You moved to the ‘Manchester of South India’ – Coimbatore – for your new job a few months ago. And as you’re settling into your hostel or paying guest accommodation, you’re also getting into the habit of taking care of yourself. Luckily, the internet has your back – providing you everything from valuable information to viral videos and memes about hostel living. But if you’re a food lover, it’s giving you the best thing of all – a treasure house of recipes from around the globe that you can make even in the kitchen of your men’s hostel in Coimbatore. And the variety of ingredients, time, difficulty, and effort required for different recipes means that there’s bound to be something out there for everyone. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of some of the internet’s most popular recipes in the past few months that are perfect for you to try at home or in your hostel kitchen. Let’s check them out.
Baked feta pasta
This TikTok sensation has taken the citizens of the internet by the storm and it’s for good reason. A simple fuss-free process, a handful of ingredients and almost no culinary skills required, this is a recipe that’ll make your hostel room in Coimbatore feel like a gourmet Italian restaurant. Sign us up!
To make this recipe, you will need: a block of feta cheese, 250 grams of halved cherry tomatoes or diced regular tomatoes, 2-4 cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil and the cooked pasta of your choice.
Method: On a baking sheet, place the tomatoes and garlic and coat them with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place the feta block in the centre and drizzle some more olive oil on top. You could also add any italian seasoning or chilli flakes that you have on hand if you like. Bake this for 25-30 mins at 180℃ or until the tomatoes have softened considerably and are browning around the edges. Then remove from the oven and mash all the ingredients on the tray with a fork to create a thick sauce. Stir your cooked pasta through the mix and then your pasta is ready to serve.
15-minute garlic bread
There’s nothing in life that can’t be improved by garlic bread. And this is one recipe that you’ll want to bookmark forever. It’s quick, simple and insanely delicious. And it only takes fifteen minutes to make. If you want to go all out, you could make it to accompany the pasta above but trust us, it’s amazing just on its own too.
To make this recipe, you will need: 50 grams of butter, 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley, 3-4 finely minced garlic cloves, and a loaf of crusty bread.
Method: Take your butter out an hour or so before you plan to make the garlic bread so that it becomes soft and spreadable. (And if you forget, microwave it for just 5-10 seconds for the same effect). Then stir your chopped garlic and parsley through the butter. And that’s pretty much all the heavy lifting done. Slice your bread horizontally (if you’re using pre-sliced bread, you’re saved that step), spread it with your freshly made garlic butter and put it under the grill for ten minutes till it becomes golden brown and delectable. Slice and serve immediately or leave it on the table to tear and share. Our only tip here: don’t expect to have any leftovers.
2 ingredient chocolate mousse
Sometimes you just want a quick fix dessert, but you don’t have the time or budget to splurge on a tonne of ingredients or make something fancy. Well, that’s where this chocolate mousse is going to become a game changer. There’s no chilling or baking time involved, no equipment that you need to clean after, and no extra ingredients you have to bother figuring out how to store. It might sound too good to be true but try it out for yourself and transform your hostel life in Coimbatore.
To make this recipe, you will need: 265 grams of a good quality dark chocolate, and 240 grams of water.
Method: Place your chocolate and water in a heavy bottom saucepan and stir just until it is melted and smooth, but not boiling. Remove from heat and pour this mixture into a large bowl (one that’s been chilled or placed over ice will help your mouse whip up faster). Whisk vigorously until your mousse thickens – it could take upto ten minutes by hand but will be much faster if you’re using an electric mixer. And then your mousse is ready to serve. Top with extra chocolate shavings, fresh fruit or simply dig in with a spoon.
Chilli oil noodles
Even if you’re only used to making Maggi for yourself in your women’s hostel in Coimbatore, you can give your instant noodles an upgrade with this recipe. These deliciously simple chilli oil noodles will transform your ramen into a new avatar of spicy and savoury goodness. And you needn’t even worry about cleaning up a huge mess in your hostel kitchen once you are done.
To make this recipe, you will need: 4 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 3 teaspoons of vinegar, 1.5 tablespoons of red chilli flakes, 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 5-6 tablespoons of sesame oil (or any other flavourless oil), cooked noodles of your choice.
Method: Cook your noodles according to the package instructions but skip out on any flavouring packets that come with them. Place all your ingredients, except the noodles and the oil in your serving bowl and stir them together. Heat up the oil in a saucepan and pour it over these ingredients and mix well. Stir in your noodles and enjoy while it’s still hot.
And there you have it. These recipes are simple, quick and delicious, so it’s no wonder that they’ve been taking over the internet. Give them a try and see the results for yourself. Your tastebuds will definitely be grateful.