Embrace the New Wave of Vegan Food Trends in 2024
As we are already a third of the way through 2024, we thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on what's been causing a buzz in the vegan culinary world and bring you Bunchi's guide to vegan food trends of 2024!
Here at Bunchi, we are at the forefront of vegan dining in Wolverhampton, and we are excited to bring you the latest and greatest in plant-based eating. From comfort food makeovers to the luxurious quiet vegan trend, let’s explore what’s making waves in vegan diets this year.
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Vegan Creations
So far this year, there has been a lot of talk about all about comforting, melt-in-your-mouth vegan recipes. Social media savvies will have seen trending videos online with recipes featuring the likes of cheeseburger quesadillas, pizza pot pies, carbonara ramen and burger tacos!
Here at Bunchi our menu is bursting with dishes that blend classic comforts with a vegan twist, ensuring every bite is as indulgent as it is ethical. Imagine the delight of tucking into our Tandoori paneer sourdough pizza, spiced with herbs, a tangy tomato sauce, and charred paneer, smoky, rich and a real flavour fusion! Or how about our original-recipe Bunchi loaded fries, including fried chips; vegan kebab meat; sautéed mushrooms; red onions, and your choice of mouthwatering sauces. All our dishes are crafted with the finest plant-based ingredients.
The Mushroom Revolution
Mushrooms continue to reign supreme in the vegan world, known for their versatility and meaty texture. Here are 3 surprising facts about these fungi;
Mushrooms Are More Closely Related to Animals than Plants: Despite their usual classification in the plant kingdom in many culinary contexts, mushrooms are actually more closely related to animals from a biological standpoint. The fungal kingdom, to which mushrooms belong, shares a more recent common ancestor with animals than with plants, making their cellular processes and structures more similar to those of animals.
Mushrooms Can Produce Vitamin D: Just like humans, mushrooms can synthesise vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Unlike most plants that only contain vitamin D2, mushrooms have the unique ability to produce vitamin D3 and D2 when they are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Eating UV-light-exposed mushrooms can help improve vitamin D levels, which is especially beneficial for those following a vegan or vegetarian diet.
There Are Over 10,000 Known Species of Mushrooms: The fungal kingdom is vast, with estimates suggesting there are over 10,000 known species of mushrooms. This diversity includes a wide range of edible, medicinal, and toxic mushrooms, each with unique characteristics, flavours, and uses. This immense variety means that mushrooms play numerous roles in ecosystems, from decomposing organic matter to forming symbiotic relationships with plants.
Bunchi is exploring new mushroom-centric dishes that showcase their nutritional benefits and unique flavours, a great example of this being our delicious Fungi sourdough pizza, a blend of three cheeses, tangy san marzano tomato sauce, and earthy chestnut mushrooms.
For anyone feeling a little more adventurous, here is a link to make a mushroom hot chocolate!
A Sea of Vegan Seafood
So, we've seen vegan meat alternative, now comes the time for vegan seafood alternatives! 2024 is set to be the year vegan seafood goes mainstream, with innovative alternatives that mimic the flavours of the ocean without harm. Already launched in the US and beginning to fill supermarket shelves here in the UK is the likes of, 'Tofuna' and 'Seacakes' which are both made from a mixture of Tofu and Soya beans, with added seaweed for that ocean like salty kick!
Nostalgia with a Vegan Twist
2024 has brought nostalgia to the table, or, as it's referred to online, ‘newstalgia’. Which is revisiting classic childhood dishes and giving them a plant-based makeover. Whether it's recreating vegan versions of fruit roll-ups, everyone's childhood favourite - sprinkle cake, or crafting the perfect plant-based lunchable, you can find a recipe for it online! Check out this handy guide for fruit roll-ups here!
Soulful and Warming Soups
During the cooler months, there's nothing quite like a bowl of soulful soup to warm you from the inside out. Soups, stews and casseroles are super easy to make, and usually involve just tossing everything in a stock pot or slow cooker and leaving it to work its magic!
Cheers to Vegan Mocktails
Join us in celebrating the beauty of mocktails – a trend that's all about sophisticated, non-alcoholic beverages crafted with care. Bunchi’s beverage menu includes a range of delicious signature mocktails, from Coco Lime, a zesty lime and refreshing coconut water drink enhanced with cool mint and served over ice, Amber Oasis, a luscious blend on pineapple, orange and lemon, and Ruby Elixir, an aromatic blend of fresh strawberries and fragrant basil.
Luxurious Vegan Ingredients
The quiet luxury trend which has been sweeping all aspects of social media makes its way to vegan cuisine, focusing on high-quality, minimalist ingredients. To name a couple of the trending products so far this year there is Gut Friendly Drinks (such as probiotic soda, and botanical tea), and vegan pistachio cream (think Nutella but with Turkish pistachios and no chocolate!).
The Rise of Plant-Based Meats
As we embrace whole food meat replacements, Bunchi is innovating with dishes that use natural ingredients to recreate the textures and flavours of traditional meats, all while keeping health and sustainability at the core.
You can check out our delicious menu via our website, don't forget to book your table if you're planning on visiting us to dine in, you can also use our website to order either delivery or pick up meals to suit.
Join us at Bunchi as we continue to celebrate the exciting world of vegan food trends in 2024. Whether you’re a long-time vegan or just curious about plant-based eating, our menu is designed to surprise, delight, and inspire with every dish. Here's to a year of culinary exploration and ethical eating!
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