Casserole dish at the ready - Brits return to tradional cooking values
As the days turn colder and the nights get longer, research by Knorr – UK producer of stock – has revealed that traditional methods of cooking are more popular than ever. In Fact, 50% of the nation are now cooking more one pot dishes now than they did five years ago and Spaghetti Bolognese has been voted as the nations favourite comfort food dishdish
Spag Bol the nations’ favourite
The study shows that almost half of the nation (47%) say they crave comforting food when the weather get’s cold and rainy with 60% of Brits cooking comfort food at least once a week during the winter months. And, with the winter ahead looking grizzly, the nation has voted Spaghetti Bolognese (60%), Stew (58%) and Curry (53%) as their favourite comfort food dishes.
The Nation’s Top Ten One-Pot Dishes
1 Spaghetti Bolognese 60%
2 Stew/Casserole 58%
3 Curry 53%
4 Shepherds/Cottage Pie 53%
5 Soup 51%
6 Chilli 47%
7 Lasagne 46%
8 Pie 35%
9 Hot Pot 32%
10 Risotto 26%
Saving the Nation
The increasing popularity of this traditional style of cooking has been pinned on a number of factors – with the economic recession playing a role in its noticeable come-back. In fact, money was stated as the number one reason people have adopted this method of cooking (60%), backed up by the figure that a third of Brits (30%) say they have returned to a ‘back-to-basics’ style of cooking since the recession hit.
It would also appear we’re becoming a more thrifty nation with 59% saying they’re more mindful of wasting food now than five years ago and almost a quarter of Brits (23%) saying they never throw away food.
Come Dine With Me
Despite palates becoming more sophisticated and our culinary horizons being broadened, one pot dishes are now widely accepted as being “fashionable” with 58% saying they would serve one pot favourites to guests at a dinner party.
Acclaimed chef, Marco Pierre White commented: “We all start to crave hearty, warming food around the time when the clocks go back – as sales of Knorr have shown this is the time of year when people start making comfort food. I’ve always loved one pot dishes – they’re warming, cost-effective, easy and always delicious – especially when using high quality stock. It’s no wonder the nation has started to embrace this simple but effective method of cooking!”