Leading website calls out what’s trending in food
From global flavors to dressing flights to new ways to add a few vegetables to your diet, The Food Channel (foodchannel.com) has identified the “Top Ten Sandwich and Salad Trends for 2015.” The list is based on research conducted by The Food Channel in conjunction with CultureWaves, and identifies the significant trends happening around sandwich and salad entrees. The report, which was sponsored in part by Heinz Foodservice, includes some sample recipes that will inspire the home and professional chef. The Food Channel has been identifying trends around food for almost 30 years. Highlights follow:
#1 – The New Enhancements: Think infused flavors, chunky additions, ketchup/mayo mixtures—anything to enhance the experience and the flavor.
#2 – Vegetable Infusions: It’s never been easier to eat your vegetables as cauliflower is turned into pizza dough, broccoli goes into the sauce, and roasted asparagus goes on top.
#3 – Global Flavors: Had a bahn mi sandwich yet? Or a donar kebab? Watch for it—you likely will! Global influences are getting stronger and sandwiches are a great carrier to try them out.
#4 – Cheese Choices: Burrata, fontina, gruyere, and brie are all coming into prominence. Salads and sandwiches significantly change flavor and texture profiles with a difference in cheese choices.
#5 – Daypart Agnostic: Salad for breakfast is now a thing, particularly as certain fast food restaurants are experimenting with all day breakfast offerings.
#6 – Seafood as the Protein of Choice: Pay attention to soft crab, whitefish, and trash fish.
#7 – Grain Salads: Think about a grain salad made with tabulah or quinoa, or enhanced with freekah, spelt, or chia seeds.
#8 – Sandwich Breads: Bread is some of the hottest news in sandwiches. Pretzel bread, brioche, and Hawaiian rolls are mainstream, and banana flour is the newest choice for gluten-free bakers.
#9 – Beyond French Dip: You already order “dressing on the side,” so just add cheese dip, ranch dip, salad dressing or apple butter and you change up the flavor just enough for it to be new again!
#10 – Wilted Salads: Far from withering on the vine, today’s salads are thriving once put into a hot skillet. You get the nutrition and benefit of salad greens with a different flavor from charring or searing.
The Food Channel has also created a series of companion recipes that show you how to bring these trends to life in your own kitchen. You can find them, and read more about the Top Ten Sandwich and Salad Trends, at www.foodchannel.com.
Direct link is http://www.foodchannel.com/articles/article/top-ten-sandwich-and-salad-trends-2015
