What's cooking: Five trends for 2019

We at Mustard Foods are going bananas for our new plantain product…

Plantain
Plantain sales have increased over the recent years and Mustard Foods is proud to have successfully launched a plantain product for a multiple site restaurant group.

The fruit, otherwise known as a cooking banana, offers health benefits as it is a good source of Vitamin C and potassium while being starchier and lower in sugar.

The riper they get – like bananas they continue to ripen after they’ve been picked — the moister and sweeter they are.

We have been working with a local supplier to source, ripen and prepare the product to our client’s preferred specification; prepared and delivered fresh on the days needed for our production plan.

Technical Manager Emma Crosbie has been leading the quality focus and intake checks with her team with all deliveries going through our onsite Quality and Technical team before being used in the production kitchen.

We at Mustard Foods are proud of our ability to work with various raw materials to deliver a consistent and tasty product to our client.

If you have a bespoke ingredient or recipe you require scaling for your restaurant group, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Food and Innovation Manager.

Jackfruit
Billed by the Guardian as a “vegan sensation”, Jackfruit is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family that is native to southwest India.

In recent years it has become a fashionable meat substitute that has cornered the vegan market.

Mustard Foods is currently using in a delectable curry for a client and we have a number of other recipe ideas ready for launch.

The jackfruit is not only fairly low in calories, only 95 per 100g, but it contains a wealth of antioxidants that boost the immune system, improves energy levels while it is also known to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system.

It is a healthy vegan option that is commonly used in South and Southeast Asian cuisines.

HOP Pale Ale
Everyone says “cheers” to the new vegan gluten-free HOP Pale Ale from First Chop.

We Brits are known for enjoying a pint but most contain gluten, an allergen for many.

As such we have spent considerable time searching for a suitable replacement ale in order to remove an old product that contained gluten.

Enter HOP Pale Ale.

This Ale has allowed us to reduce the allergen risk in our production kitchen while making our end products more accessible to those who suffer gluten intolerances.

4.1% alcohol, the First Chop Hop Pale Ale has a “wonderful subtle malt character from the floor malted Maris Otter.”

It has a pleasant bitterness and big fruity hop flavours.

Of course ale is a wonderful addition when cooking with Mustard Foods recently developing a Beef and Ale Stew, Ale and Onion Gravy and Ale Braised Beef Cheeks.

Sea greens
Sea greens are set to be another trend for this year. Although many people have a taboo against seaweed, just something that washes up on the shore, it is a versatile superfood that has been a staple in the diets of coastal people throughout the ages.

Sea veggies are a source of iodine, Vitamins A, B, C, and E while also rich in protein, calcium, magnesium and fiber.

From kelp noodles to algae that has been turned into plant-based tuna alternatives to seaweed butters, foodies have now rethinking the use of seaweeds and various ocean plants as food.

“Their flavors can be intense, but the beauty of them is really how they integrate into dishes, how they accentuate and highlight other flavors,” says Barton Seaver, author of Superfood Seagreens.

As part of Mustard Foods’ drive to explore new compound butters, we have been begun working on seaweed butter.

Black Chickpeas
Black chickpeas, also known as Bengal grams, are part of the desi variety of chickpeas and benefit everything from hair to skin to overall health.

With a delicious nut like taste and buttery texture, this extremely versatile legume is used in a variety of Middle Eastern and Indian dishes like falafels, hummus and curries.

Being a high protein source, chickpeas have become one of the new go-to foods for vegetarians.

Super high in fibre and providing just 46 calories per ounce, they aid in weight loss while there are cardiovascular benefits with chickpeas proven to lower cholesterol, stabilise blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes.

As as a great source of iron and protein, they are good for skin, combat hair loss while aiding in hair growth, reduce dandruff and prevents greying of hair.

Including chickpeas in your diet regularly not only supports your health and may reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.

Truly a super food!