Let’s face facts,
We have now spent a major part of the year indoors. Since the lockdown and quarantine was enforced, we’ve been confined to our homes, around people, most likely doing the same thing day in and day out. Of course you miss the freedom of dining out at your favourite restaurants, giving in to those cravings for some delicious street food, or digging into your favourite desserts from your neighbourhood cafe. With a lack of things to do at home, is it really a surprise that recreating those restaurant-quality dishes became a trend? We’re not surprised, and from all the food trends that went viral, these five are our top picks:
1. Dalgona Coffee
We had to start with this one! Owing to a popular video sharing app, Dalgona Coffee gained overnight popularity all over the world. It is basically a Korean recipe, where you can distinctly taste the coffee followed by the milk. Want to try it out in the comfort of your home? Here is the recipe:
You Need:
- 2 tbsp instant coffee powder
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp hot water
- 3/4th cup milk, preferably chilled
- Cinnamon/cocoa powder (to garnish)
Method:
Step 1: In a medium sized mixing bowl, add the instant coffee powder, sugar, and hot water
Step 2: Take a whisk, and beat the mixture for three to four minutes, or until you get a thick whipped cream like consistency. Set the coffee mixture aside
Step 3: Fill three-fourths of a cup with milk. Next, spoon over the whipped coffee and sprinkle cinnamon (or a garnish of your choice) to finish off the drink
If the taste is too bitter for you, give the mixture a slight stir so that it seeps into the milk and dilutes the bitterness. Alternatively, you could also have it with warm milk too, should you prefer it that way.
2. Banana Bread
It’s safe to assume, this could very well be the most searched for recipe in 2020. A sweet treat which you can have any time of the day, here is how the recipe goes:
You Need:
- 3 or 4 medium to large ripe or overripe bananas
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup cooking oil
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder
- ½ tsp vanilla powder or vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- Chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (as desired)
Method:
Before you start prepping your ingredients, preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Step 1: Take the bananas, slice them and place them in a mixing bowl
Step 2: Add ½ cup sugar to the bananas. You can adjust the sugar needed depending upon the sweetness of the bananas, and personal preferences
Step 3: Combine the bananas and sugar, and ensure the bananas are a smooth consistency. There should be no lumps
Step 4: Next, mix in the oil, and stir it till evenly combined. Now, mix in the cinnamon powder, and vanilla and combine well
Step 5: Once combined, gently fold in the flour, baking soda and baking powder. When folding, ensure that everything is evenly mixed
Step 6: Next, add the chopped walnuts or chocolate chips, and fold gently again so the additions are incorporated in the batter
Step 7: Before emptying the batter into the mould, make sure it’s greased with oil evenly
Step 8: Once emptied into the tin, bake in the preheated oven keeping the temperature at 180 degrees Celsius for 30 to 40 minutes
Alternatively, stick a toothpick into the batter and once it comes out clean, it’s done. Once baked, let it cool in the oven for about 15 minutes before taking it out. Serve hot
3. Focaccia Bread
This Italian bread gained prominence, not only because it is seemingly healthy, but also looks stunning. Apart from making a great Instagram post, the bread will keep your tummy happy, too. A little more elaborate than what you’re probably used to, but totally worth the effort.
You Need:
- 500 gms plain flour
- 500 ml lukewarm water
- 1 ½ cup yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp instant dried yeast
- Bread crumbs
- 150 ml olive oil
- 2 onions (sliced)
- Cherry tomatoes, as required
- 4 to 5 garlic cloves, whole
- Handful of coriander leaves
- ½ cup capsicum, chopped and sliced
Method:
Step 1: In a large bowl, pour in half a cup of warm water. Make sure the water is not piping hot. To this, add a pinch of salt, yeast and 1 tablespoon of flour and sugar, saving half a tablespoon for later. Stir to mix well and keep it aside to activate the yeast. This should take 30 minutes
Step 2: In a separate bowl, take two cups of plain flour, add a generous pinch of salt, along with some of the activated yeast. Knead it thoroughly for five to eight minutes. Keep adding the yeast and flour, as you continue kneading, and add a little more water if necessary, to make the dough moist. Do this till all the flour has been kneaded
Step 3: Grease a third bowl and transfer the dough to it. Cover it tightly with a cotton cloth and set aside to let the dough rise
Step 4: Grease the sides of a baking tray followed by the bread crumbs, tipping the tray over to get rid of the excess crumbs
Step 5: Now, carefully place the risen dough on the tray and evenly spread it out. Brush over the dough with some oil
Step 6: Using all your fingers, make deep holes in the dough. Add the garlic cloves, capsicum, cherry tomatoes, coriander leaves, and onion to create either landscape patterns or place them randomly to form an abstract pattern. Push the vegetables in the dough to make sure they stay in place
Step 7: Place a cotton cloth over the dough and set aside to ferment for about 25 to 35 minutes. The dough will rise again. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Step 8: Once the dough has risen, place the tray in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Once done, turn off the oven and let it sit in the heat for a further 15 to 20 minutes
Step 9: Remove from the oven and lightly brush some olive oil over the bread, before placing it on a plate. Serve hot with a side of hummus, butter, or olive oil
4. Momos
Another fan favourite, momos are soft, savoury, and extremely delicious. A Tibetan dish which gained popularity much before the lockdown. Which explains why homemade momos became a lockdown food trend.
For The Wrapper, You Need:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Water, for kneading the dough
For The Filling, You Need:
- ½ cup cabbage
- 1 carrot
- 1 onion
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- Salt to taste
Method:
Step 1: Add the flour into a large mixing bowl, gradually adding a little water as you knead to a smooth dough. Once the dough comes together, continue kneading for 5 minutes to make it smooth and stretchy. Ensure dough is not sticky. Cover the dough with a cotton cloth and keep it aside to rest
Step 2: Finely chop the vegetables, and combine them in a bowl. Season with salt and add oil. Mix well
Step 3: Start filling and shaping the momos. Divide the dough into small portions, about the size of a lemon. Keep the dough covered. Dust the dough in flour and roll out into a circle of about 2-3 inches in diameter. Try to roll them as thin as possible
Step 4: Take a small spoon and place some of the filling in the centre of the rolled circle. Dab water on the edges to help seal the momo. Fold the momo on itself, bringing the edges together in a pinching and folding motion on one side. Once you fold the momo it should resemble a half-moon
Step 5: Continue the same with the rest of the lot. Make sure the momos are kept on a greased tin and covered with the cloth so they don’t dry out
Step 6: As you are working on shaping the momos, keep a steamer with water boiling
Step 7: Grease the steamer pan with oil so the momos don’t stick together. Place the shaped momos on the steamer pan, allowing them to steam for five to seven minutes. When you notice the wrapper turning translucent, turn off the steamer
Step 8: Transfer the momos to a plate, and serve hot with chilli garlic chutney for an authentic culinary experience
5. Oreo Mug Cake
Another recipe which gained overnight popularity on the video sharing app, this one only requires two ingredients! For a quick treat for yourself, or to cheer up your loved one’s mood, read on to know more!
You Need:
- 3 – 4 Oreo biscuits (or as per your requirements)
- 3 tbsp milk (quantity depends on the number of biscuits)
Method:
Step 1: In a coffee mug or blender, crush the Oreo biscuits to a fine powder, making sure that there are no lumps.
Step 2: Next add the milk and mix it well.
Step 3: Place it in the microwave for about 90 seconds, and you are done
If you wish to make it fluffier, add ¼ teaspoon of baking powder. You could also add chocolate chips or nuts as per your preferences