Recipe: DIY popcorn spice
A fan favorite of moviegoers, popcorn may best be known as a buttery and salty snack. But the CHEF course at Baylor College of Medicine has a spiced take on this savory treat. These recipes are not only healthier alternatives to the buttery classic, they are also packed with flavor.
Whether an after-school snack or treat when watching movies, the recipes below can serve as springboard into creating your own flavor pairings.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
- Pam cooking spray
- Seasoning ingredients (see suggestions below)
Directions
On the stove…
- Place popcorn in a non-stick large pot and cover with lid. Do not use more than 1/3 cup at a time or the kernels will not heat evenly and pop well.
- Place pot on medium heat. Shake pot every 30 seconds to 1 minute to prevent the kernels from burning and sticking to the bottom. Continue to shake until at least 5-6 kernels have popped.
- Keep on heat until the majority of the corn is popped and popping slows down.
- Lightly spray popcorn with Pam, shaking the pot while doing so. Sprinkle on seasoning and continue to shake and stir popcorn. Enjoy!
In the microwave…
- Place popcorn kernels in the a brown paper bag. Fold the top of the bag over twice. Do not staple or you will have sparks when you turn on the heat.
- Heat the popcorn for approximately 3 minutes or until the popping really slows down.
- Carefully open the bag and watch out for hot steam! While gently shaking the bag, lightly spray popcorn with Pam and then sprinkle on seasoning. Close the bag again and shake more vigorously to distribute seasoning. Enjoy!
Seasoning Ingredient Ideas
Chipotle Cheese
- 1 tbsp. Southwest Chipotle Seasoning Blend
- 3 tsp. finely grated low-fat parmesan cheese
Fiesta
- 1 tbsp. Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend
Italian Herb
- 1 tbsp. Italian Medley Seasoning Blend
- 3 tsp. of low-fat parmesan cheese
- Extra garlic powder, if desired
Lemon Pepper
- 1 tbsp. Lemon Pepper (no salt-added)
Cocoa Lovers
- 1 tbsp. hot cocoa mix (preferably no sugar-added)
- Add cinnamon, if desired
The CHEF course recipe notes that many of the seasoning options include Mrs. Dash seasonings, which can be a good no salt option. While picking seasoning be careful about the salt content in premixed flavor packs.
What an excellent recipe. I especially love the additional seasoning ideas and will be sure to try the chipoltle cheese. My wife will probably like the Italian herb, since she is Italian! Thank you so much.