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3-Way Popcorn

  • September 9, 2015
  • By Carly Neave

Healthy Home-made Popcorn

About a month ago, I bought a bag of popcorn kernels and have tried making my own popcorn on a few occasions with it never turning out quite right. I don’t use a microwave so I make the popcorn over the hob; if you don’t get the lid right then the result is either a little burnt and crispy or soggy and undercooked. I know cooking popcorn is not meant to be an art but perfecting it has taken me a little while! I’m glad to say, I’ve finally got it!

Healthy Home-made Popcorn

Last night, Jack and I headed to the cinema to see Southpaw. Amazing film if you haven’t seen it yet and the acting is simply incredible. I orignally thought Rachel McAdams was the wrong choice for the wife of professional boxer (Jake Gyllenhaal – gorgeous!) but safe to say I was moved from tears to laughter and back to tears throughout. Oscar nomination surely. My reason for mentioning is ever since I was a kid the cinema wasn’t just about the movie; it was about the whole experience. From taking hours to chose the best pick’n’mix to the smell of cooking popcorn, to having your parents pretend the film was over as the curtain closed after the adverts…mine did anyway! Hilarious, I know. Well, now times have changed and of course Pick’n’mix isn’t what I go for but regardless I still love having something to munch throughout the movie – it just doesn’t feel quite the same without it.

Perfect opportunity to make deliciously healthy popcorn! Using only coconut oil and popcorn kernels with your choice of flavouring, it is a FAR healthier and more tasty option than cinema-bought popcorn, which is full of butter and cooked in rancid oils (even if you don’t get the ‘butter’ flavour). I made three different types of healthy popcorn – Smoky Paprika, Sea Salt and my favourite – Honey and Cinnamon. I have a big sweet tooth so the honey and cinnamon flavour is an absolute delight – It takes me back to Winter Wonderland in London and the smell of Christmas! Also, it only consists of 1 tbs of honey, so even though honey is a natural sweetener – you’re still not hitting your body with a lot of sugar. The Sea Salt popcorn is so yummy although my better half ensured I didn’t actually get much of it! It’s a classic popcorn flavour and you simply can’t go wrong with it. Smoky Paprika was a little more out there but I love the flavour of paprika and it’s something different, a little spice and heat but not too overwhelming. It’s perfect for mixing things up.

Healthy Home-made Popcorn

You can make this healthy popcorn for daily use whether it be the cinema, as a snack for work or for your kids as a healthy alternative with all its natural flavourings.

P.s the real tip to ensure the popcorn is cooked to perfection is leaving the lid of the pan slightly open. If you cover the top of the lid with a kitchen towel the popcorn doesn’t fly all over the kitchen but it allows air to get to the corn so that it doesn’t re-absorb the moisture, as well as keeping the heat in. You also should wait longer than you think for the coconut oil to heat in the pan. If you add the corn kernels too soon they will burn as the temperature isn’t high enough to pop them, but they will still cook. I go into more detail in the instructions below.

Make sure to tag me in your healthy popcorn creations @leanlivinggirl and get experimenting with new flavours!


3-Way Popcorn
 
Cook time
Total time
 
3-Way Guilt-free Popcorn
Author:
Serves: 4 medium servings
Ingredients
  • 130g Popcorn kernels
  • 1 tbs coconut oil (solid)
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbs Sea Salt
  • 1 tbs honey
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Add the coconut oil to a deep pan and cover fully with a lid on a med-high heat.
  2. Wait for 5-7 minutes until you can smell the coconut oil cooking and add 1 tsp of your popcorn kernels, placing the lid slightly ajar.
  3. This is to test if the temperature is correct - the popcorn kernels should pop within 2 minutes.
  4. Once the test kernels have popped, add the remaining popcorn kernels and shake the pan and replace lid to ajar.
  5. Wait for all the kernels to pop and then remove from heat, dividing into 3 large bowls.
  6. Add the smoked paprika to one bowl and the sea salt to the other and mix both well.
  7. For the honey and cinnamon flavour - replace the popcorn back into the pan on a medium heat along with the honey and cinnamon.
  8. Stir on the heat for 2 minutes until the honey sticks to the popcorn and it is fully covered.
  9. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
  10. Serve the popcorn warm or cold. It can keep in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.

 

By Carly Neave, September 9, 2015 Hello and welcome! I'm Carly, originally from London but currently enjoying a little adventure in Dubai. A travel and wellness blogger exploring the world one step at a time. Think fabulous food at undiscovered gems, unique destinations, skin care obsessions and so much more. This is my life, I hope you enjoy the ride!
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Carly Neave

Hello and welcome! I'm Carly, originally from London but currently enjoying a little adventure in Dubai. A travel and wellness blogger exploring the world one step at a time. Think fabulous food at undiscovered gems, unique destinations, skin care obsessions and so much more. This is my life, I hope you enjoy the ride!

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About Me
Hi, I'm Carly!
A travel and wellness blogger exploring the world one step at a time. Think fabulous food at undiscovered gems, unique destinations, skin care obsessions and so much more. This is my life, I hope you enjoy the ride!
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