Local food map Wellington (New Zealand)
Wellington guides
Recipes 5
Pick a recipe
All Wellington recipes
Pavlova — traditional dish from Wellington, New Zealand
Dessert Vegetarian

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥250kcal
💪4gProtein
🌾50gCarbs
🥑5gFat
🌿2gFibre
⚖️200 gServing

* Per serving · 200 g. May vary.

Allergens

🥚 Eggs 🥛 Dairy

Also served in

Auckland

Pavlova

How to order / say it
Say it Pavlova — [PAV-loh-vah]
Order I'd like the pavlova, please.
Say locally

A meringue-based dessert with a crisp crust and soft, light inside.

Why try it?

Pavlova is a cherished dessert in New Zealand, often enjoyed at festive occasions. It embodies the country's love for fresh local produce and celebratory meals.

How it tastes

Pavlova offers a delightful contrast between its crunchy exterior and gooey center, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruits like kiwifruit and berries. It is sweet, airy, and refreshing.

Origin & History — first documented: 1926

Pavlova is named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova and was created to celebrate one of her tours to New Zealand in the 1920s. Since then, it has become a culturally significant and favorite dessert in the country.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥚 200 g egg whites
  • 🍯 200 g sugar
  • 🌾 1 tsp cornflour
  • 🍋 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 🧂 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 🥛 150 g whipped cream
  • 200 g fresh fruits

Method

  1. 1 Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. 2 Beat egg whites until soft peaks form, gradually adding sugar until the mixture is stiff and glossy.
  3. 3 Fold in cornflour, vinegar, and vanilla, then shape the mixture into a circle on the prepared sheet.
  4. 4 Bake for 1 hour; then cool completely in the oven. Top with whipped cream and fruits before serving.

More from Wellington

Wellington Mince Pie
Snack Meat

Wellington Mince Pie

WEL-ing-tun MINSS pie

A handheld pastry pie filled with richly seasoned minced beef and onion gravy.
Pāua Fritters © Wikimedia Commons
Starter Fish & Seafood

Pāua Fritters

POW-ah FRIT-uhz

Fritter made from pāua, a native New Zealand shellfish, mixed with batter.
Wellington Seafood Chowder © Wikimedia Commons
Soup Fish & Seafood

Wellington Seafood Chowder

WEL-ing-tun SEE-food CHOW-der

A creamy harbour-style soup combining local fish, shellfish, potatoes and aromatics.
Wellington Chocolate Fish © Wikimedia Commons
Dessert Vegetarian

Wellington Chocolate Fish

WEL-ing-tun CHOK-lit fish

A fish-shaped marshmallow sweet dipped in chocolate and associated with Wellington confectionery culture.
Boil-up © Wikimedia Commons
Soup Meat

Boil-up

BOY-el up

Hearty soup with pork bones, kumara, and puha.
Mince and Cheese Pie © Wikimedia Commons
Snack Meat

Mince and Cheese Pie

A savory pie filled with minced beef and cheese encased in flaky pastry.
🌿
Side dish Vegetarian

Kumara

Kūmara
KOO-mah-rah

Sweet potato, a staple root vegetable originally brought to New Zealand by Polynesian settlers.
🥩
Main course Meat

Muttonbird

Tītī
TEE-tee

Salted and preserved seabird, traditionally harvested and enjoyed by Ngāi Tahu.
🥩
Main course Meat

Wanaka Venison Stew

wan-ah-ka ven-ih-sin stew

A comforting stew made with venison and local herbs.
Fry Bread © Wikimedia Commons
Bread Vegetarian

Fry Bread

FRY bred

Simple fried dough bread often served as a side or snack.
All Oceania recipes — New Zealand — Wellington — Pavlova
keyboard_arrow_up