7 Popcorn Recipes that are Easy to Make

Aahh… popcorn! Suitable for any time of day and always great with a movie. We all have our favourites, whether salty, sweet, toffee or a mix of all three!

Interestingly, popcorn actually dates back thousands of years, where the first findings of corn kernels were discovered in New Mexico.

However, the ‘popping’ of corn only began in 1820, and this eventually led to its popularity spreading across America. Early recipes see corn kernels being placed in a frying pan with butter or lard and held over a heat until they popped or ‘turned inside out’.

With popcorn being such a universally favoured snack, we couldn’t help but uncover some new and exciting flavours and recipes.

DESIblitz presents a few classic popcorn recipes, plus a few unusual varieties all with a Desi twist!

You might want to stock up on some more corn kernels because these recipes will have you craving popcorn all week.

Masala Popcorn

Just like masala chips, popcorn has also been given a Desi revamp. This spicy recipe adds a tantalising flavour to your popcorn with the addition of red chilli powder and chaat masala.

Add a sprinkling of lemon juice for a tangy edge for good measure.

Ingredients:

• 100g Corn Kernels
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp Red Chilli powder
• 1/2 Chaat Masala powder
• Pinch of Turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp oil

Method:

1. In a bowl, mix corn kernels with oil. Pour into a deep hot pan.
2. Add salt, turmeric, and red chilli powder and mix.
3. Cover the pan and allow corn to pop over a medium heat.
4. Once popped, sprinkle with chaat masala and lemon juice and toss.

This recipe has been adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor.

Salted Tamarind Popcorn

Tamarind has a uniquely tangy flavour and is commonly used alongside fried snacks like pakoras as well as in chutneys. But have you ever tried this sweet and sour taste in popcorn?

Ingredients:

• 75g Corn Kernels
• 3 tbsp Tamarind Pulp or Concentrate
• 6 Dates
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Chilli Powder
• 1/2 cup Water

Method:

1. In a blender, puree the dates, tamarind, salt, chilli and turmeric with water until smooth.
2. Take the puree and simmer in a pan until it reduces by half into a syrup.
3. Allow to cool before lightly coating the corn kernels with the syrup.
4. In a deep pan with a lid, pop the corn kernels on a medium heat.
5. Sprinkle with a little salt and enjoy the tangy taste.

Recipe adapted from Nandyala.

Indian Spiced Popcorn

This popcorn recipe is beautifully aromatic but hides a spicy kick. Lightly salted with a hint of Desi spices, this is a great idea for an on the go savoury snack.

All it takes are everyday ingredients that you can find lurking about in a Desi kitchen and a few simple steps.

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Vegetable Oil
• 75g Corn Kernels
• 1 small Onion
• 3 Green Chillies
• 2 tsp Garam Masala
• 1 tsp Nigella Seeds/Kaljoni
• 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. In a pan, heat vegetable oil and add sliced onions and chopped green chillies. Fry over a medium heat until golden brown. Remove from the pan and dry on a paper towel.
2. In the same pan, cook garam masala, red pepper flakes and nigella seeds for one minute.
3. Add corn kernels and toss well so they become lightly coated with the spices.
4. Cover the pan and slightly shake as this will allow the heat to reach all the kernels.
5. Once the kernels are popped, remove from the heat and transfer to a serving bowl.
6. Season with salt and sprinkle with fried onions, green chillies and red pepper flakes.
7. Gently toss before serving.

This recipe is adapted from ECurry.

Bubblegum Flavoured Popcorn

A childhood favourite sweet intertwined with the next best thing; some may say this is a dream come true.

With readily available ingredients online and in major supermarkets, let your inner child taste a recipe this fantastic.

Just imagine biting into bright pink popcorn which carries the scent and taste of bubblegum…

Ingredients:

• 880 g Popped popcorn
• 440 g Sugar
• 28 g Butter
• 118 ml Water
• 118 g Light corn syrup
• 1 tsp Pink food colouring
• 1 tsp Bubblegum flavouring

Method

1. Spread the popped corn evenly on a lined baking tray and set the oven to 93 degrees Celsius to keep the corn warm.
2. Place a pan over medium heat, add water, butter, sugar and corn syrup.
3. Stir the ingredients until it boils. Allow the mixture to boil for 5 minutes.
4. Remove the mixture from the heat, add pink food colouring and bubblegum flavouring. Stir the mixture with a spatula.
5. Then, place the heated popcorn in a bowl and cover with the pink bubblegum mixture.
6. Use the spatula to stir the popcorn and place it back on the baking sheet.
7. Turn the gas mark to 121 degrees Celsius and let the popcorn cook for 8 minutes.
8. Remove from oven, use a knife to cut the popcorn into bite-size pieces.

Serve it in small dishes or enjoy it all by yourself. We won’t tell.

This recipe is from Fun Foods.

Butter Toffee Popcorn

This one is for the toffee lovers and those who have a sweet tooth. Among the traditional and everyday popcorn flavours, toffee popcorn has always made its mark.

Not only is it much sweeter, but this treacled coloured goodness carries a beautiful crunch and at times is rather addictive.

For a tantalising toffee-flavoured treat, try this deliciously mouth-watering recipe which takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to cook.

Ingredients:

• 225 g (1 cup) Unpopped popcorn kernels
• 216 g Butter
• 495 g Light brown sugar
• 117 ml Dark corn syrup
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 2 tsp Pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp Baking soda
• 384 g Roasted salted peanuts

Method:

1. Preheat the oven and grease two baking trays with butter or oil.
2. Pop the kernels and leave aside.
3. Place a saucepan over medium heat and melt butter, add sugar, corn syrup and salt. Stir the mixture and let it boil.
4. Lower heat and let the mixture simmer. Continue stirring the mixture for 3 minutes until it becomes thick.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and mix in vanilla extract and baking soda. Gently pour the mixture over the popcorn and stir.
6. Carefully mix the peanuts using a spatula and make sure all the corn is covered.
7. Spread the popcorn onto the greased baking sheets and place in the oven for an hour. Stir the popcorn very gently every 20 minutes.
8. Remember to change the trays from lower to top rack when you stir the corn. The dark toffee colour will set in and crystalise.
9. After an hour, remove from the oven and allow the popcorn to cool.

This recipe has been adapted from Mel’s Kitchen.

Lemon Pepper Popcorn

Anyone want to indulge in zesty lemon and peppery popcorn? We have for you a recipe which will carry a nice tangy but citrusy flavour.

The best part is you only need five ingredients that you can find in most South Asian supermarkets.

The recipe includes mango powder (amchoor) which makes all the difference.

Ingredients:

• Butter flavour popcorn, shop bought
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 g Lemon zest
• 2 g Mango/ amchoor powder
• 5 ml Lemon juice

Method:

1. Place the microwaved popcorn into a small bowl.
2. Stir in black pepper, salt, lemon zest and mango powder.
3. Cover the popcorn with lemon juice.
4. Use a spoon to mix the flavourings over the popcorn. Make sure each corn is covered evenly.

To be served hot.

This recipe is from NDTV.

Cinema Style Popcorn

This classic popcorn flavour is enjoyed the world over. Regularly served in most cinemas and theatres, this popcorn is without fault and can make watching a movie all the sweeter.

Are you ready to make your very own cinema popcorn?

Well, you can have cinema style popcorn anytime without the cinema price if you follow these simple steps.

Ingredients

• 64 g Corn Kernels
• 16 g Butter
• 12 g Icing sugar
• 17 ml Cooking oil

Method

1. Add butter to a warm pan, once melted stir in the icing sugar.
2. Add oil after the sugar has dissolved followed by the kernels. Keep the heat on medium.
3. Shake the kernels frequently until they are all popped.
4. Remove from heat and let the buttery corn cool.

Now all you need is a good movie to go with this buttery cinema-style popcorn.

This recipe is adapted from Landon Ferster.

Here is our selection of easy to make popcorn recipes so that you can treat yourself to a variety of different popcorn flavours.

You’ll also find that homemade popcorn is much healthier than the shop bought varieties and not so hard to prepare.

We hope you try out some of the more daring popcorn recipes. All you need to do is pick a good movie and a scrumptious recipe.