When someone tells me they don’t like popcorn, I can’t say I’m not surprised. While it can be a healthy and easy snack to make, the regular flavour of popcorn leaves something to be desired.
Popped corn has a lot of flavour potential, and it’s about time we tapped into it. Below are my 5 favorite popcorn recipes that can really make your taste buds pop!
But before we get to the popcorn flavours, let’s pop our popcorn.
How to Pop Popcorn (Stovetop Style)
To pop popcorn on the stovetop, you’ll need 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels and 2 tablespoons of canola oil. Add the canola oil to a deep pot (or you can do yourself a favour and make popping corn easier with one of my favourite popcorn makers) over medium-high heat and place a few kernels inside. Once the kernels pop, you’ll know the oil is hot enough to add the rest.
Cover the pot with a splatter screen or partially cover it with a lid. As the kernels heat up, gently shake the pot to ensure they don’t burn and cook until there are about 4 or 5 seconds between pops.
By the end, you should have a full bowl of warm, crunchy popcorn. Now, it’s time to flavour it! The most important step is to add on the flavours while the popcorn is still warm. This will help the ingredients absorb into the popcorn and get that lasting taste.
Now, for the recipes!
Honey Butter Popcorn
If you’re feeling something a bit more on the sweet & savory side, look no further than this delicious recipe that combines the calming flavour of browned butter with the bright, sweet taste of honey.
In a small saucepan, brown 1/4 cup of unsalted butter. Browning butter is all about patience. Heat it over medium heat and swirl the pan occasionally to make sure the butter is cooking evenly. As the butter melts, it will begin to foam and the colour will turn from a lemony-yellow to a toasty-brown, giving off a fantastic nutty aroma.
Remove the butter from the heat and whisk in 1/4 cup of honey and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Drizzle your syrupy mixture over the popcorn and stir until the corn is coated evenly.
Cookies & Cream Popcorn
Here’s another recipe that’s more on the sweet side. This is the perfect marriage between savory snacks and sweet desserts. All you need to do is combine 1 1/4 cups of white chocolate with 2 1/2 tablespoons of coconut in a small saucepan over low heat until it melts.
While your chocolate concoction is sizzling on the stove, crush about 13 Oreos in a plastic bag (the perfect way to avoid the clean-up fuzz).
Once the chocolate sauce is melted, drizzle it over the popcorn and sprinkle your crushed Oreos on top. Stir until the popcorn is well-coated. For this recipe, you can either eat it immediately or chill it in the fridge for 15 minutes until the chocolate sets.
Three-Cheese Popcorn
Now, finally, for a wholly savory dish! This popcorn recipe is a healthy alternative to greasy, Friday night nachos. It’s all the flavour, with double the crunch and half the mess.
Once you’ve popped your kernels, toss in 2 1/4 cups of shredded cheddar, 1 cup of grated parmesan, and 1/2 cup of grated pecorino. Spread your cheesy mixture onto a baking sheet and bake it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes or until the cheese melts. Then, season with salt.
This is an easy, delicious recipe that packs a cheesy punch!
These next two recipes are pretty out of the box, but they offer lots of flavour for little work.
French Onion Dip Popcorn
For this recipe, all you have to do is melt 6 tablespoons of butter and mix in 1 packet of onion soup mix. Then pour it over your bowl of popcorn, making sure to mix it up nicely.
Margarita Popcorn
This one is perfect for a fun Friday night. Like the last recipe, melt 6 tablespoons of butter, but this time add 3 tablespoons of lime juice and tequila, 3 teaspoons of sugar and 2 of kosher salt, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of grated lime zest. Mix well and drizzle it over your bowl of popcorn.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can add a few cups of lightly crushed lime-flavored tortilla chips for that extra crunch!
These are all the recipes I have for you at the moment, but it doesn’t have to stop here. Popcorn is a springboard for all your favorite flavours. You can really mix it with anything you’d like, and it never hurts to try new combinations.
So, go forth with your newfound appreciation for the art of popped corn, and get your flavour party on!