Buzz
Next time you make popcorn, take it to the next level. Treat yourself to some bold flavor! Pop a large bowl of the crispy kernels and sprinkle your own custom popcorn seasoning all over. Forget about those overpriced and bland bottled powders from the store. Why settle for the same old popcorn salt when you can easily craft an endless range of delicious flavors at home? It's quick, easy, and so worth the effort. Time to get popping!
Plain popcorn can feel like munching on packing material (which, by the way, you should definitely use as packing material). You don’t need excessive butter or oil to bring out flavor – what you really need are finely ground seasonings and salt. These ultra-fine particles cling to the uneven surfaces of the popped kernels, delivering a perfect balance of taste with every handful. Here are two methods to achieve that.
Try using a mortar and pestle
The mortar and pestle is my go-to tool because it lets you make either a small batch or a larger quantity in one go. I always begin by adding the biggest ingredients. Salt is often one of the first, and if you're only seasoning with salt, go ahead and add it to the bowl. In the recipe below, I use sea salt and nutritional yeast flakes as my base. These are the coarsest elements, so they go in first. If you're using dried herbs, now's the time to add them.
Grind the ingredients using the pestle with firm pressure, moving in a circular motion around the bowl. I usually repeat this 15 to 20 times until the salt and flakes reach the right consistency. This might only take a few seconds. To check if the powder is fine enough, tilt it at an angle under light and observe how the salt crystals reflect the light. If they're still too large or numerous, keep smashing for another round.
Now it's time to add any additional dried, powdered seasonings of your choice. This is a great opportunity to throw in seasoning blends, like steak seasoning or garlic salt. I chose Trader Joe's Everything but the Leftovers Seasoning Blend, which is packed with a variety of ingredients that create a flavor reminiscent of Thanksgiving dinner. Popcorn seasoned like Thanksgiving? Count me in. (It's never too early to get my tastebuds ready.) Use the same grinding technique to finely powder the seasoning blend. Your homemade popcorn seasoning is now ready.
Use a spice grinder or blender
A spice grinder, coffee grinder, or food processor can also work to turn your popcorn seasoning into a fine powder. The only downside is that you might need a larger quantity of ingredients for the blades to properly catch them. Even then, the grind can sometimes be inconsistent. Start by adding the larger chunks, then blend in the ground seasonings. Continue blending until you achieve a finely mixed seasoning.
The following recipe creates a cheesy, savory seasoning with a hint of heat. My advice? Go easy on the cayenne. That little spice can sneak up on you if you add too much. Trust me, you don't want to be back here coughing and leaving frustrated comments. Let's keep it safe.
Popcorn Seasoning that Almost Tastes Like Doritos
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast flakes
½ teaspoon of Everything But the Leftovers Seasoning Blend
¼ teaspoon of paprika
A pinch of cayenne
Using a mortar and pestle, grind the sea salt and nutritional yeast flakes together until they form a fine powder. Add in the other spices and grind everything together a few more times until the seasoning is uniformly fine. Sprinkle the seasoning over your popcorn, tossing it to ensure an even coating. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for your next batch.
