With each new year comes exciting food trends. 2024 promises to bring innovative dishes to the table, from plant-based delights to global flavors. These 10 must-try foods will have you salivating for the future.
Here is more detailed information on the 10 trendy new foods for 2024:
| # | Food Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant-Based Chicken | Pea protein-based alternatives, now in tenders and fried options. |
| 2 | Cacao Fruit | Used for jellies, jams, and natural sweeteners; spotlighted by brands like Blue Stripes. |
| 3 | Buckwheat | Gluten-free superfood in plant-based milks, crackers, and granola. |
| 4 | Vegan Seafood | Carrots for lox, mushrooms for scallops, and konjac for sushi mimic fish. |
| 5 | Complex Heat | World chiles in snacks and sauces, featuring scorpion peppers and guajillo. |
| 6 | Gourmet Instant Noodles | Elevated ramen with better ingredients and exciting flavors, MSG-free. |
| 7 | Mighty Mushrooms | 2022’s ingredient of the year, celebrated for umami flavor and texture. |
| 8 | Seaweed | Sustainable superfood adding umami to dishes, praised for its eco-friendly farming. |
| 9 | Creamy Cashews | Used in vegan sauces and as dairy alternatives, enhancing textures and flavors. |
| 10 | Ube | Philippine purple yam, known for its earthy flavor and vibrant color in desserts. |
1. Plant-Based Chicken
Plant-based chicken alternatives are becoming more widely available. They come from both established brands and new startups. They are made from ingredients.
These include pea protein, soy protein, wheat gluten, and fava bean protein. These products aim to closely mimic the taste and texture of real chicken.
You can find plant-based chicken tenders, nuggets, and patties in the frozen aisle of stores. They also have shreds and more. Fast food chains like KFC are also adding fried plant-based chicken to their menus. They are doing this to appeal to flexitarian consumers.
2. Cacao Fruit
The cacao fruit is the colorful pod that houses cacao beans, which are used to make chocolate. But the white fruit pulp around the beans is edible too. It has a sweet, citrusy, tropical flavor.
Normally, chocolate production throws out this nutritious cacao fruit. But, now brands use it to make cacao fruit juice, smoothies, jellies, and jams. The fruit pulp is also being dried into a powder to use as a natural sweetener or flavoring.
3. Buckwheat
Buckwheat is a gluten-free pseudocereal. It is nutrient-dense and eco-friendly to grow as a cover crop. It has an earthy, nutty flavor and is high in protein and fiber.
Buckwheat is popular in soba noodles. But, expect to see it in more products like flours, granolas, plant-based milks, and snack foods. Buckwheat works well in both sweet and savory applications from breakfast to dinner.
4. Vegan Seafood
Consumers want to eat more sustainably. So, plant-based seafood alternatives are on the rise. Ingredients like konjac, seaweed, hearts of palm, chickpeas, and soy are being used. They are used to create vegan fish sticks, crab cakes, shrimp, tuna, and more.
Trumpet and lion’s mane mushrooms can also mimic the flaky texture of seafood. These products taste like seafood. They avoid the overfishing and bycatch.
5. Complex Heat
Consumers are craving bolder, spicier flavors from around the world. Lesser-known chili varieties include Aleppo, Urfa, guajillo, and Hatch chiles. They add smoky, fruity, and umami notes.
They add these notes to sauces, dips, chips, and more. Chili crisp and chili oils are also gaining popularity. They are known for their intense heat.
Look for more globally-inspired hot sauces and snacks. They go beyond just mouth-burning spice.
6. Gourmet Instant Noodles
Instant ramen is getting an artisanal upgrade with better ingredients and chef-driven flavors. Premium brands use organic noodles, real spices, and vegetables.
They have cleaner labels without MSG or preservatives. The noodle bowls have flavors from around the world. They include Thai curry, Vietnamese pho, and Korean kimchi.
They make the bowls more exciting but still keep them convenient.
7. Mighty Mushrooms
Mushrooms are still a key ingredient in plant-based and conventional products. Their umami flavor and meaty texture make them popular in alternative meat products. But, they’re also in jerky, broth, and even coffee. People use functional mushrooms.
Examples include lion’s mane, reishi, chaga, and cordyceps. They use them for their supposed health benefits. They use them in supplements, teas, and powders.
8. Seaweed
This sea vegetable is sustainable and nutrient-dense. It’s gaining fame for its umami flavor and health benefits. Seaweed is high in iodine, iron, calcium and antioxidants. Kelp, dulse, and nori can be used in soups, salads, rice dishes and snacks.
Seaweed is also a natural source of MSG flavor without the stigma. Plant-based eating is growing. Seaweed offers a eco-friendly way to add nutrients and flavor to foods.
9. Creamy Cashews
Cashews have become a go-to ingredient for vegan creaminess. They owe this to their neutral flavor and buttery texture when blended.
You’ll see cashews used as a base in plant-based milks, yogurts, cheeses, sauces, and desserts. They are used as an alternative to dairy.
Cashews also add protein, healthy fats, and a variety of minerals. Other nuts like macadamias and almonds are popular for plant-based creaminess too.
10. Ube
This purple yam is from the Philippines. It has an earthy, nutty, vanilla-like flavor and a vibrant violet hue. Ube is often used in Filipino desserts like ice cream, cakes, and jam, and now it’s popping up in more treats around the US.
The natural color makes ube eye-catching in baked goods, beverages, and more. Purple sweet potatoes and taro are also riding the ube trend.
These new foods and flavors reflect key trends. These are: eating plants, global flavors, useful ingredients, and sustainable sourcing. Also, easier convenience foods.
Consumers want foods that are tasty, healthy, eco-friendly and story-driven. Food brands and restaurants are innovating with these trending ingredients. They use them to keep people excited about eating well.
The key trends are plant-based alternatives. They are sustainable ingredients and global flavors. They are convenient but elevated comfort foods.
Brands and restaurants are getting creative to make healthy, eco-conscious eating more exciting.
More resources:
- Top 10 Bodybuilding Foods
- Satisfy Your Cravings: 19 Nutritious and Delicious Savory Snacks
- 5 Simple Meals To Help Ease Up Your Work Week
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
