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Bland food - a new trend for 2026?

Morning Glory

Morning Glory

Obsessive cook
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Maidstone, Kent, UK
No I'm not joking and yes I'm being a bit provocative. I did actually read this somewhere, although I think there was a touch of humour in the suggestion. In the last (maybe 25 years), food has increasingly become more and more dominated by use of spices, pastes and exotic flavours. Not only that but we can't seem to let things be: Brussels sprouts have to be baked, charred, tossed with bacon bits or have chestnuts thrown in with them; potatoes are thrice cooked, or coated in umami flavoured spices; meat and chicken is subjected to marinades, rubs and processes of every description. And many of those that don't cook, eat addictive 'highly processed foods'.

There could a kickback - many people really don't want to fill their pantries with spices, herbs and pastes they only use occasionally. And they don't want to eat UPFs ether. So why not enjoy the pure unadulterated taste of a good vegetable or piece of meat?
 
There's nothing as delicious as new potatoes with butter and salt, or fresh carrots, just salted. Brussels sprouts don't need loads of other stuff.Parsnips roasted in the oven. Green beans, cooked al dente. Some folks might think that's just boring cooking, but think of some Chinese dishes which are also "bland" and even, perhaps, proper sushi - beautifully prepared and designed to highlight the fish, not slathered in sauces, sriracha, dragon salad and wakame.
I won't stop using my spices, though. It's a completely different game. I love both extremes I suppose.
 
I’m definitely a “mild not wild” person with my palate, so that’s what I’m used to with most things - salt, pepper, garlic, and maybe one additional herb/spice that goes well with whatever I’m making.

Steaks, chops, roast chicken, etc. it’s almost always just salt and pepper. Whatever sauce or gravy happens will likely be flavored with a little something extra, but simple is always my preference.
 
Barriehie said:
Your house isn't many degrees above a fridge! 🥶😄
Click to expand...
Ahhh, but only at night.
We're currently in the "dry"season (it's been raining for the past 5 hours) so temperatures drop during the day to between 21 - 25C (70 -77F). During the "wet"season, that temperature goes up by about 10-15C, which means the earth is hot. Poor old parsnips get sizzled.
 
My family likes our vegetables plain, meat just with salt and pepper. They all taste delicious.
In fact some dishes I don't use salt if I already have salted butter.
Plain and simple. But I do have a bag of spices somehow. I also love to eat fresh herbs, plain and simple.
 
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