Bunya Smoko

Bunya trees are awesome.

Not only have they survived from Jurassic times with their dinosaur-resistant leaves like platemail armour...  not only do they tower over Rookwood (and Section A) with their wonderful and instantly-recognisable shape...  they also provide great smoko snacks, delivered onsite...!

The first time I tried a Bunya nut–  guided by solid info. that Bunya nuts really are edible (raw, cooked, roasted, boiled,...  however you want....)  Well, my first Bunya nut experience wasn't great. It tasted of nothing much but had a vague accent of pine cleanser mixed with diesel.  I think it had sat around in the sun too long.

As I walked into work last week – after a night of heavy winds – a massive cone blocked my way past Section AA.  Alright, already, I thought:  I'll give you another try.

The 10 minutes it took me to open the hull as I walked to the Anglican & General Trusts office gave me a clue that maybe my earlier one was overripe (it was so much easier to open).

The nut was massive...
and,
it turned out:
d--- tasty!

For smoko, then, these mighty trees which add so much to the historic and natural character of the place, well, they also gave me my morning treat.

By lunch, I definitely had a taste for them and set about collecting some for home...  and friends...  all-the-while considering possible recipes.

Firstly, the taste and texture is reminiscent of pine nuts...  just 40 times the size...  and without the great expence.  Bunya nut pesto, then, was an obvious choice.

And that became dinner.
The only problem was that, with the nuts so massive...  I ended up making 3 batches of pesto (good for, say, 6 or 8 serving each)...  and didn't make a dint in my collection of Bunya nuts.

Australia Day obviously called for some more Bunya work:  cookies with choc. chips and also Macadamia nuts.  Good too...  but the chocolate was a bit overpowering.  Supposedly you can use Bunya nuts for an oatmeal/starchy substitute...  so I'm going to work on some oatmeal-Bunya-sultana cookies (once this heat and humidity breaks...  if it breaks...)


OF COURSE:  it's important that I warn you that Monuments in Memoriam and the Anglican & General Trusts in no way encourage or condone people to eat found food...  nor stand under Bunya trees in December through March when those 5kg cones might just drop from a towering height.
So far, though, every cone I've seen down has followed nights of heavy winds:  still...  please take care! The stonemasonry team have been discussing it...  and we're are hoping to hear one drop sometime...  as long as we are not too close....

I've given away a bunch now...  and used up much of our stock (Rhonda's right:  they do taste better cooked...  but there's something magic about them raw).  I'm waiting for the aftermath of the next night of high winds:  I have my eyes out on some massive cones 40m up in Section AA...

Libby found this great online document with piles of information on Bunyas...

http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/environhist/links/publications/anzfh/anzfh2haebich.pdf

(One note:  if roasting them, be careful about the heat 'cause I can attest that they really will explode in the oven if you insist on cranking it to 250).