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
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 1
We had to start with this one! Owing to a popular video sharing app, Dalgona Coffee gained overnight popularity all over the world. This is a Korean recipe in whichyou 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
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 40 minutes | Serves: 8-12
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 into 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
Prep Time: 3 hours | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 4
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. While it’s a little more elaborate than what you’re probably used to, it is completely worth the effort.
You Need:
• 500 gms plain flour
• 500 ml lukewarm water
• 1 ½ cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp 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.. 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
Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 2
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 five 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 two to three 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
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 1
Another recipe to gain overnight popularity, this two-ingredient mug cake is a quick and easy treat that is a great way to lift your spirits.
You Need:
• 3 to 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: Once incorporated, 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 chopped nuts to add more flavour and texture.