Once upon a time, I bought a bunch of popcorn kernels. I was going to get really into making fun popcorns. It’s a delightful and relatively healthy snack, after all! I made maybe two batches of popcorn. But sometimes, a pandemic and an impulsive spice blend purchase make you appreciate the things you took for granted. I’d grabbed Trader Joes’ Everything But the Elote seasoning a little while back because I love a gimmick. Thing is, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. But after trying some, I realized that it’d be an absolute dream on popcorn! And so, this Everything But the Elote popcorn recipe was born.
I originally thought about making this a much bougier production. It would involve lime zest (perhaps also lime juice), cotija cheese, and fresh cilantro. But I’ve been down that road before, and it always ends in a soggy mess. So instead, I kept it simple. All you need to make this treat is some popcorn kernels, oil, ghee, a bit of salt, and Everything But the Elote seasoning.
Now I realize that not everyone has popcorn kernels laying around, or even wants to make popcorn outside of a microwave. I’m not going to lecture you about the perils of microwaved popcorn. If that’s all you have, simply omit the ghee or butter, and skip straight to the Everything But the Elote! These are hard times and sometimes you need to get your popcorn on.
Everything But the Elote Popcorn
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Neutral cooking oil (I used grapeseed)
- 1/2 cup Popcorn kernels
- 1 tbsp Ghee (Melted butter is also ok)
- 2 tsp Everything But the Elote Seasoning
- Salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Add the oil to a large, heavy pot or pan on medium high heat. Throw a couple popcorn kernels in there, and add a slightly vented lid (clear glass, if possible).
- Once you hear the test kernels pop, add in the remaining ones. Let those kernels pop away. If you were able to use a clear lid, you'll be able to visually check on their progress, which is nice. If not, you'll be able to tell when they're done when a few seconds pass between pops. Once it's reached this point, remove the popcorn from the heat and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the ghee (or melted butter) to the popcorn. If your bowl has a lid, put it on now and shake vigorously. If not, tightly hold a kitchen towel over the top of the bowl and shake it up. This'll result in a nice, even coat of ghee.
- Now, add the Everything But the Elote seasoning. Replace the lid or towel and shake the popcorn once more. Do a taste test and then add salt to taste, shaking it one last time to make sure it's not too concentrated in any one area. Now enjoy!
And that’s it! This is one of my simpler recipes, but such is life in time of quarantine. And since we’re all stuck at home, I hope this popcorn brings you hours of movie-watching bliss. If you end up making this it, let me know either in the comments or on Instagram! I always love hearing from you and seeing your creations.
Oh, man, I have been meaning to do this! I feel so smart now (:
Hahaha I’m sure so many of us have had this idea! But lemme tell you, it’s a winner 🙂