Most popular food searches of 2014

Banana Pancakes from Bite. Photo / bite.co.nz

Pancakes are the most searched for recipe in New Zealand for the second year in a row, followed by a list of nine other affordable family favourites.

A list was released by Google this week revealing the top ten recipes Kiwis had looked up on the internet over the last 12 months.

"There are not too many surprises here, really, although I would not have expected pancakes to be number one," Bite Editor Jo Elwin said.

"Still, who doesn't love them for a special breakfast?"

Banana cake came in second this year while chicken recipes were the third most Googled term. On bite.co.nz, it was a chook recipe that was searched for the most, Jo said.

"'Mustardy chicken bake' is our most 'favourited' recipe and chicken itself is the most searched for ingredient," she said.

"The top 10 on this Google list are firm family favourites that appeal to everyone; they are affordable and all have stood the test of time.

Rounding out the rest of the top ten were: cupcake, mince, chocolate cake, lasagna, brownie, slow cooker and cheesecake.

"There's lots you can do with chicken, mince and lasagne," Jo said.

"We are busy people so slow cookers are being increasingly used. No one wants to throw away ripe bananas that the family hasn't eaten so it's banana cake to the rescue.

"Cupcakes are still riding on their recent popularity and they are quick to make. And chocolate cake and brownies will never go out of fashion."

Here are some of the most popular recipes from bite.co.nz based on Google's top 10.

Pancakes

1. Best buttermilk pancakes
2. Pumpkin pancakes
3. Banana pancakes

Banana cakes

1. Coconana bread
2. Upside-down caramelised banana cake
3. Simply wonderful banana & raisin cake

Chicken

1. Mustardy chicken bake
2. Creamy chicken pasta
3. Coriander and lime grilled chicken

Cupcakes

1. Chocolate and raspberry cupcakes with chocolate coconut frosting
2. Strawberry, almond and vanilla cupcakes
3. Banana caramel cupcakes

Mince

1. Beef, spinach and pasta bake
2. Bun cha (barbecued pork meatballs with rice noodles)
3. Köttbullar (Swedish meatballs)

Chocolate cakes

1. Dark chocolate, date and beetroot cake
2. Chocolate almond cake
3. Chocolate yoghurt cake

Lasagne

1. Chicken lasagne
2. Spinach and mushroom lasagne
3. Cottage cheese and spinach lasagne

Brownies

1. Chocolate macadamia brownie
2. Carob brownie
3. Gluten-free chocolate and almond brownie

Slow cooker

1. Slow cooker pork and prune casserole
2. Cumin and lemon chicken hotpot
3. Lamb tagine

Cheesecakes

1. White chocolate New York cheesecake
2. Dark chocolate, cherry and coconut cheesecake
3. Baked chocolate and raspberry cheesecake

2013 most searched for recipes

1. pancake recipe

2. chocolate cake recipe

3. cupcake recipe

4. carrot cake recipe

5. chicken breast recipe

6. pizza dough recipe

7. pork belly recipe

8. salmon recipe

9. playdough recipe

10. pasta recipe

- nzherald.co.nz