Chefs looking to tap into the fastest growing food scene in the UK are now able to join the urban street food revolution, thanks to a new report and recipe book from BPEX.
Street food
As a result of its impressive flavours, convenience and sociable experience, some 2.5 billion people (worldwide) eat street food every day and, as BPEX highlights, the trend is important for chefs wanting to entice customers who prefer less formal options but want nutritious meals full of flavour.
Nine recipe ideas
BPEX foodservice trade manager, Tony Goodger, said: “Part of the excitement of street food is that consumers are able to taste food from around the world. ‘The Word on the Street’ booklet contains nine recipe ideas that are ideally placed to give chefs access to a variety of authentic and popular dishes. The recipes are also designed to deliver in terms of value for money and customer loyalty.
“Pork is at the very heart of street food dishes due to its popularity in China, South East Asia, South America and Europe. Cuts such as pork shoulder, cheek and ribs are chosen as they combine great value with meltingly soft meat that diners find irresistible.”
Having spent years perfecting their own dishes to captivate the convenience driven consumer, four street food traders teamed up with BPEX to share their own experiences and passion for the fast-paced food phenomenon.
Slow cooked pork
Mark Gevaux, a street trader in London, emphasises the importance of sourcing quality pork to produce tender, full flavoured meat which he then packs into meat rolls and wraps. Although his hit recipe is a secret, Mark explains that the key to a successful street food dish is slow cooked pork generously served with an accompaniment of hot sauces.
The recipes, which all use Red Tractor Assured pork, encourage chefs to slow-cook the meat to produce deliciously tender fillings perfect for wraps and flatbreads. With street food strong on flavour, recipes for marinades and rubs have also been included to enhance the flavour of pork.
With relatively inexpensive and easy recipe ideas, such as ‘Muy Yum Pork and Pico’, ‘Brazilian Balls and Beans’, ‘Pork Samosas’ and ‘Creole Style Ribs’, chefs can package the dishes to appeal to customers accordingly – those wanting to eat quickly or just experience different flavours of the world.
The ‘The Word on the Street’ recipe book is now available. To view the flipbook visit porkforcaterers.bpex.org.uk or to order a hard copy email info@bpexfoodservice.com
About BPEX
BPEX represents pig levy payers in England and works to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of the English pig industry. BPEX is a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.