Why not have some fun in the kitchen with these vegan food trends for 2022? Here’s what will be all the rage for this year!
By Lora O’Brien
Honestly, my social media feed has been going crazy (in a good way!) with people creating and recreating viral food trends. From making gorgeous dessert boards to whipping up potato ‘mylk’ drinks, it seems people have been getting pretty damn creative with food this year.
Unfortunately, some vegan food trends are getting sweeter and less healthy. Yep, I’m talking about disgusting, fake lab-grown ‘foods’ that are meant to imitate meat. Erm, no thanks! Especially when there are so many healthier versions to choose from, as we shall see more of below. I’m also talking about elaborate vegan cakes and pancake cereals.
But never fear: there are some great, healthy vegan food trends for 2022 too. Vegan ‘eggs’, anyone? Sea moss smoothie? Plus, you can always find healthier versions of food trends, like sugar-and-gluten-free cakes.
Below are some of my favourite innovative vegan food ideas for this year. I’ve been thrilled to discover these recipes and hacks, but I decided to present recipes to you here below that are relatively healthy. Because y’know: health is wealth. Especially these days!
Prepare to have your mind blown, and your tummy tickled by these vegan food trends for 2022!
Image credit below: Platingsandpairings.com Main image: hallstromhome.com
2022 Vegan Social Media Food Trends
1. Reducetarianism
Vegan and plant-based diets have become hugely popular over recent years, but not everyone is fully on board. That’s why 2022 is the year of reducetarianism. The popular concept is based on non-vegans reducing their consumption of meat and animal products in favour of a healthier lifestyle.
This is a great way to encourage non-vegans to make every day switches that will hopefully persuade them to go vegan full-time. And if not, it’s helping them to reduce their intake of animal byproducts, which is a huge bonus! Plus, cutting back on meat, eggs and dairy will increase people’s health, and decrease animal suffering on this planet.
Wondering how reducetarianism works? It’s as easy as finding a vegan substitute for everything. Swap milk for a plant milk, beef sliders for mushroom sliders and eggs for chick peas or tofu.
Get the recipe here.
2. Umami Flavours
Supermarkets have predicted umami flavours to be one of the biggest vegan food trends for this year. Umami isn’t really a food per se, it’s a flavour. Specifically, a blend of: sweet, sour, salt and a little bitter!
Foods with umami flavours include things like miso paste, soy sauce, mushrooms and beetroot. If you’re wondering how to incorporate umami in your cooking, there’s a plethora of ways! The saltiness of miso is ideal for making a healthy salted caramel sauce with maple syrup, while soy sauce is great for noodle dishes and tofu, such as the yummy dish below!
Get the recipe here.
3. Hibiscus Flowers
If you love the stunning aesthetic of the hibiscus flower, then you may be excited that eating these is one of the top vegan food trends for 2022.
In fact, those who have access to these lovely flowers have been using them in cooking for years. In West Africa, they turn hibiscus into a tea known as either bissap or zobo, and in Peru, the flower is dried and sugared to make sweet treats.
But 2022 could see it being used in our actual meals. This hot trend is predicted due to the high vitamin C content of hibiscus, and the flower can be used in an array of recipes, from yoghurts and fruit spreads to salads and tacos!
Get the recipe here.
4. Potato Milk
We’ve been blessed with soy, oat and almond milk for years now. But there’s another addition to the dairy-free milk family. Potato milk!
Potato milk is predicted to be a huge trend for the year ahead for many reasons. It’s creamy, low in sugar and saturated fat, and cheap! You can easily make it at home with just a few simple ingredients. The end result is surprisingly rich, and makes for a sustainable plant-based milk option. Perfect for your morning coffee!
Get the recipe here.
5. Healthier Plant-Based Meat Options
During lockdowns, there was a rise in people turning to plant-based meat. This trend is going to continue into the future. More brands are coming forward with innovative plant-based options and the supermarket shelves are expanding their vegan aisles. But a lot of that vegan ‘meat’ is absolute crap: GMO and chemical ridden nonsense with little nutritional value. Yuck!!
The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way! Take this recipe for vegan “ground beef” below, for example. It’s the perfect base to make burgers, meatballs and even meatloaf. It’s easy to prepare, high in protein and free of grains, gluten, soy and nuts. No wonder this is one of the hottest vegan food trends for 2022!
Get the recipe here.
6. Vegan ‘Fish’
While we spoke above about the increase in plant-based meats as being one of the biggest vegan food trends for 2022, PETA has also predicted that we’re going to be seeing a lot more vegan fish options. And what are we going to use to make these vegan fish options, I hear you ask? Fruits and vegetables, of course! We’ve already seen watermelon turned into ‘steak’, banana peel turned into ‘pulled pork’ and now we’re seeing butternut squash made into ‘tuna’.
Looking to start off with something simple? Make some vegan ‘smoked salmon’ – using peppers!
Get the recipe here.
7. Virtual Cooking Classes
What is the universal language that can unite us all? Food! When restaurants were forced to close they got creative and expanded into takeout and delivery. But 2022 will see this trend evolving even further as chefs create new and innovative ways to bring the restaurant experience to people at home.
And one fun way to enjoy cooking at home with a little chef guidance is via cooking classes. It’s the perfect balance between cooking and takeout. People will be using this fun way to get together with friends and family and be entertained at home.
Looking for some of the best online vegan cooking classes? Just click here!
8. Vegan Fast Food
Mainstream fast food joints are finally hearing the demand for vegan-friendly options, and the options are endless in 2022! Think vegan KFC, vegan Burger King and more. Though not always healthy, it’s great for veganism to finally feel normalised.
One of the most popular vegan food trends for 2022 is vegan fast food. Fast-food joints are even offering vegan burgers and ‘chicken’ online, so you can order these direct to your door. But making your own fast food at home is way, way healthier! (and more fun, if you ask me).
We’ve published lots of vegan fast food recipes to choose from, but my go-to recipe is always a burger. And I love this one from Bianca Zapatka, below. After all, it’s not called The Best Vegan Burger for nothing!
Get the recipe here.
9. Vegan Eggs
Brands like Crack’d and OGGs have genius egg replacers, which make it super easy to use a vegan option when cooking or baking. And in the US WunderEggs have launched their nut-based vegan eggs, the world’s first plant-based ‘boiled eggs’.
Want to make your own? The recipe below shows how easy it is to make a vegan fried egg. Enjoy on some toasted sourdough, or use it atop a broth. Either way it’s cruelty-free and yum!
Get the recipe here.
10. Foods to Reduce Stress
I think it’s fair to say that 2021 has taken its toll on the mental health and wellbeing of many. I for one have a history of depression and anxiety, which have both been heightened throughout the past year. But did you know the food you eat can play a huge role in your mental health? When I first discovered you could reduce the signs of stress and even alleviate depression via your diet, I was skeptical. But I aimed to eat with this in mind, and I definitely feel a difference in my mental health.
I wrote an article on delicious anti-stress vegan recipes with lots to choose from. But this lentil mushroom bolognese is a real winner. You could even make your own pasta to go with it!
Get the recipe here.
11. Sea Moss
Sea moss may sound gross, but sea moss is one of the biggest vegan food trends for 2022. Don’t be put off: it’s sustainable, gut-friendly and surprisingly tasty! This seaweed is also known as Irish moss, and it’s a superfood, since it contains high levels of zinc and folate. It can even boost fertility in women!
Not sure how to use it? It’s commonly used as a thickening agent in vegan milks and packaged meals, and is also a cruelty-free vegan alternative to gelatin.
Want to try it in a smoothie? Get the recipe here.
12. Elaborate Vegan Cakes
If you’re British, you’ll already know how much we love baking shows like the Great British Bake Off, Sugar Rush and Nailed It! These are also all huge hits internationally. And now we have Baking Impossible, which pairs bakers alongside engineers to create the most extravagant cakes you’ve ever seen!
According to Pinterest, we no longer want to watch people make cakes so much as try our own hand at baking them. Predicting a boom in gravity-defying cakes, we’re here for all the crazy, over the top vegan cakes to come.
Get the recipe here.
13. Caribbean Foods
Are your tastebuds dreaming of tropical islands? Well, luckily for you Caribbean and island food is another of the biggest vegan food trends for 2022. Alongside Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Thai, Caribbean cuisine is now considered one of the most popular foods in this world. And we’re here for it! In fact, we’ve published some of the best vegan Caribbean recipes already. Why not give them a try?
Get the recipe here.
14. Classic Salad Dressings
Salads can be downright boring. No one wants to chow down on a bowl of greenery in the name of health! But many conventional salad dressings are full of cheap oils, sugar and other crap that is the opposite of good for you.
In recent years, we’ve been choosing simple olive oil or balsamic dressings to dress our salads with. But this year, one of the top vegan food trends for 2022 is classic dressings. But with healthier tweaks! Think: creamy vegan Caesar, ranch and green goddess dressings.
Get the recipe for Vegan Ranch Dressing here.
15. Vegan Dessert Boards
Food boards are often savoury. They usually contain loads of non-vegan foods like cold cuts, sausages and cheeses. But this year, it’s all about to change! One of our favourite vegan food trends for 2022 is the dessert board. Essentially just a sugar-laden version of the cheese platter, it’s a smorgasbord of sweet treats, including mini puddings, candies, cookies, cakes, popcorn – you name it!
But you good news is that you can make it as sinful or as healthy as you’d like! And of course, all vegan.
Get the recipe here.
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