The world of TikTok is extremely diverse and unique. It involves weekly trends that consist of new recipes, dances, and even jokes. There seems to be something for everyone on this app.
I love cooking and trying new recipes, so I hopped on the bandwagon and tried two viral recipes that have been heavily displayed on TikTok. I tasted and reviewed them so you don’t have to.
I gave the feta cheese and tomato pasta, and the most recent trend, “nature’s cereal” a shot, and here is how it went.
Nature’s Cereal
I love cereal, so knowing there was a cereal trend on Tik Tok definitely excited me. Nature’s Cereal consists of any type of berries of your liking (which is considered your “cereal”), coconut water (which would be the milk), and ice cubes…surprisingly? There have been mixed reviews about this recipe, so I definitely had to give it a try,
Famous Tik Tok chef The Golden Balance called this recipe a “deconstructed smoothie” and stated “ain’t no way yall gassing up fruit in a bowl right now, you got me messed up.”https://www.tiktok.com/@thegoldenbalance/video/6938055154025467142?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v2
A couple days after The Golden Balance released that Tik Tok, he finally reviewed it. He acknowledged that he made some light hearted jokes about it, and was shocked at the fact that he liked it. https://www.tiktok.com/@thegoldenbalance/video/6939569097009024262?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v2
Some love it and some are clearly opposed to the idea. Which encouraged me to try it even more. I guess everyone is extremely bored and just keeps looking for the next big thing on this platform, especially during COVID. I for one am bored and a self proclaimed foodie, so you best believe I did not hesitate to try this out.
I rate “nature’s cereal” a five out of ten, I was definitely disappointed. It felt like eating fruit with water, except rather “soapy” water. The coconut water was refreshing, but it had a weird aftertaste that just did not sit right with me.
The mixture of the berries and coconut water developed an unexpected flavor. It can be a refreshing snack on a hot day, but it is not something I would revisit.
I envision health nuts raving over this “cereal,” but it is not for everyone. I would much rather eat the fruit individually and go on with my day. I think adding the ice cubes and coconut water was a tad bit extra, and unnecessary.
Feta Cheese Tomato Pasta
I have never been a fan of feta cheese, so I was pretty scared considering the cheese was a dominant trait in this recipe. It’s extremely simple to make, and all you need are cherry tomatoes, a block of feta cheese, some olive oil, and basil.
The Feel Good Foodie, another famous Tik Tok chef, was going to extreme lengths to satisfy her viewers with multiple versions of this pasta. She baked it, fried it, and even substituted strawberries for the tomatoes. Her take on this pasta was interesting and diverse, she was not afraid to combine and try new flavors.
Considering my distasteful relationship with feta cheese, these alternate versions of the pasta made me feel somewhat better. I knew I had the option of going a different route with it, but I had to get out of my comfort zone and stay true to what the recipe was really about.
I started this recipe out by forgetting to turn my oven on, so that was fun. I combined the cheese together with the cherry tomatoes, basil, and olive oil into a glass baking dish and let the heat and flavors do their thing. I boiled a box of farfalle pasta and once they were both ready, I combined everything together.
I rate the feta cheese tomato pasta an eight out of ten. It was surprisingly tangy, light, and creamy. Considering that I hate feta cheese, I was so shocked that I liked it. I even shared with my family members and they all loved it. I would consider making it for dinner again.
My experience with these viral recipes was interesting. I honestly believed that I would have liked the “nature’s cereal” better than the “feta cheese tomato pasta,” but oh was I wrong. I was hesitant, but open throughout this journey.
I had fun with it and it was a nice way to virtually connect with people all over the world through food. I wonder when the next viral recipe will debut and what it will be?