TikTok has become a melting pot of cooking creativity, offering diverse recipes to satisfy every craving. Viral food trends have influenced the TikTok world, coming and going from the control of a swipe. These food trends have been introduced to millions of users worldwide, bringing people together from behind their screens. From refreshing fruit creations to sweet and savory chocolate treats, TikTok has made it easier and more efficient for food enthusiasts to share the latest popular recipes across the globe.
“Dubai Chocolate” is one of many recently trending foods: it’s a chocolate bar stuffed with kataifi, finely shredded phyllo dough, and pistachio spread. Kataifi is used in the Middle Eastern dessert Knafeh, which is why the creators of Dubai’s Fix Dessert Chocolatier refer to the chocolate bar as the “Can’t get Knafeh of it.” People in the United States began making their own Dubai chocolate at home, since it was originally only sold overseas, specifically in Dubai. There have been many flavors made, including cinnamon-spiced phyllo pastry, vanilla custard, caramel and peanut butter.
People decided to take matters into their own hands when they realized that the bar was not only not sold in certain countries, but also expensive at about $20. To create your version of the bar at home, you will need pistachio cream, tahini, kataifi, unsalted butter, and four milk chocolate bars.
Begin by melting half of the chocolate and pouring it into the chocolate bar molds, allowing them to harden by placing them in the fridge. Then, chop up six ounces of kataifi and place it on a pan with two tablespoons of melted butter over medium heat until it turns golden brown. Once the kataifi is crispy and golden, mix it in with nine ounces of pistachio cream. The addition of tahini in this step is optional. Add the filling to the chocolate molds and pour the rest of the melted chocolate on top. Finally, let the molds sit in the fridge for about 20 minutes, crack the chocolate open to a creamy, crunchy filling, and enjoy.
“I think it was overhyped… it just tasted like a nutty, crispy wafer bar,” said junior Lauren Salehani. “Though, the process to make [Dubai chocolate] was relatively easy: I bought a kit with all the ingredients provided and set aside ready to begin making [it].”
Another emerging food trend from typically Asian cuisine is cucumber salad. The trend grew popular from TikTok creator, Logan Moffitt, for his various cucumber combinations. His cucumber concoctions have included lox bagels, kani salads, chamoy pickles, among endless others. Logan has created a slogan to start every one of his videos saying that “sometimes you just need to eat an entire cucumber.”
“My ideal cucumber salad recipe to make with my friends is the one with cucumber, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, and garlic,” said freshman Gemma Soleymani.
Other new popular food trends include Hwachae, which is a traditional Korean punch made with a variety of fruits or edible flower petals soaked in honeyed water, and Tanghulu, a traditional Chinese snack featuring fruits coated with rock sugar, found on skewers.
“I haven’t tried Hwachae yet, but it’s been all over my For You Page, making me even more eager to give it a try,” said sophomore Sigal Hakimi.
Dubai chocolate, cucumber salad, Hwachae, Tanghulu, and other food trends attract food lovers and simultaneously grow the online space at an unforeseen pace. TikTok continues to leave a lasting impact on food trends worldwide, serving as a place where people can discover various cultures through their food.
