It's always fun to look at emerging food trends for the new year to see what might be popping up on menus at your favorite local restaurants or the next hot trend on social media. The Springer Mountain Farms recipe catalog is a robust combination of classic recipes, newer takes on the old classics and inspirational dives into trending ingredients, techniques and kitchen gadgets. Check out our Top 10 Recipes for 2023 and see what’s forecasted to be trending with recipes in 2024. We’d love to know what you’d like to see using your favorite Springer Mountain Farms products.
What Was Hot In 2023
Visitors to the Springer Mountain Farms website were inspired by global flavors in 2023. Here were the top 10 most visited recipes on the site last year:
9. Peruvian Chicken with Jalapeno-Cilantro Sauce
5. Shishito Pepper Chicken Sandwich from Slice of Jess
2. Greek Lemon Chicken Soup with Feta by Chef Brian Carson
1. Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan from Golden Grace Kitchen
Trending Ingredients for 2024 & Beyond
Sizzling Ingredients That Are Hot Now
Za'atar - Za'atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend, that has gained popularity over the last decade. Za'atar blends together a variety of flavors, textures and fragrances that are usually a combination of dried oregano, thyme and marjoram with sumac and toasted sesame seeds. This spice blend can also contain other elements such as salt, dried citrus zest, and other dried herbs like wild za'atar also known as hyssop. Za'atar is a perfect seasoning blend for roasted chicken like in our dish Za'atar and Lemon Chicken Drumsticks.
Ponzu - Ponzu is the new soy sauce! It's traditionally made from rice vinegar, citrus juice (yuzu or sudachi), mirin, bonito fish flakes (katsuobushi) and seaweed (konbu), all ingredients that are commonly found in a Japanese kitchen. The star ingredient of ponzu is definitely the citrus. Make your own or pick up a bottle the next time you shop and try it in your favorite chicken recipes that call for soy sauce. (Note: commercially bottled Ponzu may contain soy for shelf stability)
Pineapple - Pineapple isn't just for dessert! This tropical fruit positively shines in savory dishes too. Try these Honey Lime Chicken Tacos with Watermelon-Pineapple Salsa and Feta Cheese for your next Taco Tuesday.
Emerging Ingredients For 2024 & What Should Be On Your Radar
Florals in Food - Utilizing flowers to add floral notes to food will continue to blossom in 2024. Lavender is often found as an ingredient in Herbs de Provence, an herb blend that originated in the Provence region of France, and is often used to flavor traditional dishes like roast chicken. It can also be used to elevate flavors of your favorite soups, stews, sauces and salad dressings. Herbs de Provence also pairs well with Mediterranean cuisine. For a fun twist using the classic French herbs, try Chef Mark Phillips' Easy Garlic and Herb Air Fryer Chicken Wings or his Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Chicken dish.
Mustard Seeds - These little seed gems can add a wonderful aroma and taste to your chicken dish (heat in oil until they sizzle and pop) that are perfect for curry and stir fry recipes. They can also be ground into powder and used to flavor sauces and dressings. Stone ground mustard is the base for the salad dressing in our Citrus Chicken Salad. Chicken, mustard and orange make for a beautiful flavor combo!
Cresto De Gallo - The go to pasta shape for 2024 and we like it! Cresto de Gallo pasta is shaped with inspiration from the cockscomb of a rooster, and mean's "rooster's crest" in Italian. The ruffles on the edges would be a perfect match for a hearty chicken ragu with roasted vegetables and your favorite Italian cheese.
Spicy Ranch - It's no shock that ranch flavored everything isn't just a trend but a staple in life for most. The newest ranch craze is of the spicy variety. This piquant condiment is popping up on restaurant menus, on grocery store shelves and dinner tables across the country. Spicy ranch makes sriracha mayo so last year. Mix up Chicken Ranch Bacon Burgers with spicy ranch for a fiery burger night, or use spicy ranch instead of regular ranch is Slice of Jess' Chicken Bacon Ranch Biscuit Bombs for a bite-sized explosion of flavor.
Shawarma - This mouthwatering, popular street food is traditionally made by stacking thinly sliced marinated and seasoned meat on a large rotating skewer or cone, then slowly rotated for hours to roast for slicing. It's great served in a sandwich, in a wrap, on a salad, or by making a meal bowl. Try our non-traditional approach and grill your Shawarma Chicken.
Gooseberries - Gooseberries are an edible fruit that are close cousins to the currant. The berries can range in color from yellow, to green, red, purple and even black and are similar in size and appearance to grapes with a more acidic taste. The darker the color of the berry, the sweeter the taste. Green gooseberries are used for more savory recipes due to their sour flavor and tartness.
Scamorza Cheese - Move over Burrata and your viral Tik Tok videos...Scamorza is the new kid in town! Scarmorza is a spun cheese like mozzarella that is typically made with cow's milk but is hung to dry for a few weeks to allow it to firm up and intensify the salty flavor. There are also varieties that are smoked but are not overpowering. Because of the delicate smokiness, it's best used soon after opening.
These emerging trends have our taste buds fantasizing about the possibilities. Be on the lookout for fun new recipes from the Springer Mountain Farms Kitchen and our foodie friends in 2024!
Sources for Food Trends:
Datasential Trendspotting/Volume 119/2024 Food Trends
Foodinsight.org
Food Dive: 6 Food Trends to Watch in 2024
Food & Wine: 2024 Food and Drink Trends According to Experts
