15 Foods Martha Stewart Absolutely Loves
Martha Stewart built an empire on impeccable taste, but her personal food preferences might surprise you.
Behind all those perfectly plated desserts and elegant dinner parties lies a palate that craves both nostalgic comfort and bold, unexpected flavors.
Some choices reflect her Polish roots, while others reveal a playful side that reaches for guilty pleasures when nobody’s watching.
1. Pickled Herring
Midnight cravings hit differently when you’re Martha Stewart, and pickled herring answers that call with briny perfection.
Most people wouldn’t dream of raiding their fridge at 2 AM for preserved fish, but Stewart swears by its savory punch.
She layers it onto her breakfast spreads without apology, pairing it with rye crackers and thinly sliced onions.
Scandinavian tradition meets American hustle in this unexpected favorite.
Rich in omega-3s and bursting with tangy flavor, herring delivers both nutrition and nostalgia.
When dawn breaks at her Bedford farm, you’ll find this old-world delicacy sitting proudly beside farm-fresh eggs and artisan jams.
2. Liverwurst
German tradition runs deep in Stewart’s snack drawer, where liverwurst reigns supreme despite its polarizing reputation.
She’ll squeeze it straight from its tube like toothpaste when hunger strikes hard, no judgment attached.
Other times, she constructs proper sandwiches with dark rye, sharp Dijon, and a generous swipe of mayo.
Creamy, iron-rich, and unapologetically bold, this spreadable sausage divides dinner tables everywhere.
Stewart champions it anyway, celebrating its old-school charm and satisfying richness.
Pair it with cornichons and cold beer, and suddenly you’re transported to a Munich biergarten without leaving your kitchen.
3. American Cheese
Even culinary royalty keeps guilty pleasures tucked away, and for Stewart, individually wrapped American cheese hits that spot.
She’s mastered soufflés and crafted award-winning aged cheddar boards, yet still reaches for those neon-orange squares.
No pretense, no apology—just pure nostalgic satisfaction in every plasticky peel.
Melting properties remain unmatched for grilled cheese perfection, which Stewart openly admits.
Processed doesn’t always mean inferior when it delivers exactly what your taste buds crave.
Sometimes refined palates need a break from artisanal everything, and that’s perfectly okay in Martha’s world.
4. Oreos
Cookie jar confessions don’t get more relatable than Stewart’s obsession with Oreos, particularly that extra-stuffed variety.
She’s baked thousands of sophisticated desserts from scratch, yet Nabisco’s iconic sandwich cookie still makes her heart skip.
Crunchy chocolate wafers sandwiching sweet cream create a texture contrast that never gets old, no matter how fancy your pantry becomes.
“Most Oreo Oreo” earned her specific endorsement, proving even lifestyle moguls have snack-aisle weaknesses.
Dunking technique matters—she likely has strong opinions about optimal milk-soaking duration.
Simple pleasures deserve celebration, especially when they’ve been perfecting their recipe since 1912.
5. Green Juice
Dawn breaks at Bedford with a vibrant green concoction that fuels Stewart’s legendary productivity.
Pear sweetens while celery hydrates, cucumbers cool, parsley detoxifies, ginger ignites, and orange brightens this morning powerhouse.
Blended together, these ingredients create liquid energy that tastes surprisingly refreshing despite its swamp-like appearance.
Skip coffee jitters and sugar crashes—this vegetable-forward elixir provides sustained vitality for marathon workdays.
Stewart swears by its energizing properties, crediting it for maintaining her famously tireless schedule.
Fresh-pressed nutrition sets the tone before tackling garden chores, recipe testing, and empire management.
6. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Liquid gold flows freely in Stewart’s kitchen, where extra-virgin olive oil functions as both cooking staple and finishing flourish.
She drizzles it over roasted vegetables, whisks it into vinaigrettes, and uses it to enhance bread’s simple perfection.
Quality matters enormously—she seeks cold-pressed varieties with peppery notes and fruity undertones.
Mediterranean wisdom meets American innovation in every bottle she uncorks.
Heart-healthy fats and antioxidants make this ingredient as nutritious as it is delicious.
Whether sautéing greens or dressing tomatoes, good olive oil elevates ordinary ingredients into something memorable and worth savoring slowly.
7. Salmon
Omega-3 richness meets culinary elegance when salmon appears on Stewart’s dinner table, often glazed with honey and mustard.
She balances Dijon’s sharp tang against honey’s floral sweetness, creating a caramelized crust that shatters under your fork.
Pink flesh beneath remains buttery and moist, proof that technique matters as much as quality ingredients.
Wild-caught varieties earn preference for their superior flavor and sustainable sourcing practices.
Roasted, poached, or grilled—this versatile fish adapts beautifully to seasonal preparations and mood.
Healthful indulgence rarely tastes this good or looks this photogenic on pristine white porcelain.
8. Eggs
Farm-fresh eggs from Stewart’s own chickens transform breakfast into a daily celebration of agricultural luxury.
She steams them gently or scrambles them French-style with butter until they’re barely set and impossibly creamy.
Yolks glow deeper orange than store-bought versions, reflecting happy hens and nutrient-rich feed.
Protein-packed perfection arrives daily from her Bedford coop, still warm and practically glowing with vitality.
Whether soft-boiled with soldiers or folded into delicate omelets, eggs showcase versatility that never bores.
Simplicity shines brightest when ingredients speak for themselves, requiring little more than salt and careful attention.
9. Vegetables
Seasonal rotation dictates Stewart’s vegetable obsession, shifting focus as nature’s calendar turns its pages throughout each year.
Spring brings tender asparagus spears and sweet peas bursting from their pods.
Summer delivers rainbow chard with jewel-toned stems, while autumn turnips arrive with earthy sweetness that surprises skeptics.
Garden-to-table philosophy isn’t just trendy rhetoric when you maintain sprawling Bedford vegetable beds yourself.
She roasts, steams, sautés, and raw-preps these plant powerhouses depending on their individual personalities.
Nutrition meets flavor in every harvest basket, proving vegetables deserve center-plate status, not afterthought garnish roles.
10. Tuna
Canned tuna gets an upscale makeover when Stewart reaches for Italian varieties packed in olive oil instead of water.
She folds in crisp celery, tart apple chunks, minced shallot, bright lemon juice, and just enough mayo to bind.
Texture and flavor layers transform this lunchbox staple into something sophisticated enough for entertaining unexpected guests.
Quality ingredients matter even in simple preparations—cheap tuna tastes cheap, no matter how you dress it.
Protein-rich and endlessly adaptable, this salad works stuffed in tomatoes, piled on crackers, or nested in butter lettuce.
Pantry staples deserve respect and creativity, not resignation.
11. Mustard And Honey Salmon
Sweet meets savory in this signature Stewart preparation that balances opposing forces into harmonious perfection.
Dijon mustard provides sharp, nose-tingling heat while honey counters with gentle floral sweetness.
Brushed onto salmon fillets before roasting, this glaze caramelizes into a glossy, flavor-packed crust that photographs like a magazine cover.
Simple ingredient combinations often yield extraordinary results when proportions align just right.
High oven heat works magic, crisping edges while keeping centers tender and flaking beautifully.
Company-worthy elegance emerges from pantry staples and basic technique, proving fancy doesn’t require complicated or expensive always.
12. Pierogi
Polish heritage surfaces deliciously in Stewart’s love for pierogi, those pillowy dumplings stuffed with endless filling possibilities.
Potato and cheese dominate savory versions, while fruit fillings satisfy sweet-tooth cravings with seasonal berries or cherries.
She makes them from scratch, rolling dough thin and crimping edges with practiced precision learned from family tradition.
Boiled then pan-fried until golden, pierogi develop crispy bottoms that contrast beautifully with tender tops.
Sour cream and caramelized onions finish the plate, adding tangy richness to each bite.
Comfort food transcends borders when executed with care, respect, and butter—lots of butter.
13. Sablé Cookies
French sophistication crumbles delightfully between your fingers with sablé cookies, Stewart’s go-to sweet treat for afternoon tea.
Buttery richness defines these delicate rounds that practically dissolve on your tongue, leaving behind hints of vanilla and almond.
Crisp yet tender, they occupy that perfect texture zone that separates good cookies from truly memorable ones.
Versatility shines through—add citrus zest, sandwich with jam, or dip edges in dark chocolate for variation.
Simple ingredients (butter, flour, sugar, eggs) transform into elegant sophistication through proper technique and patience.
Pair them with strong coffee or Earl Grey tea for moments that feel stolen from Parisian cafés.
14. Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese
Family recipes carry weight that fancy culinary school techniques can’t replicate, and Stewart’s mashed potatoes prove it.
Cream cheese joins butter and cream in this indulgent preparation, creating impossibly silky texture that clings to your fork.
Tangy richness elevates humble spuds into something guests request by name and seconds become inevitable.
Fluffy clouds of carbohydrate comfort arrive at holiday tables year after year without fail.
Some traditions exist because they’re genuinely perfect, requiring no innovation or modern interpretation.
When comfort food hits exactly right, you don’t mess with success—you just make bigger batches next time.
15. Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Snoop Dogg isn’t shy about declaring this his favorite Stewart creation, and that endorsement carries serious street cred.
Buttermilk tenderizes chicken overnight while infusing subtle tang that balances rich, seasoned breading perfectly.
Double-dredging creates extra-crunchy armor that shatters audibly with each bite, revealing juicy meat beneath.
Southern comfort food expertise meets Martha’s precision techniques in cast-iron skillets bubbling with hot oil.
Golden-brown perfection requires patience, proper temperature control, and willingness to embrace delicious mess.
Some recipes transcend their ingredients to become legendary, creating unlikely friendships and unforgettable dinner parties that people discuss for years afterward.
