Instagram and social media, in general, have become so much more than a means to connect with others. They've become platforms for showcasing and bravado, allowing users to post photos of the most delicious and tempting dishes, which in turn inspire others to do the same and suddenly, it's an all-out cooking-and-baking fest... Which isn't even a bad thing!
With social media becoming such a haven for artistic works of food art, it makes sense to aspire to all of the colorful and intriguing photos that filter through various homepages and make us all hungry. Food has become much more than a means to fill out empty stomachs and has been completely transformed, turning into something of comfort, skill, and creativity. With so many options to choose from when it comes to popular 2020 trends, it makes sense to start with those that keep popping up in all of our feeds. The boldest and eye-catching ingredients are also some of the simplest to use and luckily for foodie-following readers, we've got the deets on how to use them all.
Squid Ink
It's definitely not the most appetizing sounding ingredient but it's one additive that has become increasingly popular, especially over social media. The stark, solid black of squid ink contrasts against nearly everything, making it stand out even more. It's also increasingly popular around Halloween as there's not exactly a true food coloring that would have the same effect as edible ink. So how is this intriguing ingredient used to transform dishes and how much is too much?
The ingredient is found pretty easily in Italy, where entire squids are sold with their ink sacs still attached. Of course, it can be purchased separately for those just looking for the inky stuff, but it's far more readily available in Europe. The reason squid ink is more commonly paired with pasta dishes is due to its flavor which isn't fishy but rather, it has earthy notes and a unique salty bite. This makes it the perfect additive to things such as scratch-made pasta, risotto (which is very Venetian), baguettes, and in cocktails where the flavor can be balanced with something sweet. It can also be used in sauces for pasta, including a simple brown butter sauce - basically, anything that's gluten-based or seafood-based is a safe bet. Also, less is more!
Hibiscus
This beautiful flower has been a long-time ingredient in many herbal teas, giving them the bright red or sometimes pink hue that they're known for. While hibiscus can seep for drinks, its floral scent and flavor don't just end there. T
The liquid from hibiscus can also be used in baked goods as long as the moisture to dryness is balanced (or just find a recipe that calls for hibiscus water). It can also be used fresh and is, in fact, a fairly common ingredient in tacos and quesadillas, where dried hibiscus is reconstituted with boiling water (reserve the water for drinks later on!) and then added to a saute pan with other ingredients or meat.
Ube
All of the lavender desserts that are making their way around social media probably aren't actually lavender-based - it's likely ube that's giving off this beautiful hue. Ube is a root vegetable from the Philippines and is essentially a purple yam but its neutral flavor lends itself to a variety of things, similar to an orange yam.
Those who are familiar with taro will notice that the two taste very similar and can be used in very much the same way. The great thing about ube is that it can be substituted for anything that an orange sweet potato, including in pies, bread, and even ice cream. The texture of ube is smoother than an orange sweet potato and when cooked down has a flavor that's actually sweeter than its orange cousin, as well.
Boba
In short, a boba is basically a rice ball that seems to pop when it's eaten, resulting in an ingredient that's just as much fun as it is neat to look at. Most popular in boba tea or boba tea milk, these tiny rice - or tapioca - balls can be found fairly easily now, especially at Asian markets.
The boba was created in Taiwan and has since made its way around the world with popular boba tea shops popping up everywhere. Boba can be used in anything liquid and even in ice cream and for true boba lovers, these are the things that must be tried at least once.