TREND BITES:

Indian

February 10, 2023

2022 culinary trend predictions claimed that Indian cuisine was going to be big this year, and now that we’re solidly into 2023, we can confirm that Indian food is primed to be a staple in our dining experiences. Consumers are seeking authentic ethnic foods, spicy flavors, and meals with health benefits. With those needs in mind, Indian cuisine has a lot to offer for any kind of foodservice operation; you just need to choose how you’ll fit a few new recipes and ingredients on your menu.

Core Spices in India

Indian restaurants, markets, and households have been evolving and perfecting the art of Indian cuisine for over 5,000 years. Dishes and cooking techniques vary by region, but one common, distinct feature of Indian food is the flavor and aroma of the spice mixtures. Masala, which is a word you see in many dish names, means “spice blend.” Different dishes have their own spice blend. For example, Tikka Masala is the spice blend for the dish "Tikka," which has a warm, sweet taste from cardamom, cinnamon, and coriander, while Chaat Masala is the spice blend for “Chaat,” and it's a zesty, umami blend that features black salt and dried mango powder.

Chaat Masala

According to Food Institute, “Right now, consumer interest in chaat masala is five times greater than business interest, indicating that there is demand waiting to be fulfilled,” and Tasting Table said, “Spice blends like funky and fiery chaat masala are expected to gain traction within the next year.” So, what is this "funky, fiery" spice? It's a powder made from dried mango, cumin, coriander, dried ginger, salt, black pepper, asafoetida, and chili powder, and it's used mainly to flavor chaat, a.k.a. Indian street snacks.

Bring Indian Street Food Style to Your Menu

Street food is a big part of life in India because it’s a quick lunch for busy workers and cheap food for students and people who can’t afford a formal meal. Indian street food is gaining popularity in the US because of its snackable portion sizes and powerful flavor. If you're working some street food onto your menu, consider getting inspiration from India's immensely successful street markets. Make your street foods unique, portable, shareable, and, most importantly, packed with flavor. Have some fun experimenting with chaat masala on some of your local favorites, or try our Chicken Frankie Roll recipe for a mouthwatering, chaat-inspired meal.

Try These Indian-Inspired Applications!

Chicken Samosa Filling

One Indian street food that fits perfectly on appetizer menus is a shareable plate of samosas. We made a recipe for Chicken Samosa Filling that's full of flavor from ginger, garlic, curry powder, and other strong spices. Just get some samosa wrappers and delight your customers with a new snacking option.

Chicken Frankie Rolls

These Chicken Frankie Rolls are chicken wraps with a bold, surprising Indian twist to take them to the next level. Everything from the egg-thickened tortilla to the savory, flavorful chicken is prepared more thoughtfully than a basic chicken wrap so your customers will have a delicious, unforgettable experience.

Trend to Watch: Mukbangs

Recently mukbangs, or videos of people eating, have resurged in popularity on TikTok, mostly with Americans trying Indian food and reacting to it. This trend has caused a lot of restaurant-goers to try new Indian foods outside of their usual orders of tikka masala and naan, sparking even more interest in Indian cuisine and its flavors. With mukbangs becoming a normal way to share food experiences online, your operation could get in on the social media trend by having people try your latest offerings in TikTok and Instagram videos.

What's next for Indian cuisine in the US?

A funky little fruit called Tamarind has been touted as the “ingredient of the year” by Food Network and “the innovative flavor of 2023” by Beck Flavors. It’s showing up in snacks, sweets, and drinks because Gen Z loves bold, international flavors. Tamarind’s flavor ranges from sweet to tangy to tart, and it tastes great when paired with other sweet ingredients like pineapple and caramel. In India, recipes utilize both the fruit and the leaves of the Tamarind tree, because while the fruit is packed with powerful flavor, the leaves are full of health benefits. If your operation has explored masala and chaat and you're ready for the next step in Indian-inspired food, maybe you could get ahead of the Tamarind trend by testing it in some LTOs.