorn do a great range! Sunday, 22 January 2012 at 3:48pm

Yes Fry's do a great range! Or make your own even healthier!!!

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Rowan oF Perth: FRYS VEGETARIAN Thursday, 19 January 2012 at 7:27pm

FRYS VEGETARIAN BURGERS RULE!

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Melbourne_Mum: Haloumi Kebabs Thursday, 19 January 2012 at 5:09pm

Skewered blocks of haloumi and veg of your choice with an olive oil, lemon juice marinade and dressing. Bright, barbecueable and delicious!!  And flowed by the ubiquitous Pav.

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Bella Murphy: Where's the vegemite?!? Thursday, 19 January 2012 at 4:45pm

Hmmm great looking recipes but not for Australia Day.  I'll be serving grilled vegemite and cheezley sandwiches, mushroom pie, coleslaw (made with a lovely tahini dressing instead of mayo), green salad, vegan pavlovas (made with cashew cream - yum!) and vegan lamingtons.  Now that is Australia Day food! ;-)

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Alison: Child friendly Thursday, 19 January 2012 at 2:58pm

I have copied some of these, but they probably wont make it to Australia Day...  i will have AT LEAST my three children here, if not the children of other families as well... what about THEM?  this menu would be sure to turn them off anything vegetarian...

Alison

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Megan: not all meat is 'cruel' Thursday, 19 January 2012 at 2:57pm

Some great suggestions there but you are assuming that all meat is kept & killed inhumanely, which you must surely know to not be the case.  Many producers are doing wonderful things to produce quality meat without any cruelty to the animals concerned.  You don't have to be vegetarian to want better practices implemented.

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Gail Canning: Meat free Aus Day Thursday, 19 January 2012 at 12:34pm

You can't go past barbequed corn on the cob and those lovely "meaty" portobello mushrooms.

Frys do great vegan burgers.

A quick side dish: cook up plain noodles (ie changs), then stir through spinach leaves and sesame oil. Really simple but nice.

So glad I won't be contributing to all the animal suffering this Australia Day.

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Kaila: Hmm Wednesday, 26 January 2011 at 11:18am

That's the worst list of vegan australia day foods I have ever seen. Soup...wtf?  You want easy to prepare outdoor cooking foods like seitan steak burgers, marinaded eggplant & tofu chunks, toasted breads with avocado and olive oil, luscious salads with kalamata olives & sundried tomato...

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Sharna Stone: Aussie day compassion. Tuesday, 25 January 2011 at 4:15pm

Thank you to you for the great suggestions.
Far too often animal sacrifice is used as a gluttonous celebration for a public holiday. On Australia day I am glad to be Australian and have choice and also sad that my country allows liv exports of sheep. So sad.
Looking frward to some animal free meals tomorrow to celebrate living in a country with free choice.

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Jane Mason: Throw a 'shrimp' on the barbie Monday, 24 January 2011 at 11:35am

I still do this. But they are vegetarian "prawns" from Lamyong - so yummy and you'd hardly even know they aren't the real thing! :D

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