Simple, old-fashioned popcorn
Despite what much of our generation has grown up believing, it is not only possible but easy to make fresh popcorn at home without the aid of a special popcorn popper or the microwave. All you need is a big pot (I use a non-stick soup pot), some popcorn kernels (I get organic popcorn at my local health food store), and a little bit of oil (I have used olive, safflower, and canola with success).
Heat a teaspoon or two of oil in the pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add a few tablespoons of popcorn kernels and cover with a lid. Shake the pot to coat kernels with oil and to insure that all kernels get heat. You should soon start to hear popping sounds. Continue to shake the pot every 15 seconds or so until the popping sounds slow down to less than once every couple seconds. Turn off heat and scoop popped corn into a bowl.
I like to sprinkle salt, chile powder, and nutritional yeast onto my popcorn. Even though this method involves a little bit of fat (with the cooking oil), it feels a lot healthier than eating chemical-laden microwave popcorn. That stuff makes me nervous…
Tags: cooking, healthy eating, popcorn, recipes, snacks, vegetarian
I’ve never used any of those funky machines to pop corn at home, they take too much space. I haven’t tried the micro-wave versions, and probably never will because of what I recently learnt about micro-wave cooking and its potential dangers.
Making fresh pop-corn from the pan is the best method, and it makes the house smell nice!
I have gone mad on putting a mixture of sea salt, rosemary and dried orange peel on my popcorn. I got a bottle of that mix a few months ago from a friend and now make my own.
Mmmm, Jackie that sounds delicious. I’ll have to try it!
Celine – the idea of having a whole separate kitchen appliance to make popcorn seems kind of silly to me, too, especially since I don’t make it that often. I wonder if my parents still have their air popper… I bet they haven’t used it in decades.