Eating Kangaroo in Australia: My First Time Trying Roo Meat

Traveling in foreign lands means encountering foreign concepts. It’s not every day you come across kangaroo in the meat section of the supermarket, but when you do…

Fluorescent lights hummed overhead in the lower level of the market, aptly named Coles, an Australian grocery staple. A package of the national icon of Australia was carefully placed in the grocery cart.

The cost was about $7 USD for enough meat for two servings. I guess icons can be affordable too.

I’ve been to Australia several times and avoided trying kangaroo, or any other unique native proteins. This trip is different. This year is different. I myself am different. Different forces are in play.

Apparently, kangaroo is a relatively common protein in Australia. It’s sustainable, and it has a very long shelf life (the package had a “best used by” date of February 6, 2026, and was purchased on January 18).

Preparation was actually fairly easy too. A quick five minutes on each side in a frying pan with preheated oil, and that was it. Everything I read said don’t overcook it.

There was no additional marinating beyond the prepackaged herb and garlic seasoning. It paired very well with a high-quality Shiraz from an Australian winery.

Back to the star of the show: the kangaroo meat. Inexpensive. Easy to prepare. What’s not to like?

Now picture this: your first bite into the “roo,” the slow chew. You swallow, and your mind quickly decides it’s not that bad.

Think of a very lean sirloin steak with a light game flavor. I suppose the lack of fat helps with the shelf life, but with proper preparation, it was actually quite tender and tasty.

Would I try it again? Yes.

Would you try it? I mean, a very similar question changed my life a few years back. Maybe give it a shot. Maybe you’d even surprise yourself.

Back to the “bottle shop.” The clerk liked that I was trying kangaroo so much, he gave me a 15% discount on the bottle of wine. Even the liquor store clerks are nice here. The friendly people are a huge part of why I love Australia.

Thanks for pushing my boundaries, Australia, and the forces that be.

Cole

Just Cole.