New year, new goals! Sure, eating healthier has been on January's checklist for eons (along with that elusive gym membership), but in 2022, consumer interest in plant-based foods will be at an all-time high.
By incorporating healthy, plant-based items onto your menu with these easy tips, you'll not only meet insatiable consumer demand; you'll actually be able to reduce prep time while also boosting profits, which is key during the post-holiday period.
Scrappy Sides
Food waste has always been a tough issue in kitchens, and now it's on the customer's radar as well. How can you use your ingredients to their fullest and contribute less to the landfill? One way is to peel those broccoli stems and cut into fries. Toss in cornstarch, dip in plant milk, drag in panko, and bake to a crisp. Now you've got a healthy app that almost ended up in the trash — instead it's out on the floor blowing minds.
Speaking of cruciferous veggies, did you know that the huge mass of cauliflower greens you chop from the head is packed with vitamin C and can be cooked as you would any other leafy green? Roughly slice into smaller bits and create a casserole with a plant-based creamy sauce of soaked cashews, plant milk, nutritional yeast, and spices. Even the dairy-diehards won't notice the missing cheese. Your guests will not only jump at the chance to order a unique dish, but they'll love to support you in your efforts to be a bit greener. Can you say #zerowaste?
Savvy Substitutions
Sometimes all a dish needs to take it to perfection is a dunk or drizzle, even when going the healthy route. The canned chickpea often gets typecast as the star in hummus, but the creaminess this bean exhibits makes it a healthy go-to for an oil-free sauce base. Blend your beans with a bit of the bean water — or, aquafaba — until desired consistency. From here, you have endless options but whip up a vegan Bang Bang Sauce by adding maple syrup, sweet chili sauce, and your favorite spicy chili sauce, and your servers will never get asked for fatty dipping sauces again.
Also, top soups and salads with roasted edamame instead of toasted nuts. Not only will it save you money; that little soybean packs the lower-calorie protein punch your guests will be on the lookout for.
Smart Seconds
Save on precious prep time with smart planning. Cooking quinoa for tonight's poke bowl? Double the batch and you'll have a quinoa crust ready for tomorrow's veggie quiche. Remember that can of chickpeas? Never again pour that precious aquafaba down the drain. After you use the beans, save the reserved liquid for use in any item you'd normally put egg whites into. Chickpea liquid (another bean just won't do, sorry!) whips perfectly and is able to trap air, giving baked goods a fluffy crumb, and even classic cocktails a delectable froth without the cringe-factor of raw egg.
Buy silken, soft tofu in bulk. Not only does the texture mimic perfectly soft, scrambled eggs (just add a pinch of turmeric for color!), it also makes the silkiest, smoothest chocolate pudding that will satisfy any sweet tooth, guilt-free — guaranteed.
