A Dash of Saltbush and a Bit of Bush Know-How
It’s the time of year when in the air con is the best place to be. Out here, meals aren’t complicated — they’re hearty, shared, and often cooked with whatever’s close to hand. Sometimes that’s a leg of lamb from the paddock, sometimes it’s a pumpkin that’s managed to survive the cockatoos.
When we started making Gilgooma Goods, it was never about fancy ingredients. It was about bottling up the flavour of this place — that clean, earthy saltbush tang and the comfort of a warm, crusty damper shared around the table.
Here are a few easy ways we’ve been using our Saltbush Seasoning and Classic Damper Mix lately. Nothing fancy, just good food for real life.
Pumpkin Soup & Damper — The Old Pairing That Still Works
A pot of soup bubbling away while the damper bakes in the oven (or under a camp lid) might be one of the simplest pleasures in life.
For the soup, roast or simmer chopped pumpkin with onion, garlic, and stock until soft. Blend it smooth, stir through a dash of cream, and finish with a sprinkle of Gilgooma Saltbush Seasoning for that wild, bush-salty edge.
Mix up your Classic Damper, shape it roughly, and bake until golden. Tear it open, add a smear of butter, and you’ve got dinner.
Saltbush & Lemon Roast Lamb
When the day’s been long and the smell of roast lamb fills the house, all seems right in the world. Rub your lamb with saltbush, garlic, lemon zest, and a bit of olive oil. Let it rest before slicing, and make sure there’s warm damper on the side to catch the juices.
Simple. Familiar. The sort of meal that doesn’t need dressing up.
Cheese & Chive Damper
This one’s a crowd-pleaser — especially if there’s a BBQ involved. Just add grated cheese and chopped chives into the damper mix before baking. It’ll puff up golden and smell like a bakery. Great with butter, better with a beer.
Saltbush Roasted Veggies
Sometimes, all you need is a tray of roasted veggies. Carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potato tossed with a drizzle of oil and a sprinkle of saltbush — nothing more. The seasoning brings out that smoky sweetness and makes even the humblest veg taste like something special.
Because Simple’s Often Best
Around here, food is a way of slowing down — of taking stock of the season and the stories that come with it. Whether you’re cooking over a campfire or a stovetop, Gilgooma Goods are made to fit right in.
You’ll find both the Saltbush Seasoning and Classic Damper Mix in our farm shop. They’re the sort of things that make ordinary meals feel a little bit special — and maybe, just maybe, remind you of the bush.