Get ready for a year full of good eats.
It’s a new decade — and the year is off to a sweet (and spicy, crispy, oh-so toasty, meaty) okay, let’s just say — flavorful start. Here, we’ve compiled our top 20 food trends to try in the new year. It’s a feast of global flavors with Latin American cuisines dominating the list, while a breakfast that’s big in Japan finally finds its way Stateside. 2020 will be a flavor journey, all from the comfort of your couch. Here are our top 20 flavor picks to kick off the year.
1. Arepas - Melty cheese wrapped in ground-maize dough — this dish hails from pre-Columbian times but it’s equally delicious in any decade. Try it in the new one!
2. Chicory - This green is having a moment — root to tip: The leafy part is a new take on the sautéed side dish, while chicory root adds a woody, nutty flavor to coffees in the new year.
3. Churros 2.0 - This fried dough classic is showing up in new and delicious ways. Check out “designer” churros — waffle and croissant hybrids — with fancified dipping sauces (cinnamon cream, etc.)
4. Tacos de Suadero - Try a new type of taco with tender boiled brisket and an authentic recipe straight from Mexico City’s food stalls.
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5. Thali - Can’t decide on a flavor? Feast on a variety of Indian dishes perfectly portioned for sampling in one convenient order.
6. Moussaka - Try the ultimate Greek comfort food — thick layers of beef, veggies, and potato simmered in tomato and béchamel sauces.
7. Onigiri - These Japanese rice balls filled with savory morsels of fish or pickled vegetables are a convenient sushi alternative — and kid-friendly too!
8. Peanut Stew - Try this rich (even-when-vegan) West African stew made with a deliciously creamy peanut butter-based sauce with a kick and seasoned with spices like ginger, cumin, and turmeric.
9. Peri-Peri Chicken - Taste a range of cross-cultural and globally inspired flavors in one spiced up BBQ chicken dish.
10. Plant-based Larb Bowl - Like the classic Thai salad that hits all the flavor spots — spicy, herby, and meaty. But vegetarian with your favorite plant-based protein.
11. Sichuan Mala Sauce - The next “It” spicy condiment adds a tingling sensation (aka “numbing” from Sichuan peppercorns) to Chinese stir fry.
12. Souffle Pancakes - This ultra-fluffy hotcake taking cities everywhere by storm comes straight from Japan. Look out for it drizzled with sweet maple goodness.
13. Shakshuka - Wake up in Morocco (at home!) with an order of sunny-side-up eggs in a savory tomato stew.
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14. Som Tam - A Thai papaya salad that delivers all flavors and textures you crave — at once addictively hot and refreshing, crunchy, sweet, savory, and intensely sour!
15. Sustainable Fish - With more sustainable seafood dishes on the menu in 2020, try a sweet Thai red snapper dish or a flaky white fish like striped bass. Besides, salmon and shrimp are sooo last year.
16. Tlacoyos - These stuffed and griddled blue-corn masa patties from Mexico City are worth a try, especially with DIY toppings beyond guac and crema.
17. Yerba Maté Tea - When this South American energy-boosting beverage turns up in your ice cream this year — embrace it.
18. Ube Desserts - Delicate and sweet, try this vibrant purple yam in Filipino desserts — cakes, doughnuts, and there’s even a yam jam (no joke).
19. Yucca Fries - Crispy-fried or baked, the Venezuelan root vegetable is a tasty stand-in for the potato variety.
20. Lomo Saltado - Start with a Peruvian stir fry — tender steak, aji chilies, tomatoes and onions make for a robust and soupy gravy perfect for tossing crisp French fries into!
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20 Flavors to Try in 2020 was originally published in DoorDash on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.