Plants pip scones and stroganoff as 2019's top food search term

While bushfires were understandably the nation's biggest preoccupation in 2019, we were almost as interested in eating plants as we were in saving them. Here's what Australians most wanted to eat this year, according to Google.

Food Safari Earth's plant-based gado gado Source: Sharyn Cairns

It's terrifying, but sadly not surprising, to know that the most Googled search term in 2019 was 'fires near me'. It's been a helluva ride this year. Cyclone Oma, Townsville flooding... the trending news search terms are sobering, to say the least.

Which is why seeing beef stroganoff land in the top three most searched for recipes for the third year in a row is decidedly comforting. A good recipe is like that - dependable, reliable and solid. Unlike the weather these days.

A good beef stroganoff equals immediate bliss followed by a food coma. Source: Julia Frey

Whip up a little comfort via the recipe here.

Keeping things green

While a beef dish might have had a podium finish, it was plant-based recipes that achieved gold this year. This is indicative of a growing awareness of the importance of eating plants for health and wellbeing.

“Plant-based dietary patterns, especially when they are enriched with healthful plant-based foods, may be beneficial for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes,” concluded a study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine in July this year. Cue a rush on 'plant-based recipes' searches.

Back to the classics

We might be more enlightened on the plant food front, but it's really the classics we crave. The humble scone slid merrily into second position this year. We like to think one Gourmet Farmer Matthew Evans and his wife Sadie Chrestman had something to do with the trend. Sadie's recipe for buttery scones, cooked over the campfire and served with plenty of homemade jam is definitely worth searching for.

Scones are old-fashioned charm in one big, flaky bite. Source: Alan Benson

Indulge yourself with Sadie's recipe here.

Apple of my pie

Apple pie recipes also made the top five... You see? There's a clear trend here. While Australia burns and Aussies fret ('Election results Australia 2019' was the number one searched for news topic), we crave something sweet and comforting to sink our teeth into. Like scones and beef stroganoff, apple pie is a recipe we can always rely on.

It's universally loved, it's not difficult to make, it looks impressive, it tastes like home - if home was an apple orchard in the crisp Huon Valley and we lived in a small, though impossibly charming, cottage and had time to bake on our AGA. Apple pie is just that kind of dish.

This version is all about oozy caramel and tart cranberry adding to the apple pie love. Source: Yossy Arefi

Devour the recipe here.

Frittata and rice are always nice

We are proud to report that Aussies are cooking up a storm when it comes to search terms. Rounding out the top ten most searched for food terms were frittata and risotto, fried rice and osso bucco. Indeed, all four are traditional dishes, tried and tested over generations. The secret to keeping things fresh is most definitely in how you handle your classics.

While Italians would never condone messing with a recipe, most old favourites go well with a little tweaking. Grandparents in every culture have been doing it for years. Adding unique flavours through an interesting vegetable variation or an unexpected punch of spice makes a dish your own. Try one of these variations for your next midweek meal:

Add the wow-factor to frittata with chorizo and goat's cheese making the potato sing. Source: China Squirrel

Find this tasty frittata recipe here.

Keto know-how

Further afield, food questions also rated. Trending in the 'What is...' category was 'what is a keto diet' at number six. This was below 'what is a VSCO girl' and 'what is a boomer', suggesting that the 'what is...' category is the place to find the true preoccupation of the nation each year. People also wanted to know what Brexit, Area 51 and Momo were, so let's hope Google had all the answers there.

Back to keto: the trend has been going strong all year and shows no signs of carb-loading any time soon. If you're keto-curious, it's worth reading up on what really happens to your body when you go keto. It's also important to note that the diet doesn't work for everybody. And while it may not, at least there's always stroganoff...

Top 10 Google search recipes (trending):

1. Plant based recipes
   
   
2. Scones recipes
   
   
3. Beef stroganoff recipes
   
   
4. MKR recipes 2019
   
   
5. Apple pie recipes
   
   
6. Frittata recipes
   
   
7. Fried rice recipes
   
   
8. Risotto recipes
   
   
9. Hello Fresh recipes
   
   
10. Osso buco recipes