From Retro to Refined: The Unexpected Return of Jell-O Salad and Savory Gelatin
The humble Jell-O salad and its savory ancestor, aspic, are making a surprising comeback in American kitchens. Once considered a relic of mid-century cooking, these dishes are now shaking up modern culinary trends and even finding a place in fine dining.
The Evolution of Aspic
Aspic, originally a medieval dish used to preserve meat with collagen-rich broths, evolved into a mid-century American status symbol. It was popularized by pastel Jell-O molds, but by the 1970s, it had fallen out of fashion, remembered as an odd mix of mayonnaise, olives, and hot dogs in wobbling gelatin.
A Nostalgia-Driven Revival
Today, gelatin dishes are experiencing a resurgence, driven by a fascination with texture, thrift, and whole-ingredient techniques. This trend mirrors the revival of homemade bone broth and cooking with beef tallow.
Fine Dining and Social Media
Savory aspics are now appearing on fine dining menus, and home cooks are sharing creative recipes on social media. These recipes feature Jell-O salads with marshmallows and fruit, and savory jelly creations packed with tomato, crab meat, clams, olives, and even beef tongue, often topped with mustard or served with crackers.
Chef's Take on Aspic
Chefs are also embracing the trend. In London, chef Matthew Ryle reimagined the traditional French oeuf en gelée with rich stocks and soft-boiled eggs, creating a dish that has become popular enough to sell sweatshirts emblazoned with the French phrase.
Practical and Nostalgic
For some, the aspic revival is both practical and nostalgic. Australian chef Chris Yuille uses inexpensive, collagen-rich cuts that would otherwise go to waste, creating modern versions that resemble glass sculptures showcasing vegetables and mousse.
Millennial and Gen X Nostalgia
As millennials and Gen X rediscover 'grandma food' like meatloaf and casseroles, the gelatin-based 'food art' is trending on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest. This trend taps into a growing fascination with texture, especially in the West, where the only textures favored are crisp, tender, smooth, and crunchy.
Health Benefits of Collagen
Collagen-packed dishes like aspic can also offer skin and joint health benefits, as they are common in French and Eastern European cooking. These dishes, such as Polish jellied pig's feet or Russian kholodets, even appear in Chinese soup dumplings.
Jell-O's 125th Anniversary Celebration
To celebrate its 125th anniversary, Jell-O is launching limited-edition 'No Thanks' Thanksgiving molds that transform polarizing holiday staples into colorful, jiggly desserts, embracing the retro food revival and the 'playful food' trend of 2025.
