With Christmas just around the corner (can we get a βhell yeahβ?), nowβs the time to look forward to 2018 and the hottest food trends.
According to Waitroseβs annual food and drink report, thereβs been huge demand for carbs, herbs, turmeric, Buddha bowls, brunch, dark green veg, peanut butter, juniper berries, protein and blueberries this year.
But in 2018, things might just take a more adventurous turn, with plenty of influences from the Far East and India (street food, weβre looking at you).
Without further ado, here are Waitroseβs predicted food trends for next year:
1. Indian street food
βForget heavy sauces and chicken tikka masala, this trend is about smoked, grilled or seared delicacies, such as scallops in pickled ginger,β the Waitrose report said. βFood trucks selling puris stuffed with zingy vegetables and drizzled in chutney could become a common sight.β
Examples: spiced burgers and lamb keema tacos.
2. Four meals
Thereβs growing evidence that weβre starting to squeeze a small, fourth meal into our daily routine, according to the report. βThis is not about gluttony, rather it is about adapting our eating schedules to our busy lives.β
So next time you fancy a snack mid-afternoon and another meal after the gym (in addition to your early breakfast and lunch), treat yoself.
3. Plant proteins
As more and more people adopt flexitarian diets (more than a third of the UK population now identify as part-time vegetarians, according to research), people are looking to replace meat proteins with plant proteins.
Waitroseβs report predicted a spike in interest for pulses, shoots, grains, seeds, soy and algae.
4. Japanese βdudeβ food
This trend combines βthe hearty βdude foodβ of the southern United States with the unctuous, rich and surprising flavours of after-hours Tokyoβ.
According to the supermarket, gutsy sharing dishes favoured in the countryβs izakaya bars replace lighter Japanese favourites.
Examples: yakitori skewered chicken or deep-fried tofu in broth.