Popcorn Recipes

A large bag of popcorn will always be a welcome change in your snack routine. This healthy snack is sugar-free, rich in fiber and low in fat and calories. Popcorn is a diet food. It does not contain sodium and includes low-calorie ingredients. It does not affect the appetite of a person, as it is a light snack that is easily digestible. People have varied tastes and eating popcorn can also have adverse effects on people of any age group. Excess intake of salt can result in increase in calorie and sodium intake, leading to health problems. While serving popcorn to children, proper care should be taken to make sure you remove the unpopped kernels from the bowl, so that they don't choke on it.

Popcorn, as the name suggests, is basically made from corn. Corn is a tall, annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears. It has small kernels that burst when they are exposed to heat or when put it into an air-popping machine - the result is a delicious snack. Corn is widely cultivated in America in many varieties like Early Sun glow and Golden Cross Bantam. It is the main cereal in Mexico and Central, and South America, since pre-Columbian times. Popcorn was discovered in a bat cave in West-central New Mexico between 1948 and 1950. The kernel of a corn contains some amount of oil and moisture. On heating the moisture converts into superheated pressurized steam. The starch inside the corn softens and becomes susceptible to the steam and the popcorn kernel pops into an edible puff.

Popcorn Recipes

Popcorns for commercial sale are cooked with the help of specially designed popcorn machines, originally invented by Charles Creators in Chicago, in 1885. There are various ways in which we can pop the corn at home. For smaller quantity, we can pop the corn in our kitchen using a vessel with a lid or a pressure cooker. You need to pour the corn kernels into the cooker and close the lid removing the whistle of the cooker. We can also cook popcorns in microwave.

As we have seen popcorn is easy to make at home. You can try out these yummy popcorn recipes with an assortment of flavors.

Yogurt-Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients
Air popped popcorn (2½ quarts)
Caramelized sugar (1 cup)
Corn-starch syrup (1/3 cup)
Fat-free yogurt (1 cup)

Preparation
Keep aside the air popped popcorn in one large bowl. Take a saucepan and combine the sugar, yogurt and syrup. Mix the sugar properly. Insert a candy thermometer or sugar thermometer (if you have one) to check whether the temperature is 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the yogurt mix, stirring it properly to avoid burning. Now, pour the yogurt mixture into the bowl of popcorns, so that each popcorn is coated properly. Enjoy the sour and sweet taste of this caramelized popcorn.

Choco-Almond Popcorn

Ingredients
Air popped popcorns (6 cups)
Sliced almonds (½ cup)
Milk chocolate choco-chips (12 ounces)
Corn-starch syrup (1 cup)
Pasteurized butter (¼ cup) or edible oil (1-2 tablespoons)
Salt (½ teaspoon)
Grated dark chocolate (as required)

Preparation
Take a large bowl and place the popcorns and almonds in it. Set aside. Melt the chocolate chips using a double boiler. Now combine the butter, salt and corn-starch syrup in a saucepan and stir continuously to avoid lumps. Let it boil and allow the butter to melt completely. Pour this melted chocolate mixture into the butter mixture. Mix well. Add the chocolate-butter mixture into the bowl containing the popcorn-almond mix. Shake well, so each popped corn is coated properly. You can decorate it with some grated chocolate and serve.

Cheesy-Chili-Cajun Popcorn

The trio combination of chili, cheese and Cajun seasoning makes this popcorn extremely delicious.

Ingredients
Parmesan cheese (3 cups)
Whole dried chilies (3-4)
Unpopped popcorns (1/3 cup)
Hot cooking oil (3 tablespoons)
Melted butter (¼ cup)
Paprika (1 teaspoon)
Cayenne pepper (¼ teaspoon)
Garlic (1 large clove, cut into quarters)
Cumin seeds (1 teaspoon)
Salt (½ teaspoon)

Preparation
Take a saucepan, add cooking oil, chilies, clove of garlic and cumin seeds. Let it cook for 3 minutes. Allow up to 10 minutes as standing time. Strain the excess oil from it. You can use this seasoned oil for popping corn. Add melted butter over the warm popcorn. Toss properly to coat it. Mix Parmesan cheese, salt, paprika and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle this cheese mixture over the popped popcorn. Agitate the popcorn well and serve.

Try out these mouth-watering recipes and let your taste buds savor these varied popcorn flavors. So, the next time you want to watch a movie, be sure to have a bowl of popcorn ready for yourself and your friends. Enjoy the poppy popcorn treat !