Aussie Buns

Aussie Buns are white rolls loaded with a savoury mince and rice mixture that somehow tastes so much better than you'd imagine as you browse the simple ingredient list. They're a quick and tasty meal – you'll have them on the table in about 15 minutes flat.

Never heard of them? Read on and let me tell you all that I know about the humble Aussie Bun.

Jump to:

• The Recipe for Aussie Buns
• Ingredient notes
• Making Aussie Buns
• Recipe FAQs
• More quick and delicious meal ideas
• Aussie Buns

The Recipe for Aussie Buns

This recipe was tucked away in a little yellow notebook that my Mum, my sister and I all added to over the years.

That recipe book contains recipes for classics like Mars Bar Slice, Caramel Slice and Apricot Chicken. And this one for Aussie Buns.

Aussie Buns were sold at my high school's canteen during the late 80s and early 90s.

Kurri Kurri High School, nestled in the coalfields area of the Hunter Valley in Australia, wasn't the most prestigious school.

But I remember some great teachers, a handful of nice friends, and learnt enough to earn myself a spot at Newcastle's law school. And, importantly at the time, the canteen was pretty exceptional. I'd like to go back in time and order a salad roll. They were wonderful. The sausage rolls were better than average and we also had these little creations, Aussie Buns, which I've never found anywhere else.

They were so good that the recipe ended up in our family's little yellow recipe notebook.

And 30-ish years later, I'm curious to see how this recipe lands as I share it here on the web – well beyond the gates of my high school.

Ingredient notes

This is a quick-mix, microwave meal.

You'll need four fresh white rolls, along with:

• beef mince
• an onion
• tomato sauce
• rice
• curry powder
• salt.

Quantities for all ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Making Aussie Buns

Okay, these are super easy to cook provided you have a microwave and a microwave-proof bowl.

Measure out the ingredients and mix everything together in a microwave-proof bowl.

Make sure it's all well combined.

Cover the bowl with plastic food wrap and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes.

Remove the bowl from the microwave. Carefully uncover (noting steam may escape) and stir the mixture.

Cover again with plastic food wrap and place in the microwave on high for 7 minutes.

Remove from the microwave oven and allow to cool for a minute or two.

Carefully uncover again (noting steam may escape). Stir.

Cut rolls in half horizontally, place cooked mince mixture into rolls.

You can serve them straight away, or, to get the version I remember, place them in an air fryer or oven on low heat for 10 minutes before serving. That way you get that tuck shop "been in a pie oven to stay warm" touch.

That's it.

You've got yourself a KKHS Aussie Bun. Four, in fact.

But to really perfect the recipe, keep reading the FAQs before moving on to the recipe card.

Recipe FAQs

More quick and delicious meal ideas

If you need to get something on the dinner table pronto, you might like these recipes:

Made this recipe and love it? Please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. (And it really makes my day to hear how Nana Ling's recipes are being made, shared and loved all around the world! - Libby x)

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