What are the most Googled foods for 2017?

Most were surprisingly familiar foods, while others reflected the changing way we eat.

Beef Stroganoff is the most Googled dish for 2017. Source: Julia Frey

In a world of #smoothiebowls and #greenjuicegoals, it might surprise you to learn that the most Googled food in Australia this year was 70s classic beef stroganoff.

Yep - the rich beef stew that is to a Russian like carbonara is to an Italian - was our number one most-Googled recipe in 2017, followed by similarly familiar foods: hot cross buns, hollandaise sauce, chilli con carne and chicken cacciatore made the top five.

Chilli con carne meaning chilli without meat was hot bowl for 2017. Source: Alan Benson

Get the recipe here.

Other icons of the 70s, like beef Bourguignon and quiche Lorraine rounded out the top ten.

Quiche Lorraine (aka the humble egg-and-bacon pie). Source: Alan Benson

Get the recipe here.

Reality TV influenced our Googling, with “what is MSG” and “what is MSG and why is it bad” both appearing in the top ten most Googled “what is” questions - presumably a response to the My Kitchen Rules episode where contestants Caitie and Demi used the ingredient in their mayonnaise (for the record, MSG is safe to eat).

We also wanted to know “what is kimchi”, reflecting its rising mainstream popularity and our increasing interest in gut health and fermentation.

This fiery red, funky, fermented cabbage is on the Korean table every meal – breakfast, lunch and dinner, 365 days a year. Source: Murdoch Books

Get the recipe here. 

As for cooking, we wanted to know “how to cook tofu”, first and foremost - perhaps a reflection of the growing movement to steer away from meat-based meals to more mindful, plant-based eating.

One of the best things to do with tofu is to deep-fry it, like in this panko-crusted tofu with bacon dashi.

Get the recipe here.

We also wanted to know how to cook ingredients like eggplant, pasta, lentils, fennel and rhubarb.

On Instagram, #food wasn’t among the top ten hashtags - and in fact, there was no food-related hashtag in the top ten. But globally and at home, #love was the most popular tag, and if you’re anything like us, you’ll agree that food is love.

And while there’s no local data on the most Instagrammed Aussie restaurants or cafes, in America, 230 Fifth in New York City took out the number one most Instagrammed restaurant.

And Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, known for its beignets, was the most Instagrammed bakery, known for its beignets.

The top ten most Googled foods of 2017

1. Beef Stroganoff
2. Hot cross bun
3. Hollandaise sauce
4. Chilli con carne
5. Chicken cacciatore
6. Bechamel sauce
7. Chicken parmigiana
8. Shepherd's pie
9. Beef Bourguignon
10. Quiche Lorraine

The top ten most Googled “How to cook…?” questions of 2017

1. How to cook tofu
2. How to cook eggplant
3. How to cook pasta
4. How to cook rice in microwave
5. How to cook smoked cod
6. How to cook silverside
7. How to cook lentils
8. How to cook salmon fillets
9. How to cook fennel
10. How to cook rhubarb