With the right spices, popcorn can be elevated to a delicious treat.
At about 33 calories per cup, air-popped popcorn is a nutritious snack. Even when popped in oil, popcorn is under 100 calories and is a quick treat to make at home. Available at almost any grocery store, it can be made on the stove, in a traditional popcorn popper or in a microwave. Popcorn is especially delicious when paired with spices, from cinnamon and sugar to the Southwestern inspired flavors of chili powder and lime.
Sweet
Popcorn is easy to turn into a sweet treat by adding a variety of spices and flavors. Mix cinnamon and sugar with buttered popcorn, or try a little pumpkin pie spice for a treat during fall and winter. Stir in honey and nuts for added flavor and texture. If you have a craving for the classic caramel corn, mix brown sugar, butter and vanilla extract together then drizzle over the top of popcorn. Fresh strawberries reduced to a syrup then spooned over popcorn also makes a great tasting dessert.
Savory
If savory snacks are more your taste, mix chili powder and lime juice with popcorn for a Southwestern inspired treat. Parmesan and Romano cheeses mixed with popcorn and butter give the snack an Italian flavor. Try experimenting with herbs and butter: rosemary and garlic salt, or a combination of lemon juice, dill, parsley and thyme. Whisk melted butter together with the herbs and drizzle over the top of the popcorn. For an easy snack reminiscent of your favorite flavored chips, shake ranch dressing mix on freshly buttered popcorn. Or add a bit of curry spice on popcorn for a more exotic taste.
Gourmet
For those with more adventurous culinary tastes, try gourmet spices for popcorn such as truffle oil or truffle butter. Either is available in white or black and are sold at most major grocery stores or gourmet shops. With truffle oil, a little goes a long way. Add the oil in increments to obtain the right ratio for your taste buds. Sprinkle a little truffle oil on freshly popped popcorn and mix in a bowl with salt or Parmesan cheese, or add the truffle oil or butter to your oil when popping the corn to make sure it coats every kernel. For popcorn worthy of an island retreat, combine shredded coconut and almond extract with buttered popcorn. For the ultimate in sweet, mix vanilla extract and cocoa powder together and sprinkle it on fresh, buttered popcorn for a smooth treat that tastes almost like a popcorn truffle.
Tags: buttered popcorn, over popcorn, chili powder, chili powder lime, cinnamon sugar