Some Old, Some New—But All Looking To Make A Tasty Splash In The Coming Year
As we begin our journey in the New Roaring Twenties, there are many flavors, ingredients, and delectable dishes poised to make their mark in 2020 and beyond. Some you might never have heard of, and some are reimagined staples. Either way, cheers to these 20 finds on the horizon.
Burgeoning Building Blocks
- Olivade – A delicious savory olive spread, olivade (sometimes called olivada) uses moist, fresh cheese along with onions, capers, chives, and pepper. As a dip, it’s well-paired with celery and carrot sticks.
- Culantro – A tropical, perennial herb related to cilantro and parsley—but more pungent—culantro can be used to season meat and other foods. As a bonus, it’s rich in calcium, iron, carotene, and riboflavin.
- Beet Greens – The leafy greens of beets actually are edible and quite delicious, with a taste similar to kale. What’s more, they’re a good source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and many other nutrients. (See the tasty beet greens recipe at the end of this post.)
- Cauliflower – Sure, you know cauliflower as a healthy substitute for pizza crusts, potatoes, and rice, but keep an eye out for even more creative ways to use this chameleonic vegetable.
- Artichokes – This vegetable is certainly growing in popularity, especially in restaurants, with turkey sandwiches featuring artichokes growing nearly 19% on menus year-over-year. This is great news, as artichokes are packed with nutrients and have tons of health benefits
. - Toum – A Lebanese garlic sauce made with lemon, olive oil and salt, toum is now showing up in high-end U.S. restaurants. Similar to an aioli, this easy-to-make sauce adds a Mediterranean twist to dishes.
- Scallions – Look for these mild green onions to become ubiquitous as both a garnish and flavorful addition to countless entrees and appetizers. That’s good news, as scallions provide a serious amount of vitamin K, which helps your blood clot and strengthens your bones.
- Asian flavors – There’s been a dramatic rise in Asian-inspired food and beverages at restaurants across the United States, with Eastern flavors on menus at fast-casual restaurants up nearly 30% year over year. Look for things like celtuce (a thick lettuce), raita (an Indian yogurt dish), mala sauce (Sichuan hot sauce), souffle pancakes (fluffy Japanese hot cakes), and more at an establishment near you.
- Sustainable Fish – whether dining out or at home, you’ll see more and more responsible options. To be sure, check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch for help in making knowledgeable choices when it comes to sustainable seafood.
- Plant-Based Foods – Foods with plant-based ingredients are becoming increasingly popular, and consumers are more than willing to experiment within alternative protein categories.
Diverse Drinks
- Nocino – A dark brown Italian liqueur made from unripe walnuts, sweet—and 80 proof—Nocino likely will be trending at bars before you know it.
- Tea – Teas look to be all the rage in 2020, but we’re not talking Darjeeling or Earl Grey. Instead, expect the likes of butterfly pea flower tea, milk tea, bubble tea, and yerba maté tea.
- Cold-Brew Coffee – Not to be outdone by tea, coffee also is gaining ground in 2020. But not just any coffee: cold brews are where the action will be.
- Chicory – While chicory root’s long association with coffee will only continue to grow in 2020, chicory leaves are starting to tempt taste buds in the form of a sautéed side dish.
- Starbucks – Good news for nondairy coffee lovers. The iconic coffee purveyor is launching two new drinks in 2020: the Almondmilk Honey Flat White and the Coconutmilk Latte.
- Interesting Combos – Not necessarily the healthiest of drinks, but certainly interesting are the drink mashups coming in 2020, including Coca-Cola with Coffee and Jelly Belly Sparkling Water.
Different Desserts and Sweets
- Savory Ice Cream – Basil? Garlic? Wasabi? Yes, those are ice cream flavors. In a shift from the cloyingly sweet, expect more savory ice cream flavors in 2020.
- Espresso Ice Cream – Among the fastest growing flavors, espresso can be incorporated into the ice cream or added on top, as with an Italian affogato.
- Dessert Soup – Of all the expected 2020 trends, dessert soup might sound the oddest. But really, it’s just sweet treats that you eat with a spoon from a bowl. The dessert soup opportunities are endless.
- Churros – In some parts of the country, churro’s popularity never waned. But the rest of the country should see a churro resurgence in 2020, with waffle and croissant hybrids and all sorts of exotic dipping sauces.
That’s a lot to take in—but you do have all of 2020. And to start you off, here’s a fantastic, chef-approved recipe to launch your journey through all these new flavors:
Roasted Beet Salad with Beet Greens and Feta
Add beets to your healthy diet with this amazing Roasted Beet Salad with Beet Greens and Feta recipe.
At The Pickled Beet, we specialize in crafting customized diets based on what YOUR body needs so you can feel your best. Whether we’re cooking for a vegan, Pescatarian, carnivore, autoimmune client, or a family that just needs help getting a delicious dinner on the table, the formula is the same: quality ingredients produce tasty, nutritious meals. Our Miami clients know it’s a win-win: good food that’s good for you. For more information on what we offer, contact us.
