Year after year, a new catalog of bold and imaginative culinary creations relish in the prospect of being the centerpiece of everyone’s dinner table.
And this holds true for 2023, with many exciting food trends emerging left and right. With the incorporation of healthy ingredients and creative techniques, home cooks and professional chefs have brought new flavors for everyone across the country to enjoy.
From healthful choices to exotic treats, here are some of the most popular food trends that you can look forward to tasting in the remainder of 2023.
1) Tropical Island Flavors
The blissful sunshine, pristine coastal shoreline, and swaying coconut trees of the tropics are some motifs that have been used to inspire many of the dishes popping up in restaurants across the US.
Rather than using only traditional spices, chefs are now turning to tropical fruit-infused marinades, rubs, and glazes to infuse their cuisine with a unique flavor. This can be seen in dishes such as pineapple-mango pulled pork sandwiches and coconut curry fish tacos.
Beverages are not left untouched either. Baristas and mixologists are turning to tropical fruits like grapefruit and mangoes to flavor their smoothies and craft cocktails. And, truth be told, we’re all up for it!
2) Sustainably-Sourced Foods
Plant-based products have always been on the uptrend over the past few years, but a growing determinant of where eaters are spending their money is the sustainability of the food sources.
Rising awareness about carbon emissions and factory farming has made people more conscious about where their meals are coming from. Buyers don’t get convinced just by the product label anymore; they actually want to know where their food is coming from and how it’s being produced.
We don’t just see this from the eater’s perspective; private chefs from Gathar and other culinary establishments are starting to source their ingredients in a climate-conscious and ethical way. Besides the guilt-free environmental benefits of the switch, the increased eyes on sustainability have also led to the emergence of new dishes combining ethically-sourced ingredients.
3) Plant-based Meats
Plant-based foods are expected to keep rising in 2023. The reason why is that many people are now fully embracing the concept of plant-based proteins, which can provide equivalent nutrition and flavor to animal meat, all without the environmental consequences of animal rearing.
This has led to a rise in the number of plant-based burgers, sausages, and chicken that you can find on the local grocery shelves. That said, you don’t have to give up on your favorite classic dishes just yet. People who don’t want to give up meat can simply test out the plant-based options and enjoy the same delicious meals without any guilt.
In other words, you can still enjoy the vegan meat option without committing to a 100% vegan lifestyle just yet!
4) Turmeric-Infused Recipes
Healthy and thoughtful dishes are a mainstay in many dining establishments, and turmeric-based food encapsulates such a trend.
The benefits of this umami spice are numerous. For one, turmeric is known to contain curcumin, which is a compound that has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties. Secondly, this earthy spice is also known to be packed with phytonutrients, which help keep the skin cells and protective layer free from UV damage.
Another great thing about turmeric is the plethora of ways you can combine ingredients to make delicious dishes. For instance, you can make a cauliflower rice ingredient featuring ground turmeric and some other herbs, or a rich lentil soup with a subtly spicy flavor. You can even steep it in tea to make a comforting and healing beverage.
5) Pasta Dishes
Pasta has always been known as a versatile and convenient dish to create. The sheer amount of pasta combinations you can make is mesmerizing, making it a timeless favorite for home chefs and professional cooks alike.
Recently, there has been an influx of new, creative recipes emerging from different restaurants that take the traditional pasta dish to an entirely new level. From carbonara infused with truffle oil to spaghetti marinated in umami-based sauces, let’s say that it’d be extremely difficult to whip up a bad serving of pasta!
A crowd favorite that’s been starting to make waves is beetroot pasta, a brightly colored dish that’s both tasty and visually stunning. It’s also highly nutritious, boasting a good amount of folate, manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C in a single dish.
That said, it doesn’t matter if you’re a meat lover, vegetarian, or vegan; pasta can be made for every type of diet. It’s no wonder that this dish is a staple in many countries around the world.
6) International Fusion
The world of cuisine has become increasingly globalized, as more countries start to borrow culinary techniques from each other.
As a result, dishes have blended to form entirely new flavors and combinations. For example, you could find a risotto or a burrito bowl with Asian-inspired ingredients. You can also make tandoori chicken burgers or Mexican-style tacos with BBQ sauce and find them to be delicious.
Of course, not all international dishes can be paired harmoniously. However, the culinary world in 2023 is set to break borders and explore bold taste sensations that have yet to be discovered.
And if there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the world of gastronomy will continue to shine new light on international fusions for years to come, and any action this year is just the beginning of an exciting culinary revolution of sorts.
