TikTok, the popular social media app, offers viral food trends that students can create and enjoy.
For the past five years, the social media app TikTok has been a place for creators to express themselves and start trends. Some trends that came out of TikTok are food recipes and food-related products.
1. Dalgona Coffee
Dalgona Coffee, also known as whipped coffee, gained popularity in March 2020. Dalgona Coffee requires two tablespoons of instant coffee, two tablespoons of sugar, and two tablespoons of hot water. It then needs to be whisked until a fluffy paste is formed which then is topped on hot or cold milk.
Samantha Stawowy, a senior psychology major, said this coffee beverage is her favorite TikTok food trend.
“I have never seen anything like it until I found it on TikTok,” said Stawowy. “The second I saw the recipe, I ran to my kitchen and had everything in my pantry, and then I made it.”
2. Gigi Hadid’s Pasta
This supermodel’s sauce recipe calls for: tomato paste, olive oil, garlic, onion, a shot of vodka, parmesan cheese and the secret ingredient, crushed red pepper flakes mixed in with boiled pasta.
This simple spin on a traditional penne vodka meal became a staple in many people’s homes.
“Nothing will compare to authentic Italian penne vodka, however, this recipe cuts it close,” said Jake Ciccarelli, a junior public relations major. “I think the pasta itself is good, but it was definitely overhyped because of Gigi Hadid’s fame.”
3. Salmon Rice Bowls
TikTok influencer, Emily Mariko, created salmon rice bowls that went viral during the fall season. Salmon rice bowls had such a huge impact on food markets such as ShopRite, where there became designated sections of all the ingredients needed for the dish, Mashed.com said.
Mariko’s salmon rice bowl is made from rice mixed with chopped up salmon, kewpie mayo, and siracha. Then it’s placed inside small seaweed wrappers.
“Emily Mariko has the right idea with these salmon bowls,” sophomore biochemistry major Jessica Wasik said. “They are on the healthier side, and very quick to make, especially if you have leftover salmon and rice from the dinner before.”
4. Feta Pasta
Feta Pasta is another simple pasta meal that went viral on TikTok.
The recipe calls for garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper, grape tomatoes and a block of feta. Combine the ingredients in a glass baking dish with the feta block in the middle, bake until the tomatoes could be mashed into a sauce with the feta, and top over penne pasta.
Patrick Fischer, a junior business major, said that this is a recipe for everyone because it's so easy to cook.
“It tastes like a gourmet meal that took hours to make when in reality it took me 30 minutes at most,” Fischer said.
5. Bell Pepper Sandwich
The recipe consists of a pepper substituted for bread, and then filling the sandwich with items like deli meat and condiments. It was first introduced on TikTok with cream cheese, everything bagel seasoning, and ham.
“I just do not think this is good. I would not call it a sandwich, because I think a sandwich needs to be on bread or a hoagie,” said Noah Dragonette, a senior business major.
The bell pepper sandwich was made as a low-carb alternative, however it receives criticism from both ends on whether it is good or not.
Nicole Miazga can be reached at nicole.miazga@student.shu.edu
