The winner of the 2016 International Year of Pulses (IYP) Australian Signature Dish Recipe Competition is a feast for all the senses, and embodies the vibrant lifestyle that Australia is famous for across the globe.
Unveiled at the 2015 Australian Grains Industry Conference Gala Dinner in Melbourne last night, IYP Australian advocate Simone Bryant announced the National Signature Dish Recipe Competition winner. The winning dish was a quinoa, black lentil & roasted barley salad with chickpeas, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and pomegranate in apple cider vinegar submitted by Alison Victor from the Margaret River in WA.
Mrs. Victor was inspired to create this dish upon moving to Australia with her husband and son from Malaysia, "One of the first dishes I tasted upon moving to Australia was at our good friend's family farm where I first tried this mix of ingredients.
"I was blown away by the freshness of the ingredients and reinterpreted the salad to make it my own, adding pulses for a different flavor and to add more texture. My family love it, and when I saw the IYP recipe competition, I know I had to enter it."
After reviewing over 60 amateur recipe submissions from across Australia with fellow judge's renowned pastry chef Pierrick Boyer, food director at taste.com.au magazine Michelle Southan and leading dietician Emma Stirling, Mr Bryant declared the dish a standout entry.
"It was great to see so many entries for the Signature Dish Competition with outstanding creativity. The winning dish had tonnes of great flavours while incorporating plenty of protein with some other complementary grains and a fistful of fresh veggies - my kind of food" he said.
As the winner of the National Signature Dish, Mrs Victor will receive a $1000 cash prize and her recipe will be submitted as Australia's Signature Dish representing our cuisine alongside the global recipes from the other 40 participating nations.
Celebrating and driving pulse production and consumption in Australia is set to continue in the coming months, with the National Committee announcing the launch of the Australian Celebrations for the International Year of Pulses Gala Dinner on 17 September 2015 at the Melbourne Museum and a call for organisations to link their brand to the power of pulses. "
The International Year of Pulses represents a significant opportunity to showcase Australia as a key supplier of pulses globally while raising their overall awareness as a versatile, nutritious food" outlined Ms Georgie Aley, Australia's National Committee Chair for YP and Managing Director of the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council.
The National Committee thanks IYP partner Blue Ribbon and their allied food company, Foods from the Earth, for their support of the 2016 International Year of Pulses in Australia.
Further information on the Australian IYP activities and sponsoring opportunities can be found at www.glnc.au/iyp/ or contact IYP Project Manager, Rebecca Freeman on 0414 844 425. Additional photos of the Australian Signature Dish and from the AGIC presentation available on request.