5 plant-based trends to look out for in 2021
We’ve put together a list of five plant-based trends to look out for in 2021 and get your tummy excited for the new year ahead.
Interest in living a plant-based lifestyle has never been higher than it is right now, and with good reason. Whether your motivation for going plant-based is environmental, animals or health, more people are realising how a plant-based diet can benefit both themselves and the world and are jumping on board the lifestyle.
While plant-based living used to be synonymous with bland salads, soggy tofu and artificial meat substitutes, it now encompasses its own style of cuisine bursting with exciting flavours and ingredients. You sure won’t find a single wilted lettuce leaf on our delicious plant-based menu.
Each year brings forward new and exciting plant-based dishes to try and ingredients to play around with, like the delicious jackfruit that’s been a staple in our diets for the last couple of years. We’ve put together a list of five plant-based trends to look out for in 2021 and get your tummy excited for the new year ahead.
Plant-based fish
Meat substitutes aren’t anything new, but have you ever had a fish substitute before? Until recently there weren’t too many readily available, but in 2021 that might be about to change. Many food companies have been developing plant-based seafood options, from fish to crustaceans, with some ready to be rolled out soon. Nestle has created its own plant-based tuna, designed to smell, taste and flake just like the real deal, made from just six natural ingredients. Who’s keen to see a plant-based seafood paella on the Soulara menu?
New kinds of plant-based milk
Milk substitutes aren’t anything new, with soy milk first commercially being produced in 1917. They are rising in popularity though, with new substitutes like pea protein milk and hemp milk hitting supermarket shelves. Plant-based milk drinks are popping up everywhere as well, from iced chai latte cans made from oat milk and our deliciously chocolatey Holy Cacao Almond Mylk ready to grab and go.
Plant-based jerky
Salty, smoky and delicious – hands up if you used to love jerky? Fortunately now, going plant-based doesn’t mean you have to miss out on this moreish treat. Not only is there plenty of jerky on the market now made from fruit, vegetables and soy, but it’s actually pretty easy to make your own. Check out this recipe here from Sarah’s Vegan Kitchen, and get creative with your favourite spices and seasonings!
Watermelon poke
Poke bowls are a super delicious, lightweight meal perfect for warmer days, but are generally served with meat or seafood. Watermelon poke bowls are on the rise in popularity though, with the sweet and fresh fruit replacing the raw seafood element in the dish. If your local poke bowl joint doesn’t serve them yet, you can make it yourself at home pretty easily. Simply cube some watermelon and marinade it in a dressing of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, spring onion, lime juice and agave. Then pair it with whatever you usually like in a poke bowl; think brown rice, edamame, cucumber, carrot, avocado, the list is endless!
Vegan wine
It’s not quite a food, but you can cook with wine, and it’s often paired with food, so we thought we’d pop this one in. Did you know that not all wine is vegan? During the wine-making process, many wines will go through a process called ‘fining’, where a fining agent is added to the wine to help dehaze it and remove excess proteins, tannins and other little bits and pieces. While these will naturally settle over time, fining helps to speed up this process. Fining agents are commonly made from egg whites, milk protein, fish bladder protein or gelatin, which aren’t vegan-friendly.
While the fining agent is generally removed from the wine through processing, parts of it may have been absorbed by the wine along the way. In 2021 we expect to see more and more vegan wines popping up, and clearly labelling themselves so it’s easier for us plant-based wine drinks to identify which are which. A vegan glass of red and our Mushroom Bourguignon with Black Garlic Mash sounds like a perfect pairing to us.
As always, our weekly updating menu keeps on top of any exciting plant-based trends we think our Soulara family will love, so don’t forget to check back every week and see what’s new!
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