Spicing up the top TikTok recipes and food hacks of 2021

by MARIAM AHMED

Staff Writer

Being a college student is hard as it is, but prepping meals doesn’t have to be. In the last year, a few quick, easy and creative recipes on TikTok have gone viral. I decided to try out the biggest food trends of 2021 by adding a few twists to them. These recipes are recommended for college students who want fun and creative meals.

The Baked Feta Pasta

This first recipe has been a hit on TikTok because it requires a few ingredients and is easy to make. This pasta was originally made with feta cheese, but I wanted to replace it with Boursin Gournay Cheese, which is soft, creamy and flavored with garlic and fresh herbs. This pasta is best served hot and fresh out of the oven.

Servings: 4-5

Total Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 pints cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium diced red bell pepper
• 8 oz. sliced bella mushrooms
• 4 cloves garlic 
• 5.2 oz. Boursin Garlic & fine herb gournay cheese
• ½ cup olive oil
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)
• Crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
• 10 oz. Rotini or your favorite type of pasta 

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
2. In a medium, oven-safe baking dish, add cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, mushrooms and garlic cloves. Place the Boursin gournay cheese block in the center of the baking dish.  
3. Season and toss everything with olive oil, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft and the cheese is golden on top.
5. Meanwhile, in a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
6. Add the pasta and pasta water into the baking dish and stir until well combined.
7. Serve warm and enjoy!

Crunchwrap Tortilla Wrap Hack

The second recipe is called the tortilla wrap hack. This hack gained popularity because it’s easy to make and can be filled with your favorite toppings. The crunchwrap from Taco Bell is so tasty that I decided to make it using the tortilla wrap hack.  

Servings: 4 

Total Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients: 

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ½  lb. ground beef
• 1 small diced yellow onion
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 1 Old El Paso taco seasoning mix
• 4 large flour tortillas
• ½ cup tostitos nacho cheese
• 1 small diced tomato
• 1 small diced red onion 
• ½ cup shredded lettuce
• Nacho cheese doritos or your favorite type of crunchy chips
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup shredded Mexican cheese

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, cook the ground beef until it is brown and not pink anymore. Add the onions and garlic and saute for 5-6 minutes. Add the taco seasoning mix and cook for 10 minutes.
2. Warm up the nacho cheese in a microwave safe bowl for 20 seconds.
3. Lay the flour tortilla on a flat plate. Cut from the bottom edge of the tortilla to the center of it.
4. On the bottom left corner of the tortilla, spread the nacho cheese and add the beef on top.
5. On the upper left corner of the tortilla, add the lettuce, tomato and red onions.
6. On the upper right corner of the tortilla, add 4-5 doritos chips.
7. On the lower right corner, spread the sour cream and add the shredded Mexican cheese on top.
8. Fold the nacho cheese and beef corner to the top of the lettuce and tomato corner
9. Fold the first two layers to the top of the doritos corner.
10. Fold the three corners to lay down on top of the source cream and cheese. 
11. In a small skillet, melt some butter and add the crunch wrap. Cook for 2 minutes on each side or until golden.
12. Serve warm with some of your favorite hot sauce.

Dalgona Coffee 

Dalgona coffee, also known as whipped coffee, is perfect for college students who want to mix up their coffee routine because it takes less than 10 minutes and saves a lot of money. I put a twist on this recipe by using almond milk instead of whole milk, and I added a pinch of cinnamon, along with a few ice cubes. 

Ingredients: 

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee
• 2 tablespoons boiling water
• 2 cups almond milk
• 3-4 ice cubes
• Whipped cream 
• 1 pinch cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar, instant coffee and boiling water. Using a hand mixer, combine everything until it becomes smooth.
2. Fill a glass with the milk and ice, then add the coffee mixture to the top. 
3. Serve with a swirl of whipped cream and cinnamon on top.