Mom de Cuisine

Pepperoni pizza popcorn, pepperoni pizza popcorn, pepperoni pizza popcorn.  Try saying that ten times fast! 

For my husband’s birthday last weekend, he wanted nothing more than to lay around the house, watch movies as a family and play bored games.  He also wanted to order pizza from a new spot nearby.  I’d been eating lasagna and birthday cake, so I didn’t want to splurge on the fat and calories in a pepperoni pizza.  However, I couldn’t let everyone else have all the fun, so I thought I’d try to recreate pizza in the form of popcorn. 

I should preface this recipe with the fact that this was my first time making popcorn that didn’t involve a bag and a microwave.  Yes, that’s right, I made popcorn on the stove and it was pretty easy (I only burnt half of the first batch!)  I have to say that the methodology of this recipe may take some tweaking to get the pepperoni/cheese/spice mixture to stick to the popcorn better, but it really did taste like a pepperoni pizza and popcorn had a love child. 

Before I made this, I did a Google search to see if this had been done before, and what method was used.  The only results I got were seasoning popcorn with oregano for a “pizza flavor” but I wanted the full experience, the tomato, the cheese, and the spices.  I found a recipe (or rather a method) for making tomato powder here but I’m sure such a thing could be found online or at a gourmet store. I used freshly grated parmesan cheese because I don’t like the powdered stuff (but if you do, it would probably work better here.)

I wrote the recipe as I made it, but I think if I would have tossed the hot popcorn with more melted butter and the topping immediately, it would have stuck better. 

Pepperoni Pizza Popcorn

Ingredients:

1/2 cup popcorn kernels

2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons tomato powder

1 tablespoon each, oregano and basil

1/4 cup mini pepperoni

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (optional)

Method:

To make the popcorn seasoning:  Mix the tomato powder, spices, pepperoni, and parmesan cheese.  Set aside.

To pop the popcorn:  Place oil in a wide, heavy bottomed pot with a tight fitting lid.  Heat on medium-high heat.  Add one or two kernels of popcorn.  When they pop, you know the oil is hot enough to add the rest of the kernels.  Place the lid on immediately (unless you want popcorn all over your kitchen.)  Pop for 3-5 minutes, or until the kernels pop only every 2-3 seconds.  Remove from heat and toss with butter, then spice and cheese mixture.  Serve immediately.