What chefs think of these wildly popular TikTok trends
You’ve probably seen them popping up here on FavorFlav too: the two TikTok food trends that practically brought the internet to a standstill recently. And we also know that some chefs don’t mince their words when it comes to the culinary creations showcased on TikTok (come on in, Gordon Ramsay). Curious to hear what they have to say about them!
The first of the two viral hits is ‘baked feta pasta’, in other words the brilliantly simple pasta sauce with just two ingredients that caused a veritable feta shortage in Finland. The second is THAT tortilla/wrap folding hack that had everyone and their mother gathering four ingredients and a tortilla to fold into quarters. But what do these chefs think of them?
Interesting, that enthusiasm
Melissa Gaman is a recipe developer and says she is surprised by the enormous popularity of the tomato-feta pasta sauce. ‘Feta really divides people into two camps because it can be so intensely flavorful and salty, but there are also many (fake) varieties that are a little rubbery. I was surprised that this recipe gained so many followers!’ Gaman also says there are many types of feta, ranging from salty and creamy to tangy and dry. (By the way, this is the difference between ‘white’ or ‘salad cheese’ and feta). So, contrary to what the TikTok videos imply, it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ kind of cheese. She does think both ingredients are delicious individually, but she doesn’t think combining them in these quantities brings out their best qualities. ‘I would focus on a fantastic red sauce made with roasted cherry tomatoes and stir in some feta at the very end as an accent, so the qualities of a good feta don’t get lost.
Another chef, Craig Richards, thinks this sauce—with the addition of garlic, chili flakes and basil—would be tastier as a dip or spread on crisp, toasted good bread. But if you do want to use pasta, he recommends a pasta shape such as rigatoni, with deep ridges that the cheese can cling to better than it can to a smooth pasta shape.
Riding the wave
TikTok, that was a handy trick: topping a tortilla in quadrants (cutting it halfway through first), then folding it quarter by quarter before placing it in a hot pan. But what did a pro think? Chef Maria Covarrubias, culinary specialist and founder of the salsa and hot sauce company Cien Chiles, is especially enthusiastic about the fact that so many trends originate and become popular on TikTok, because this way so many more people are getting into the kitchen than before.
‘People who might otherwise not have had the courage to try things in the culinary realm are now daring to do much more because of these accessible recipes and preparation methods… I love the TikTok wrap. Less massive than a burrito, but made with the same ingredients. Make sure you put the cheese in one of the outer quarters rather than in the middle, so it melts properly. By the way, I’ve also made the sweet versions with peanut butter and jelly, and Nutella, as well as one with fresh strawberries.’
For anyone who would like to see them (again), here are the hits in question!
@grilledcheesesocialBaked feta pasta viral recipe! Inspired by #uunifeta via @liemessa & @tiiupiret #learnontiktok #foodtiktok #foodie♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) – 山口夕依
@feelgoodfoodieHave you tried this latest quesadilla hack?! It was SO GOOD!! What would you add? #tiktokpartner #LearnOnTikTok #quesadilla #tortillawrap♬ original sound – Feel Good Foodie
Read also:
- Recipe: warm feta with roasted vegetables and pecans (Keto!)
- 3 super-handy new TikTok kitchen hacks (+ 3 oldies but goodies)
- Gordon Ramsay roasts people’s food on TikTok and it’s hilarious
Source: Huffington Post
