Matariki is known as Māori New Year, marked by the appearance of the Matariki cluster of stars in the sky (also known as the Pleides or Seven Sisters). This generally happens in New Zealand in mid-Winter – depending on when the star cluster appears in the sky.
It’s recently been marked with an official public holiday in New Zealand, designed to be a time to reflect on and remember family and friends no longer here and to look toward the future. Part of that includes the opportunity to spend time with family and friends and one lovely way to do that is with food!
This post covers everything you might need for a celebration – fun, easy recipes for brunch, party snacks and appetizers, as well as more traditional mains and delicious sides and of course, delicious sweet treats to finish things off.
Easy Brunch Ideas
Speedy Shakshuka (Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce)
Perfectly poached eggs nestled in a harissa-spiced, luscious tomato sauce makes a wonderful, easy-to-scale brunch option to share with friends and family. Plus, it’s super quick and easy to make.
25 Minute Almond Croissants
It seriously is so easy to turn basic, store-bought croissants into enviable French bakery-style almond croissants. They’re the perfect celebration brunch dish and can be prepped in advance.
They take about 25 minutes from start to finish and are just as delicious as anything you’d find at a bakery. Plus, they’re a whole lot cheaper!
No Knead Vogel’s Style Seed Bread
Every Kiwi knows the joy of Vogel’s bread. There’s just something about that lovely, seed-stuffed, moist bread that is so deliciously comforting. It makes the best toast around and I bet you won’t be able to stop at one slice!
This recipe takes less than 5 minutes to prep and you’ll be tucking into the best toast of your life in only an hour. No kneading, no waiting for it to rise. It couldn’t be easier.
EASY Cookie Dough Croissants
Try your hand at making the SUPER easy viral, Parisian cookie dough stuffed croissants at home, using just TWO ingredients.
All you need are croissants, your favorite cookie dough and 20 minutes.
40 Minute Cinnamon Rolls (No Yeast + No Knead)
The only thing that can make cinnamon rolls better is a cinnamon roll recipe that LITERALLY takes 40 minutes from start to finish.
They use my favourite magical two ingredient Greek yogurt and self-raising flour dough, so you don’t have to wait for them to rise, or knead the dough. Perfection.
Appetizers and Party Snacks
Mini Mince and Cheese Party Pies
Mince and cheese pies are an absolute New Zealand classic for a reason. Crispy buttery pastry, intensely savoury minced beef and a creamy, oozy cheese topping? Yes please!
Easy Baked Salmon Sushi Cups
These cute little baked salmon sushi cups are the absolute easiest way to get the flavour and texture of your favourite sushi roll, at home. Easy to make, and even easier to eat, they’re great hot or cold and can be prepped ahead.
10 Minute Marinated Mini Mozzarella Balls
These gorgeous mini mozzarella ball balls are tossed with a zingy, lemony, herb-packed marinade to make the best, easiest party snack that takes just 10 minutes to make. Serve up with crispy pita chips, fresh focaccia or in a bowl by itself with skewers on the side.
Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Ultra juicy, ultra crispy fried chicken tenders are easier to make than you’d think and use cupboard staples. Toss with sticky hot honey sauce, for a serious crowd-pleasing winner.
Crispy Baked Halloumi Fries (4 Ingredients)
These super crispy halloumi fries are baked for a quick, mess-free, egg-free result. No deep-frying, no messy coating and you’ll have gorgeously gooey fries in just 25 minutes. Serve with a creamy tahini dipping sauce for a Middle Eastern inspired party snack.
Sticky Pulled Pork Sliders
Pulled pork sliders are the ultimate party bite. Juicy, sticky, super tender pulled pork is piled onto soft buns and paired with a crunchy slaw, creamy aioli and sweet chilli jam. They’re easy and perfect for prepping ahead of time.
Easy Sundried Tomato and Feta Filo Cups
There’s a lot to love about these sundried tomato feta filo cups. Pop filo in a mini muffin tin, then top with a speedy mix of feta, sundried tomatoes, thyme and feta and bake until golden. A simple, crowd-pleasing party snack to impress.
Quick Marinated Feta with Sweet Chilli
Marinated feta is SUCH an easy, quick party snack that looks super impressive but is deceptively simple. Just dice feta, mix a store-cupboard staple marinade and pour it all over. Serve with pita chips – or by itself – for the perfect crowd-pleasing bite.
Creamy Chicken Caesar Dip
Caesar salad, but make it a dip!
This gorgeously creamy dip is loaded with juicy chicken, crispy bacon and parmesan and makes the MOST wonderful party snack for any occasion.
Crispy Beer Battered Fish Sliders
Ultra-crispy, light beer batter, super tender fish plus soft brioche buns make the most wonderful mini fish sliders, perfect for parties. Add zesty tartare sauce and crunchy lettuce for the perfect bite that’s easier to make than you’d think.
Greek-Inspired Bread Dipping Oil
Bread dipping oil is the easiest – and quickest – appetiser for entertaining. This Greek-inspired version is GORGEOUS.
Chop up a few bits and pieces, mix them with olive oil and serve up with a pile of fresh bread. It’s easy, speedy and a serious crowd-pleaser.
Easy Bacon and Egg Slice
This SUPER easy bacon and egg tart is a twist on the classic Kiwi bacon and egg pie. It’s easier, quicker and has all the flavours of the original, with a few flavour-packed tweaks.
It’s perfect for parties and always a crowd-pleaser. Top with a dollop of basil pesto for a fresh, zingy finish.
Easy Honey Harissa Baked Camembert
Baked camembert is the ULTIMATE luxurious appetiser for entertaining. It looks so impressive, but it’s easy and quick to make. This version is made extra special with the addition of honey, harissa and juicy pomegranate seeds for the best sweet, spicy, super oozy delight.
Quick, Easy Marinated Olives
You can buy little pots of marinated olives at grocery stores, but they’re always very expensive. Luckily, you can EASILY make them yourself, using regular store cupboard staples. They’re cheaper, more delicious (you can control the flavours that go into them) and will last a whole lot longer.
A bowl of these on the table or as part of an antipasti spread or grazing board is always a crowd-pleaser.
The Main Event
Korean Grilled Chicken Bao Buns
Once you learn how easy it is to make fluffy steamed bao buns, you won’t be able to stop! Baking powder AND yeast supercharge the buns, meaning less waiting time so you can enjoy them in under an hour.
Fill with Korean grilled chicken for a serious crowd-pleaser.
Maple and Miso Glazed Celebration Salmon
This has to be the easiest, most impressive centrepiece around. It’s so quick, so full of flavour and just looks so lovely on the table.
The most wonderful thing about it is that the salmon is great served at room temperature – meaning it’s TOTALLY fine to make ahead of time. None of the stress of trying to juggle oven space when you’re entertaining which is always a win!
Cheesy Bolognese Rice Bake
This cheesy bolognese rice bake has all the flavours of lasagne, with a little twist. A layer of seasoned rice and rich bolognese is topped with gorgeously creamy, cheesy bechamel sauce, making a wonderful family-friendly recipe, fab for making ahead of time.
Easy New Zealand Style Butter Chicken
This super easy, DELICIOUS New Zealand style butter chicken takes just 20 minutes to make. It uses store cupboard staples – including a secret, very Kiwi ingredient you may be surprised to see!
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Miso and Tomato Pesto
This whole roasted cauliflower makes a seriously spectacular vegetarian centrepiece. It’s loaded with a punchy Asian-style marinade and served on top of an addictive tomato pesto you’re going to love.
It also uses a clever time-saving hack for pre-cooking the cauliflower to give you the best result, every time.
Fall Apart, Crispy Slow-Roasted Pork Belly with Spiced Plums
Incredibly succulent, juicy pork belly and the perfect crispy crackling? This slow-roasted pork belly recipe is something special. It takes no time to prep, then just let the oven do all the work. Served with a sticky plum sauce, it makes a wonderful centrepiece to feed a crowd.
Juicy Greek Style Lamb Burgers
You can have these super juicy lamb burgers on the table in less than 30 minutes – just mix lamb with ingredients you probably already have, then pan-fry for 5 minutes on each side.
Load on the Greek-style toppings for a fun twist on a regular burger.
Juicy Herb Roasted Chicken
Everyone should have a recipe for roast chicken up their sleeve, and this one, stuffed with the most gorgeous lemony, herby flavours is pretty special. It’s also incredibly easy, with limited hands-on time. It makes the perfect showstopper to serve up for special occasions.
Perfect Sides
Orzo Pesto Salad
This super easy orzo pesto salad will be your go-to. It’s as simple as mixing orzo with lots of herby pesto, tomatoes and crunchy veggies, is fab for feeding a crowd, keeps really well and is full of Mediterranean flavours everyone will love.
Garlic Butter Potatoes
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there’s not a lot that garlic and butter don’t improve. These potatoes are another example! I LOVE a potato dish, especially when they’re roasted until soft and buttery on the inside and crispy and delicious on the outside. Tossed in a quick garlic butter sauce, these are always a crowd-pleaser.
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower Salad
Charred, golden cauliflower roasted with parmesan, piled onto Caesar sauce and topped with crispy parmesan and prosciutto makes a very luxurious salad the whole family will love. And the best part? It takes just 30 minutes to make.
Crispy Dukkah Potatoes with Aioli and Pink Tahini
Give your roast potatoes a colourful, spiced twist with these crispy dukkah potatoes. Piled on top of creamy garlic aioli and drizzled with a super gorgeous pink tahini sauce, they’re fragrant, delicious and seriously addictive.
Loaded Italian Antipasti Deli Pasta Salad
Everyone needs a go-to pasta salad recipe, and this lovely loaded Italian one is great to have up your sleeve. The formula is simple – toss pasta with a pile of your favorite deli and antipasti ingredients, pour over a very zesty dressing and you’re DONE.
Easy No Knead Chilli Cheese Focaccia
Bread always deserves a spot on a celebration table and if you’re new to bread making, this super easy no-knead focaccia is the best place to start. Just mix your ingredients, then let the dough rest and do its thing. No fancy ingredients, no special equipment and you’ll be enjoying the most deliciously soft and airy focaccia in no time.
Top with chilli oil and gooey mozzarella to take it to another level.
SUPER Crispy Skin On Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes always have a starring role on any celebration table for me. There’s something so comforting about that soft, buttery centre and incredibly crispy crust that just keeps me going back for more. And contrary to popular belief, you truly do not have to peel your potatoes to get an UNREAL roast potato.
Miso Roasted Kumara Wedges
Tossing kumara wedges with a zingy miso glaze and roasting them until golden is a pretty unbeatable combination. They’re easy to make, addictive and can be enjoyed hot or cold. Pile them onto creamy labneh, drizzle with fresh salsa and you’ve got a star of a dish.
Quick Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls (No Yeast)
These addictive garlic butter dinner rolls take garlic bread to a whole new level and take just 35 minutes. Mix flour and yogurt, form into balls, pop in the oven and brush with a divine garlic herb butter while hot. No yeast, no kneading and no stress.
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Feta and Pomegranate
Colour, texture, flavour. There are just so many wonderful things going on in this vibrant salad. Sweet, creamy squash, salty feta, fresh pomegranate seeds, a sharp miso dressing and the MOST delicious crunchy salted honey pumpkin seeds you’ll be wanting to make much more of.
Crispy Smashed Potato Salad with Tzatziki
Swapping regular boiled potatoes for crispy smashed potatoes in this salad is a serious game-changer. Tossed with refreshing tzatziki sauce, crispy bacon and zingy herbs, this easy salad is one you’ll reach for again and again.
Something Sweet
Mini Berry Ripple Cheesecake Pavlovas
Mini pavlovas are a beautiful, showstopping dessert option for any celebration. These cute mini versions of the classic are swirled with berry puree before baking, then dolloped with a velvety cheesecake topping for an elevated twist on regular whipped cream.
Top with your favourite mixed berries for the ultimate crowd-pleasing dessert that’s easier to make than you’d think.
Chocolate Dipped Anzac Biscuits
All Kiwis (and Aussies) will have their own recipe for – and their own memory of – Anzac biscuits. Whether it’s the teeth-breaking, super crunchy version, or the soft chewy cookie the homely, caramelly flavour is always deliciously moreish.
This version is delicately spiced and dipped in rich dark chocolate for an elevated twist on a delicious favourite. Plus, they take just 25 minutes to make.
Super Easy Ginger Crunch
This super easy ginger crunch rivals anything you’ll find at a bakery. A buttery shortbread base topped with silky, fudgy ginger icing makes a wonderful sweet treat for any time of day.
You need no special equipment – just mix your base, press it into a tin and make the icing as the base cooks. The hardest part is waiting for the icing to set!
Peach, Almond and Coconut Galette
A galette is essentially a free-form tart, and it’s truly one of the easiest desserts you can ever make. In basic terms, it’s sliced fruit wrapped in pastry dough and baked. And it’s seriously tasty.
This one is pretty special. It combines juicy peaches with a luxurious almond coconut frangipane and super flaky, buttery pastry. It also looks super impressive – your friends and family won’t believe how simple it really is to make.
Classic Chocolate Afghan Biscuits
The perfect nostalgic weekend baking project.
Chocolate Afghan biscuits are a New Zealand classic. Crunchy, ultra-buttery, chocolatey, cornflake-stuffed and slathered with gooey chocolate icing, they’re an incredibly easy, FAST, all-in-one bowl biscuit recipe that needs no special equipment.
Looking for more celebration ideas?
