IKEA is the place we go to for home furnishing and occasionally, their delicious meatballs. Well word is that IKEA's kitchen is exploring bug burgers and algae buns.
The Scandinavian chain is currently testing food items that are made from insects. You read that right....INSECTS! This comes as an effort to present dishes that are not only good for people, but also the planet. The food won't be completely made of bugs. It will also include lab-grown meat, and crops grown in water instead of soil.
The futuristic menu will also expand beyond the meatballs - hydroponic salads and herbaceous ice creams are also being tested.
Space10 Lab, Ikea’s Copenhagen-based test kitchen is creating these new recipes. Check out their Instagram posts below:
Space10 Lab truly believes that their sustainable and apparently “delicious” meal options could be the food of the future.
Back in 2015, IKEA made their famous meatballs vegan. As of right now, IKEA has no plans of making these new items available on the menu. They claim they arettempting to merely “come up with dishes that look good, taste good — and are good for people and the planet.”
Check out The Crispy Bug Ball:
Space10 revealed five classic dishes that they reimagined using alternative ingredients like insects, algae and lab-grown meat. No, they won’t be on Ikea menus any time soon, but the test kitchen outlined these colorful and creative dishes for their blog so everyone can catch a glimpse at the potential future of food.
If you're interested in some other dishes that Space10 is testing, here is a list:
- The “Dogless Hotdog”:Dried and glazed baby carrots, beet and berry ketchup, mustard and turmeric cream, roasted onions, cucumber salad and an herb salad mix.
- The “Bug Burger”: Made with patties containing beetroot, parsnip, potatoes, and mealworms.
- The "Neatball”: Two varieties of meatless meatballs, one made with mealworms and another with root vegetables.
- The “Lokal Salad”: Salad made with hydroponic microgreens.
- Microgreen Ice Cream: In flavors like fennel, coriander, basil and mint.
Pretty intense, right? I think I'd be willing to try these earth-friendly foods, but who knows if I would be willing if it were in front of me.