2017 Year in Review: The Recipes, Cuisines, & Ingredients You LOVED December 29, 2017
We reviewed 365 deliciously simple days worth of recipes for our year in review. And the winners for each category are… drum roll, please…
Let’s take a closer look at just why these winners are so irresistible…
Classic Hall of Fame recipe
Figgy Balsamic Pork with Roasted Green Beans and Rosemary Potatoes
You’ve likely come across figs baked into desserts, dried and nestled onto cheese platters, or preserved and slathered on toast for breakfast. But in this recipe, we’re mixing things up by pairing fig jam with tangy balsamic vinegar. The result? A sweet and savory sauce that’ll transform the tender pork it’s drizzled on top of — which may or may not be the reason why this recipe was the most loved Classic Hall of Fame AND most popular pork recipe of 2017. Get the recipe here.
Missed the memo on Hall of Fame at HelloFresh? Get up to speed here.
Family Hall of Fame recipe
Melty Monterey Jack Burgers with Red Onion Jam and Zucchini Fries
There are a lot of burger recipes out there, we know. But we like to think that this is the burger that tops all burgers, thanks to oozy, melty Monterey jack cheese and jammy balsamic onions. Oh, and we should mention that this patty comes with zucchini fries on the side, so you can get your fix of crispy, crunchy finger foods and a dose of veg all in one. In addition to taking the prize for our top Family Hall of Fame recipe, this stunner also comes in at #1 for the top overall burger category — so if we were you, we’d snag the recipe ASAP.
Learn more about our kid-tested, parent-approved Family Plan meals here.
Taco recipe
One-Pan Pork Carnitas Tacos with Lettuce, Onion, and a Lime Crema
Think of this as a quicker, weeknight-friendly version of carnitas, one that doesn’t involve hours of slow-cooking. To create that deep, warm profile in minimal time, you’ll add a spice blend and a bit of stock to ground pork, which makes it nice, rich, and saucy. It’s the centerpiece of these tacos, which come with lots of tasty toppings that everyone can add as they please. Get the recipe here.
Pasta recipe
Cauliflower Pancetta Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Cavatappi and Scallions
Normally, we don’t mess with classics like mac ’n’ cheese. But when our chefs suggested adding some cauliflower and pancetta, there was no doubt that we just had to go there. This dish, and its well-deserved best pasta of the year award, is proof that veggies and comfort food can coexist in a melty, creamy, tender, and porky dream-come-true. Get the recipe here.
Chicken recipe
Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken over Truffle Mushroom Risotto
We love a good, simple chicken breast. But to really elevate it, you’ve got to be creative with how you prepare it. In this recipe, our chefs took up that challenge, drawing inspiration from Italian saltimbocca. The meat is wrapped in slices of prosciutto, seared until delightfully crisp, and placed atop a mushroom risotto with a drizzle of umami-rich truffle oil. Take a peek at the uber popular recipe here.
Steak recipe
Crushed Peppercorn Steak with Creamed Kale and Potato Wedges
Although there’s a wide world of food to explore, sometimes you just wanna stick to the classics. We get it. But to make a tried-and-true recipe dazzle, you’ve got to maximize the power of your ingredients — which is why we added a freshly cracked peppercorn sauce to this steak and potatoes dish; crushing those ’corns by hand releases their essential oils and adds incredible depth. Get the “award-winning” recipe here.
Twenty-Minute Meal
Pork and Thai Basil Stir-Fry with Bok Choy, Basmati Rice, and Sriracha Lime Sauce
Inspired by the Thai dish pad bai horapa, this pork stir-fry gets its main flavors from the horapa—that’s sweet Thai basil. The herb has a more bold and peppery flavor than its Italian counterpart, matching up nicely against the savory overtones of ingredients like soy sauce and garlic. It also adds an extra leafy accent to accompany the veggies—here, that’s bok choy, the crisp Asian green. Get the rapid recipe here.
First time hearing about HelloFresh’s 20-minute meals? Learn more about this rocket-fast menu feature.
Veggie recipe
Chickpea-Powered Mediterranean Couscous with Zucchini and Heirloom Grape Tomatoes
You haven’t tasted chickpeas until you’ve tried them roasted. Trust us, the delicious crunch is absolutely worth the time spent in a hot oven. In this recipe, they’re tossed with bubbly Israeli couscous, roasted veggies, and smoked paprika for a mishmash of savory Mediterranean flavors that elevate this recipe to the rank of top veggie dinner of the year.
Most used spice blend
Of the over 70 different custom HelloFresh spice blends, Southwest is the most used. It comes together with a simple balance of 2 parts garlic, 1 part cumin, and 1 part chili powder — and is used to flavor everything from Turkey Chiles Rellenos and Black Bean Burgers to Crispy Chickpea Tacos and Sizzling Southwestern Chicken.
Most used ingredient
The unsung hero of the flavor world… garlic — which you can see shine by easily browsing through our recipe archive.
And SO many different cuisines
Get this: we explored 20 different cuisines this year, including American, Japanese, Mediterranean, Israeli, Middle Eastern, French, Moroccan, South American, Mexican, Italian, Indian, Tex Mex, Argentinian, British, Korean, Thai, Cuban, Latin, Spanish, and Asian.
Talk about a taking your taste buds on a trip around the world.
Have a favorite that didn’t make the cut? Let us know in the comments below!