Gourmet popcorn is a popular snack for adults and children alike. With flavors ranging from cinnamon sugar and white cheddar to chocolate cranberry and kettle corn, popcorn can complement just about any flavor combination. Making your own gourmet popcorn flavors ensures that you get just the blend you want and allows you to skip crummy commercial varieties that contain unhealthy additives. For those seeking to re-create the popular flavor of corn on the cob, follow these instructions.
Instructions
1. Purchase the purest ingredients to re-create the fresh corn on the cob taste in popcorn form. Instead of buying a commercial bag of popcorn kernels, head to a farmers market or health food store for bags of organic popcorn that doesn't come from genetically manipulated corn crops bathed in pesticides. Clarified butter is a form of butter with the milk solids rendered out. Kosher salt has a larger grain size than regular table salt and adheres to food better. It also has no additives. Olive oil and sugar are available in their purest forms as is from the grocery store shelves.
2. Measure 1/4 cup popcorn kernels into the brown paper bag.
3. Place the salt and sugar into a spice grinder and grind the mixture into the bag with the kernels.
4. Add 1 tsp. olive oil to the bag and fold over just the top of the bag. Shake the contents gently to mix.
5. Press most of the air out of the bag, then gently tape the folded top in place. Make sure to leave the fold loose so the contents can vent while cooking.
6. Place the bag flat in the microwave and heat it on high. The kernels will eventually slow down to about 3 seconds between pops--stop the microwave at that point. This should be anywhere between 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the power of your microwave.
7. Remove the bag carefully, as the venting steam will be very hot. Pour the popcorn into a bowl and pour melted clarified butter on top. Mix thoroughly and add more salt to taste.
Tags: popcorn kernels