Popcorn
10/01/2017 AMBER, Canteen recipes, Everyday, Help for Parents, Party food ideas, Recipes, Snacks

AMBER (ACT & SA) / OCCASIONAL (NSW)
Makes 6 serves
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- 100g popcorn kernels
- Flavouring (see variations below)
Method (saucepan):
- Heat a large saucepan to medium-high temperature.
- Add vegetable oil.
- Add kernels to the hot saucepan, gently shaking the pan back and forth to ensure even coverage at the bottom of the pan. Cover with a lid and take off heat (to gently allow the kernels to heat up evenly).
- After 30 seconds, move the saucepan back on to the heat.
- As the popcorn pops, gently shake the pan back and forth while still on the heat.
- When popping slows, remove from heat and place immediately into a large mixing bowl to add flavouring.
- Add the flavouring while the popcorn is still hot and serve plain in paper bags or allow to cool before storing in zip lock plastic bags.
Method (microwave):
- Place popcorn and oil in a large microwave proof bowl and cover with a microwave proof cover or plate.
- Cook on high for approximately 5 minutes or until popping slows.
- Add the flavouring while the popcorn is still hot and serve plain in paper bags or allow to cool before storing in zip lock plastic bags.
Tips:
- Using the saucepan method, and letting the kernels come to an even temperature before popping, helps to reduce the number of un-popped kernels.
Variations:
- Parmesan and rosemary: ½ cup parmesan cheese + 1 tablespoon rosemary, finely chopped.
- Cheese: ½ cup each parmesan cheese + ½ cup reduced fat cheddar cheese.
- Garlic: 1 tablespoon dried garlic granules or flakes + 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped.
- Curry: 1 tablespoon curry powder.
- Mexican: ½ tablespoon chilli powder + 1 tablespoon dried cumin + 1 tablespoon sweet paprika.
- Vinegar: Provide a spray bottle filled with vinegar for kids to add their own spritz.
- Choc vanilla: 1 tablespoon cocoa powder + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Recipe tested by ES December 2016
