Symplicity's 'Cranberry & Sage Roast' is a plant-based centerpiece built around slow fermentation, created to deliver deep umami flavor and seasonal character. The UK brand worked with chef Niel Rankin and used lacto-fermentation to deepen mushrooms, onion and beetroot before combining them into a cohesive roast.
The recipe blends fermented vegetables with butter beans, sweet cranberries and fragrant sage, finished with sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds for crunch. Each 150g serving contains 29g of protein and 9g of fiber, and the product includes 11 plant points to boost ingredient diversity.
The result is a richly flavored roast meant for Sunday lunches and festive dinners, offering a textured, savory alternative to traditional centerpieces. Its fermentation-first approach intensifies vegetable savor and mouthfeel, while the protein and fiber numbers make it a substantive option for plant-forward holiday menus.
Image Credit: The Plant Base
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Fermentation-forward Mains
- Slow lacto-fermentation is expanding beyond condiments into centerpiece dishes, creating richer plant-based textures and deeper savory flavor profiles for premium meal occasions.
- Plant-point Nutrition
- Ingredient diversity claims such as plant points are giving consumers a simple way to associate prepared foods with gut health, nutritional variety and whole-food credibility.
- Holiday Meatless Centerpieces
- Seasonal plant-based roasts are reframing festive dining around indulgence and substance, allowing meat-free products to compete in emotionally significant meal moments.
Sectors Adopting This
- Plant-based Foods
- Fermented vegetables, legumes and seeds are strengthening the category with higher-protein, higher-fiber formats that feel less processed and more culinary.
- Prepared Meals
- Premium ready-to-cook centerpieces are creating space for convenient products that still deliver chef-led flavor, occasion-specific positioning and nutritional substance.
- Specialty Grocery
- Retailers can differentiate seasonal shelves with plant-forward celebration foods that combine wellness cues, artisanal preparation methods and festive flavor profiles.
