The food trends set to be big in 2020

This year some of the most popular food trends have included everything from posh crumpets to tahini. But what will we be eating come 2020?

Waitrose has released its annual Food & Drink Report, which has evaluated what’s happened in food in 2019, and looks forward to next year.

So what does the brand think we’ll be filling up our kitchen cupboards and Instagram feeds with?

Middle Eastern food

Falafel and hummus are already well-loved, and next year Waitrose thinks we’ll be diving even deeper into Middle Eastern flavours at home. This could mean incorporating spices and spice blends like sumac, baharat and za’atar into your dinner, or cooking dishes like tachin (crunchy Persian saffron rice) or muhammara (a walnut and roasted hot pepper dip).

Salt alternatives

Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure, increasing the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Hence why many people have become more conscious of their salt intake, and Waitrose think this could mean far fewer salt grinders on dinner tables.

Instead, we might be providing other seasonings at mealtimes, like hot sauce, chilli flakes and cracked black pepper, or fresh herbs, and even nutmeg. However, this apparently doesn’t mean we’ll be saying goodbye to salt forever. Instead, Waitrose predicts we’ll find saltiness in other ways – whether via tapenade on toast or halloumi ice cream.

Seacuterie

Charcuterie – cold, cooked meats – has been around a long time. So long in fact, a platter of the stuff can sometimes feel a bit dated. But prepare yourselves, there’s a new prepared platter on the scene: Seacuterie.

The concept is simple; you just replace the meats with seafood. According to Waitrose, the trend originated in Australia and incorporates all different methods of cooking, from pickling to smoking. It’s equal parts fancy and low effort, so we wouldn’t be surprised if it went global in 2020 – helped by the fact it’s infinitely Instagrammable.

Animal welfare

Concern regarding animal welfare is already on the rise, with increasing numbers of people adopting vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian lifestyles. Waitrose reckons more than ever next year we’ll be cutting down on animal products, and when we do consume them, choosing better quality and buying from more sustainable sources.

And with plant-based substitutes like Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger already making their way into restaurants – will they get even closer to overtaking the real deal next year?