Snack ideas that went viral

LUTHO PASIYA

TAKE a peek at Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Twitter on any given day and you will find it is full of delicious creations and quite a few strange ones. Modern-day chefs, culinary artists, and foodies are always looking to put their own spin on things.

Social media has turned into a hot spot for tasty recipes and many recipes have gone viral since last year. Here are some viral snacks recipes we have come across on interactive digital channels.

Marshmallow salad

In mid-2021, we came across this bizarre recipe by blogger Karen Bertelsen. Bertelsen wrote that this weird dish, served with a meal and not as a dessert, was part of her family tradition.

“For as long as that mushy thing in my skull can remember, my family has served marshmallow salad at holiday dinners. Marshmallow salad is also known as Ambrosia. On occasion, we’d call it sour cream salad. Truth is, we never knew what to call it, other than embarrassment.

“We’re not the fanciest people on earth, but we’re fancy enough to know anything that includes marshmallows should at least be served as a dessert. You see, for some reason, we never serve Ambrosia as a dessert. We served it as a side dish,” she wrote in her blog.

Ingredients

300ml can of mandarin oranges, drained well

400ml can crushed pineapple, drained well

1 cup sour cream

1/3 cup maraschino cherries, cut in half

¼ cup sweetened shredded coconut

3 cups mini marshmallows

Method

Add all the ingredients to a bowl and fold them together. Cover with plastic and let sit in the fridge overnight.

Cheesy vegan kale chips

Kale can make for a killer oven-baked chip, turning crisp and lightly golden in the oven. You have the option of snacking on plain kale chips, but feel free to sprinkle on toppings.

In this recipe, lifestyle blogger Cara-Lisa Sham uses nutritional yeast to give a nutrient-rich and delicious cheesy flavour without using any cheese.

“Nutritional yeast is the most incredible natural flavouring to mimic that delicious cheesy taste we all love so much. This recipe is quick and easy to make, and it is perfect for serving guests at a dinner party, or simply to snack on if you are having a night in,” said Sham.

Serves: 2-3 - Ingredients:

¾ cup cashews – soaked overnight

1 large packet kale – washed and dried

1 tsp crushed garlic

2 tbs soy sauce

2 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup nutritional yeast

Juice of 1 fresh lemon

Method

Cover cashews with warm water and allow to soak overnight.

Preheat the oven to 110ºC. Line the oven tray with tin foil, making sure the matt side is facing upward. Drain cashews and set them aside. Trim stems from each kale leaf and cut leaves into chip-sized pieces.

Combine cashews, garlic, soy sauce, olive oil, nutritional yeast and lemon juice in a food processor. Blend for about a minute until a smooth paste forms.

In a large bowl, combine kale with nutritional yeast paste and coat each kale leaf thoroughly until all pieces are evenly covered. I find it easier to use your hands when coating the leaves.

Place kale pieces onto a baking tray, allowing space between each leaf so that they don’t overlap.

Bake kale until crisp and completely dry – 15 – 20 minutes. Be sure to check often, tossing the kale pieces to ensure even cooking. Once they are hard, crisp and dry, remove them from heat. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Place in a serving bowl and enjoy.

You can also make these kale chips in bulk and store them in an airtight container. Keep for up to one week.

Mini-fried eggs

Sydney Melhoff, the creator of the original cereal trend, decided to make a savoury spin-off using fried eggs.

With an account devoted to whimsical versions of tiny foods – pies, doughnuts, mozzarella sticks, and adorable cake pops – it is no surprise that the eggs are miniature too.

To make the breakfast eggstravaganza, Melhoff began by separating the yolk from the white. Although this step is not shown in her video, she most likely beat both elements separately so that they were easier to work with.

She used a tablespoon to dollop the whites into a hot, lightly oiled pan. While that was cooking, she quickly used another spoon to dot a minuscule amount of yolk into the pan. Before it hardened, she used a toothpick to transfer the yolk onto the white, finishing the look.

To get the complete effect, repeat these steps until all the egg mixtures are finished.

Serve them on toast, alongside mini pancakes, or have them plain. Whatever you decide, be sure to snap a picture for social media before taking that first bite.

Mini fried eggs. | Instagram