Doritos for breakfast again? This has to stop, guys. After all, it’s 2020 (or whatever year you happen to be reading this)! It’s time for you to take your tastebuds on a journey of new discoveries! Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry, we at Brainberries have done all the work for you! We’re taking a look at 10 new culinary trends that are ready to make a big splash this year. Check them out!
Milk Substitutes
If you are lactose intolerant or a vegan,
regular cow’s milk isn’t an option. But while most people choose soy or almond
milk instead, you’ll find that the variety of milk alternatives is growing and
growing. Coconut, rice, hazelnut, flax, oatmeal and even hemp milks are making
their way onto grocery store shelves.
Imaginative Charcuterie Boards
Even if you aren’t familiar with the term
“charcuterie,” you definitely see it every time you wander over to the deli
section of your grocery store. It’s those meat and cheese platters that they
sell in those containers with the plastic covers. But these days, creative,
enterprising people have been coming up with new charcuterie concepts,
including those containing candy, snacks, and whatever else might float your
boat. While they are generally tied to holidays such as Christmas, we can see
this becoming a year-round affair.
Kombucha
This fermented, slightly alcoholic beverage is
something of a mystery. It might have originated in Manchuria (northeastern
China), but on the other hand it might have been a Russian or Eastern European
creation. Likewise, it’s believed to have been introduced around 200 years
ago…but others claim people have been consuming it for 2,000 years. In any
event, it’s popping up in stores all over America, and you can even find
versions with elevated levels of alcohol so that you can booze things up a bit!
Ube
This variety of purple yam has a slightly
sweet, nutty, earthy taste and is popular in the Philippines, but in recent
years it has popped up on menus in trendy American restaurants and cafes. Its
vibrant purple color makes it especially appealing, and it is typically made
into ice cream, donuts, cakes, cookies, and even fried like chips.
Gnocchi
If you’re a fan of Italian food, chances are gnocchi, those soft dough dumplings typically made of potatoes or flour, are among your favorite dishes to order. We say typically because lately there’s been all sorts of experimentation going on with these guys. For instance, you can find recipes for gnocchi made with kale, purple sweet potatoes, spiced pumpkin and mint pesto, and even cocoa! Anybody up for hot dog and cheese whiz gnocchi? We hope not!
Chokeberry
Also known as the aronia, this berry is
actually native to North America and yet it’s far more commonly consumed in
Eastern Europe. While it can be eaten off the bush, it’s got a sour taste that
might not appeal to everybody. However, it is well suited as a jam, wine,
syrup, and even when added to cakes. It resembles the blueberry and is loaded
with antioxidants, making it a healthy choice.
Pancakes
Pancakes aren’t just about cooking flour/egg
batter and pouring syrup on top. No, Sir/Ma’am! This popular breakfast staple
is being taken in all sorts of new directions. Cinnamon roll pancakes? Green
spinach and matcha? What? And it’s not just a sweet treat anymore; there are
lots of savory choices. Ham and cheese? Chicken and mushroom? If you can
imagine it, it can probably be made into a pancake.
All sorts of butters and spreads
The days of eating boring ol’ peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches are in the past. You might have tried cashew, walnut or
almond butter, but what about pumpkin seed or even roasted watermelon seed
butter? Yes, apparently if you’re spitting out those watermelon seeds, you’re
doing something wrong. Oh, and you can even try cookie butter, which we can
only assume is made from the seeds of the cookie tree.
Cauliflower
Okay, so the cauliflower itself is nothing
new, but there are a variety of interesting ways in which it is being used. For
instance, as a way to cut carbs, it serves as an ingredient in pizza crusts,
tortillas, wraps or as a substitute to rice. Roasted cauliflower with olive oil
and parmesan cheese makes for a healthy and delicious appetizer. Cauliflower
hummus is an intriguing possibility as well.
Meatless Meat
Growing up in the 1990s, it wasn’t difficult to find places that served veggie burgers. However, once you took a bite, it was abundantly clear that it was just that – vegetables that only resembled meat. But as Dunkin and Burger King are demonstrating with their sausage-flavored breakfast sandwich and Impossible Whopper, respectively, it really is possible to find plant-based meat alternatives that taste like the real deal!
