With lockdown still well and truly among us, it’s the perfect time to try some new activities and fill up those long gaps during the day. A new skill that anyone can try at home is cooking! Whether you're an expert or a novice there are definitely recipes out there for you to try. I’m here to help you find some inspiration of what to make and also have a bit of fun testing some viral recipes. From Tiktok recipes to some lockdown baking with the classic banana bread there’s something here for everyone to try and if there was ever a time to try some new recipes it’s now!
Here are my top 4 recipes that you HAVE to try:
1. Gigi Hadid penne alla vodka
One recipe that has really taken off especially this lockdown is ‘Gigi Hadid’s Penne Alla Vodka’. This has become a viral Tiktok recipe and so many people are trying out this delicious pasta. What’s great about it is that it’s so simple to make. I find it’s one that I keep going back to making because it’s just that good. The model Gigi Hadid shared her rendition of this pasta sauce on her Instagram and people went crazy over it! It's the perfect weekend meal and one that the whole family could enjoy and also great to make if you are a student and you’re looking for a tasty meal to cook on a budget. You’ve got to try this viral recipe!
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 small clove of garlic, diced
- ¼ green onion
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vodka (Optional)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 225 grams of shells pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- Basil, chopped, to serve
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
- In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil, garlic and onion. Cook until soft. Add tomato paste and cook until it appears darker in colour.
- Add in the heavy cream. Add in the vodka and cook through until evaporated, however the vodka is not essential, and you can leave it out if you would prefer.
- Add in the red pepper flakes. I personally like to add a few but you can do this completely to your liking.
- Keep stirring until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Remove sauce from the heat.
- Cook pasta separately. Use whatever pasta you prefer but I personally like to use one with some type of hole to allow the sauce to sit in it. When the pasta is done, save about a half a cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Add in the butter. Stir over a medium heat until the butter has melted.
- Add pasta – and the pasta water – to the sauce. Add parmesan cheese and stir. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Finally top with a sprinkling of parmesan and basil to serve.
Recipe : Graziamagazine.com
2. Chocolate chip banana bread
Lockdown baking has been another activity people have taken up and there is no better time for it! It can be very therapeutic, and you are left with some delicious treats at the end. Banana bread was a huge phenomenon during the first lockdown, everyone wanted to perfect their recipe and I think I have found the best banana bread recipe out there and with some added chocolate chips just to top it all off. It’s great to have mid afternoon with a coffee to break up the day a bit. What’s great about this banana bread is that it’s made all in one bowl so less time washing up and more time to enjoy eating it!
Ingredients:
- 3 ripe bananas
- ⅓ cup butter (75 g), melted
- ½ cup sugar (100 g)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- salt, to taste
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (185 g)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips (85 g)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350˚F (180˚C).
- In a bowl, add the bananas and mash until smooth. Add in the melted butter and stir until well combined.
- Add the sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and flour, and stir until the batter is smooth.
- Add in the chocolate chips and pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. Top with additional chocolate chips.
- Bake for 50 minutes to an hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely before serving.
Recipe: tasty.co
3. Feta cheese pasta
This creamy feta cheese pasta has been taking the cooking world by storm! This pasta dish has been added to the list of viral Tiktok recipes and it’s not one you want to miss. With the creamy-ness of the feta and the balance with the cherry tomatoes it’s the perfect pasta sauce and one that anyone could try taking only ten minutes to make so there’s no excuse not to give it a go. The term #bakedfetapasta has a current viewing of an incredible 52 million on Tiktok so I think it’s definitely one to add to the list. I think this is one that is worth the hype and will become a regular dinner this lockdown! What’s great about this dish is that you can make it your own and add any spices or herbs that you would like, I love to add some chili flakes for a bit of a kick!
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces dried penne pasta
- 1 ½ pounds ripe tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped or slivered fresh basil leaves
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese (96g)
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Method:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the cherry tomatoes in an oven-safe baking dish. Pour the olive oil on top, and season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined.
- Place the feta block in the middle of the baking dish surrounded by the cherry tomatoes and flip a couple times to coat it with the olive oil and seasoning.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes burst, and the feta cheese melts.
- While the tomatoes and feta are baking, cook the pasta in a pot of salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of the cooking liquid in case you'd like to toss it in.
- Immediately add the garlic and basil leaves to the cooked tomatoes and feta and toss everything to combine.
- Transfer the cooked pasta to the baking dish and toss to combine. Garnish with more fresh basil and serve warm.
Recipe: myrecipes.com
4. Microwave Mug Cake
This chocolate mug cake is definitely one to indulge in, a weekend treat! Anyone could try this recipe and have the delicious gooey chocolate cake in minutes. Although we sometimes want recipes that take up some time during the day it is also nice to have these easy lockdown baking recipes that you can make at any point and best thing is there’s basically no wash-up, what more is there to love! It’s one that so many people have been trying this lockdown including myself and is great for a quick pick me up on some of the gloomier days!
Ingredients:
- 4 tbsp self-raising flour
- 4 tbsp caster sugar
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 medium egg
- 3 tbsp milk
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil or sunflower oil
- a few drops of vanilla essence or other essence (orange or peppermint work well)
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins etc (optional)
Method:
- Add 4 tbsp self-raising flour, 4 tbsp caster sugar and 2 tbsp cocoa powder to the largest mug you have (to stop it overflowing in the microwave) and mix.
- Add 1 medium egg and mix in as much as you can, but don't worry if there's still dry mix left.
- Add the 3 tbsp milk, 3 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil and a few drops of vanilla essence and mix until smooth, before adding 2 tbsp chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins, if using, and mix again.
- Centre your mug in the middle of the microwave oven and cook on High for 1½ -2 mins, or until it has stopped rising and is firm to the touch.
Recipe : bbcgoodfood.com
Now that you've enjoyed some of these tasty viral recipes it's a good time to balance it all out with some indoor lockdown exercises that'll get you up on your feet and moving, click on the button below to check them out!
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