Top Food Trends For 2024

At the start of every year, I like to research the latest food trends to help me plan out what recipes I want to make for the blog. I thought it might be fun to share my findings with you! Here are some exciting food trends simmering for 2024. 

I’d love to know what recipes you want this year? Reply in the comments to share your input and ideas. 

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Ah, 2023 – what a flavourful year it was in the world of food! It was marked by the popularity of Jennifer Aniston salad, sushi bake (and sushi burritos), vodka pasta sauce, hot honey and gochujang chili paste. We baked and whipped feta, smeared A LOT of butter on boards, and drizzled chilli oil on everything.

The rise of plant-forward cooking saw us cooking with more vegetables than ever enjoying jackfruit tacos, mushroom stroganoff, cauliflower steaks, and eggplant Parmigiana.

But hold onto your forks, because 2024 is here, and it’s cooking up something exciting. We’ll see a lot of similar themes but there will be new (or old?) ingredients and cuisines making headways in the months to come. Here are the top food trends to watch this year.

Tropical & Caribbean Flavours

Expect a tropical storm of flavours! We’ll see Hawaiian, Pacific islands, and Caribbean dishes and flavours sneaking into our menus. Think Hawaiian traybake chicken, crushed pineapple upside-down cake, tangy Adobo and sweet, icy Halo-Halo.  

There will be citrus fruits, mango, pineapple, coconut, cilantro, jerk seasoning, allspice, curry, garlic and ginger flavours.

Tasty Food Mashups

Fusion dishes are getting bolder and wackier and the line between cuisines is getting as blurry as your vision after a second glass of wine. Imagine sushi tacos, kimchi-topped hot dogs, carbonara ramen or butter chicken pizza.

There will be Korean vegan, Peruvian staples, Indian street food and Indo-Chinese stir-fries as well as cuisine fusions popping up everywhere. 

Sweet & Savoury Blend

The blending of sweet and savoury flavours will become more mainstream. Expect dishes that mix traditionally sweet ingredients with savoury elements. Bacon with maple syrup, chilli chocolate, and salted caramel. I love hot honey chicken!

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Revamped Classics

Classic dishes will be reinvented with bold new flavours and ingredients. For example, traditional salads might be enhanced with exotic dressings or spices; classic desserts will be made with new flavours.

Think smoked garlic ranch dressing, chipotle Caesar salad, or honey-ginger sweet and sour sauce. You’ll be taking the classics and turning them up a notch!

Comfort Food with a Gourmet Twist

Comfort foods aren’t going anywhere but will be elevated with gourmet ingredients. Think truffle-infused mac and cheese, Comté grilled cheese, luxurious bangers and mash or artisanal versions of classic snacks.

Ingredient Spotlights

Certain ingredients will be stealing the limelight. Watch out for the rise of things like yuzu – a zesty Japanese citrus, tamarind for that tangy kick, or pomegranate molasses for a sweet and sour twist.

Tahini is already popular in Middle Eastern cuisine, might become a go-to ingredient in various cuisines for its rich, nutty flavour.

With the rise of vegetarian and vegan diets, plant-based proteins like lentils, chickpeas, and tempeh will likely be more prominent in mainstream cooking. While grains like amaranth, millet, and teff may gain more popularity for their health benefits and as gluten-free options.

Specific Cuisines on the Rise

From the streets of India to the Nordic fjords, and the vibrant markets of the Middle East, we’re going on a culinary world tour without leaving our kitchens. I think we will see more African, Filipino, Scandinavian, Peruvian and Korean recipes and influences. 

Global Flavours With Local Ingredients

While we’ll be craving international flavours we’ll also want to support local producers. For Australia, think Thai-style barramundi or Italian-inspired kangaroo ragu. 

Sustainable and Zero-Waste Cooking

In line with sustainability, zero-waste cooking will gain traction. This involves using every part of an ingredient to minimize waste, like making pesto from carrot tops or broths from vegetable scraps. Restaurants are also jumping on this bandwagon, showcasing ‘root-to-leaf’ and ‘nose-to-tail’ dishes.

Health-Conscious Ingredients

Foods that do more than fill your belly are all the rage. Think turmeric for inflammation, probiotics for gut health, and energy-boosting maca powder. Turmeric, ginger, and cayenne are set to become the superheroes of your spice rack (if they haven’t already).

Focus on Fermentation

Fermented foods, known for their probiotic qualities, will continue to be popular. This includes not just traditional picks like kimchi and sauerkraut but also more innovative fermented snacks and drinks. There will be more kefir, coconut yogurt, buttermilk, and kombucha going around.

Mindful Eating Over Fad Diets

We’re embracing the joy of eating. It’s less about the latest diet craze and more about listening to your body and loving every bite and I am here for it.

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So there you have it, folks – 2024 is shaping up to be a year where we embrace the old, welcome the new, and chow down on foods that are as good for the planet as they are for our taste buds.

Happy eating! 🍽️🌿

Irena