Top 10 Most Popular Recipes of 2015
With only a few days left in 2015, I wanted to share a recap of the most popular recipes of the year, ranked by pageviews. These are the recipes posted between May and December 2015, since I was traveling through Australia, Thailand, Cambodia and Bali until late April. While traveling I focused on local foods and didn’t do much recipe development, but those journeys heavily influenced my upcoming ebook, Roaming Free: A Whole Food Approach to Traveling the World Healthy, Happy and Gluten-Free (coming in January).
This year I also noticed a couple of clear trends in the real food community. Cassava flour made a strong entrance into many kitchens after I first discovered it in Bali. It has become a reliable gluten-free alternative for breads, tortillas and baked goods. My post “5 Things You Need to Know About Cassava Flour” was the single most viewed article on the site in 2015.
Another standout trend was matcha. Matcha green tea has been showing up in a wide range of recipes, from snacks to smoothies to dessert-inspired treats. Its flavor and vibrant color, plus potential health benefits, helped drive interest across the site and beyond.
Below are the ten recipes readers visited most often this year. Many of them are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free or paleo-friendly, and several are quick to prepare—perfect for busy weekdays or relaxed weekend cooking.
1. Salted Caramel Sauce (paleo, vegan, dairy-free)
2. Mango Smoothie Bowl
3. Raw Mixed Berry and Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
4. Cassava Flour Tortillas
5. Post Workout Green Smoothie
6. Sweet Potato “Toast” with Avocado, Cucumber, Smoked Salmon and Poached Egg
7. Chocolate Avocado Pudding with Hazelnuts and Sea Salt
8. Matcha Pistachio Bliss Balls
9. Molten Chocolate Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream and Pistachios
10. Blueberry Chia Pudding with Figs, Hazelnuts and Maple Syrup
Many of these favorites are simple, flavorful and focused on whole-food ingredients—traits readers have clearly embraced this year. Whether you’re drawn to indulgent yet wholesome desserts, bright smoothie bowls, or creative grain-free swaps like cassava tortillas and sweet potato “toast,” 2015 offered a range of approachable recipes worth bookmarking.
Do you have a favorite recipe from this list or from Downshiftology in 2015? What food trends do you think will gain momentum in 2016? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear what you tried and what you’d like to see next year.