Plenty of Healthy Recipes for National Popcorn Day From The Popcorn Board to Make Any Day Special
January 19th is National Popcorn Day and here are plenty of healthy recipes to enjoy for all your special occasions.
This recipe for Coconut Curry Cashew Popcorn is a great way to celebrate National Popcorn Day while chasing away cold winter chills. Fragrant and delicious, popcorn is infused with flavors that evoke dreams of far-off lands. Nuts, coconut, and curry make this popcorn mix an exotic option when you want to mix it up.
Recipes and images are provided by The Popcorn Board.
Coconut Curry Cashew Popcorn
Yield: 10 Cups
Ingredients
10 cups popped popcorn
2 cups cashews
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Place popcorn, cashews and coconut in a large bowl; set aside.
Heat butter, sugar and honey in a medium saucepan. Stir mixture over medium heat until it begins to boil. Boil 2 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and stir in curry powder and baking soda (mixture will foam).
Pour syrup over popcorn mixture in bowl and stir until evenly coated. Pour mixture onto a large, rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake 30 minutes, stirring twice during baking time. Stir mixture a few times as it cools on baking sheet. Store in an airtight container.
Preparation Time: 45 minutes
If you’re looking to eat healthier this year, add popcorn to the top of your snack list. Popcorn is naturally low in fat and calories, sugar-free and non-GMO. Just 3 cups of popcorn equals a whole grain serving, and we need whole grains!
Chili Lime Popcorn Snack Mix
Light and healthy, the chili and lime in this snack mix work perfectly with the whole-grain goodness of popcorn.
Yield: 1 quart
Ingredients
1 quart popped popcorn
1 teaspoon nutritional yeast (available in health food stores)
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spread popcorn on a baking sheet.
Sprinkle yeast powder, lime juice, chili powder and salt over popcorn.
Heat about 7 minutes and toss just before serving. Serve warm.
National Cheese Lover’s Day (January 20) follows National Popcorn Day, so why not celebrate both with recipes like:
Elote Inspired Popcorn
Street corn is the inspiration for this cheesy popcorn mix that brings the heat!
Yield: 10 Cups
Ingredients
10 cups popped popcorn
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
2 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Frank’s)
1 tablespoon dried cilantro
1/2 cup Queso Fresco cheese, crumbled (can substitute shredded Monterey jack cheese)
Directions
Place popcorn in a large bowl
In a small saucepan, melt butter. Add hot sauce and cilantro; mix well. Pour over popcorn, stirring to coat.
Sprinkle with cheese; mix well.
And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner this last recipe made with three kinds of chocolate may be just the thing to make.
Triple Chocolate Popcorn
What’s not to love about triple the chocolate?
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
8 cups popped popcorn
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips, at least 70% cocoa, melted
1/4 cup milk chocolate chips, melted
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Directions
Arrange popcorn on large parchment paper-lined baking sheet in even layer.
Melt dark and milk chocolate chips separately in microwave or in double-boiler. Using spoon, drizzle dark chocolate randomly over popcorn. Using clean spoon, repeat with milk chocolate. Sprinkle with sea salt.
In large bowl, toss chocolate-coated popcorn with white chocolate chips.
Tips:
To melt chocolate in double-boiler, place chocolate chips in heatproof bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water for 3 to 5 minutes or until chocolate can be stirred.
To melt chocolate in microwave, place in microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup. Microwave on medium, stirring every 30 seconds, for 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth and melted.
Alternatively, use finely chopped chocolate instead of chocolate chips.
About The Popcorn Board
The Popcorn Board is made up of popcorn companies who are responsible for getting that little seed to you in whatever form you choose—kernels, ready-to-eat, or microwave. We’re not necessarily farmers, but most of us come from farming or agricultural backgrounds. Some of our parents and grandparents grew popcorn, packaged it, and sold it door-to-door or store-to-store. They loved popcorn, as do we. That’s why we’re in this business.
