As far as food trends are concerned, 2018 will see a lot of ‘going back to original’ so, start hunting for your grandma’s recipe book and raid the local fruit and vegetable vendors. With food and water crisis looming large over the world it is the right time to change your eating habits by adding more organic, home grown and local products over exotic and packaged products. Most chefs worldwide are giving vegetarian and vegan a try over meat and fish. It won’t be a hyperbole to say that this is the perfect time to become vegetarian if you have been toying with the idea for a while.
Here are a some food trends that are already rocking our social media feed and restaurant menus. They have hit even the local grocery stores. So, what are you waiting for?
Plant Proteins
India has a huge vegetarian population and though non-vegetarian cuisine in India goes a long way back in history but, greens have made a huge comeback this time around. In fact, veggie and naan pizzas are all the rage worldwide. If you haven’t tried one yet, it’s the time to go for it.
Grandma’s Kitchen
Going back to basic and eating what our ancestors ate has been a trend for the last few years now. Back to basics also means, going back to unpolished grain and those that had been forgotten or lost over the years. Here’s to ragi rotis and raw turmeric in your gravy. Use the ghee and spare all things processed. Try jowari pancakes and millet muffins while the trend’s hot.
Soups and Juices
Move over cocktails and mocktails, this is the soups and juices time. Bottled juices and soups are all a rage and with detox thrown in as a byword, how can one say no to these tasty treats? Raw and cold pressed are the words to look out for on the bottles before you put your money on them.
Root to Stem Cooking
As with the vegetarian diet catches the imagination of those who want a healthy lifestyle, another trend that has taken foodies by storm is root to stem eating. Waste nothing when you buy root veggies like carrots, radish and beetroot. It’s okay now to eat your broccoli and cauliflower stems and rinds of bottle guards and leafy parts of pumpkins, flax and a variety of other plants that are already a staple in traditional a Bengali kitchen. This trend has been started mostly by chefs worldwide as a result of the world moving towards food crisis. Join the movement and eat healthy.
Mushrooms
Yes mushrooms are back in trend and are being used in innovative ways by chefs around the world. So, forget the mutter mushroom that’s a standard in all winter weddings and grab a mushroom latte instead. It’s healthy, trendy and vegan. Best way to kick your coffee addiction. And hey! Mushrooms are superfood that increase everything in you from immunity to sex drive. Kicked much? Go give it a try.
Seeds over Nuts
Seeds have been making inroads into our kitchens for a while now and are all a rage from chia seeds to flax and pumpkin seeds. Packed with proteins, minerals and vitamins they pack a powerful punch and cost much less than nuts. Try out the unsalted roasted variety and give your taste buds a treat. Add them to your cooking or have them as fillers in between meals. Seeds are here to stay.
Return of Local and Seasonal Ingredients
One of the most important food trends apart from going back to the original is eating local and seasonal veggies and foods. So, while Norwegian salmon and African pears may still be departmental store staple but, chefs are queuing up for fresh and local ingredients for that crisp and fresh taste.
Since the food trends this year are so easy to follow and try, it’s no wonder that more and more people are trying them out at home and opting for a more healthy lifestyle.