The spring season is upon us and with that lighter, more colourful and Easter themed foods come to the fore, with consumers on the lookout for unusual and exotic flavours to spice up mealtimes.
Something fishy
Lemon and dill have long been the seasoning staples for fish on British menus, but now consumers are craving more interesting and exotic herbs, spices, marinades and rubs on contemporary fish dishes.
Tasneem Alonzo, our joint managing director, says: “We’ve seen huge popularity for fish and seafood-based foods such as fish tacos, prawn skewers, fish curries, chowders, stews and soups – and quality, flavourful herb and spice blends can really make or break the finished dish.
“Fusion foods, multi-ethnic cuisines, and global street foods are thriving due to their offerings of interesting and tasty foods – and fish features heavily in these more informal cuisines. Fish dishes are often a perceived to be a healthier choice than meat options, and with sustainability in the spotlight, manufacturers, brands, retailers and foodservice outlets should ensure their fish offerings are fully traceable and sustainably-sourced, where possible.
“World foods are a really a lucrative market right now as consumers are happy to be experimental in trying new foods and seeking out exotic cuisines they perhaps haven’t tried before, especially as holidays have been restricted due to the pandemic.
“Our versatile blends and seasonings add flavour, are easy to store and use, and open the door to creativity and new product development to allow food manufacturers to create great-tasting dishes to tap into today’s global food trends.”
Blends for fish under the Lähde brand:
- Mexican seasoning
- Spicy fish taco spice blend
- Hawaiian poke bowl seasoning
- Smoked paprika, garlic and oregano seasoning
- Italian mixed herb and lemon seasoning
- Spicy Thai seasoning
- Moqueca seasoning (Brazilian fish stew)
- Chowder seasoning
- Tandoori seasoning
- Harissa blend
- Chermoula blend
All things nice
Tasneem says: “At this time of year, we see an increase in sales for our dried fruits such as currants, sultanas, mixed peel, and cranberries for sweet seasonal baked goods. Mixed spice blends, and sweet spices such as cinnamon, allspice, ginger and nutmeg are also in demand from our customers looking to create exciting new bakery products for the spring season, such as contemporary tear and share cinnamon breads, sweet loaves bagels and snacks. We also offer our own hot cross bun blend which can be tailored to suit recipe formulations, and can be adapted with dried peel, dried fruits and chocolate chips.
“We also offer tropical dried fruits such as dates, figs and apricots, and ingredients and blends for suitable for European style foods such as pannetones, stollens, bagels, simnel cakes, bundts, and spiced buns and loaves. Also in demand are dried banana, berries, mango, peach, pear and apple and goji berries.
“At-home bakers are becoming more creative, incorporating popular Easter chocolate brands into traditional recipes, such as Mini Eggs rocky road, Crème Egg brownies, Chocolate Orange millionaires shortbread, and chocolate traybakes using a range of chocolate treats.”
Free-from and easy
“Vegan, plant-based and meat-free foods are set to be on the menu over the Easter season too, and we can supply ingredients and blends for vegan end products for the Easter dinner table.
“We already supply ingredients for vegan meals and our seasonings and blends can be incorporated into finished goods such as meat-free pies, pasties, sausage rolls, sausages and plant-based burgers, and vegan paté or ‘faux-gras’ – all perfect for Easter dining in the home.
“Seeds is another key trend we have noted, with poppy, sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, flax and chia being shipped out for bakery products. As well as being traditional seasonal ingredients in the UK, we are aware that speciality bakers and food producers stock up on seeds to make traditional products from around the world. For example, Makowiec is a traditional Polish poppy-seed loaf and while often eaten at festivals such as Easter, it is enjoyed all year round.
All our herbs, spices and blends are available under the Lähde foodservice brand to food manufacturers, producers and bakers.
Contact us to find out more and to discuss your requirements.
