Stovetop Popcorn with Ghee

Who doesn’t love popcorn? It is an easy and delicious snack that can be healthy if made the right way. Stovetop popcorn with ghee is a great healthy alternative to calorie and chemical filled microwave and movie theater versions.

Microwave popcorn bags contain chemicals that have been linked to causing cancer. One bag of buttery microwave popcorn can contain upwards of six hundred calories! Not to mention all the hydrogenated oils most of them contain. Although it is convenient to open a bag and pop it into the microwave, a better alternative is air popped popcorn, or stovetop popcorn.

Stovetop popcorn is healthier

You can make stovetop popcorn with better fats and better flavorings. It is a whole grain that is high in fiber. When it is made with alternatives like coconut oil and sea salt, it is low in fat and sugar. It also provides protein and vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and copper.

Stovetop Popcorn with ghee is an inexpensive snack.

 On top of it being a healthy snack, it is also fairly cheap. Whole popping corn is much more affordable than a box of microwavable bags. It takes such a small amount of popping corn to produce a large bowl full, that the alternative just isn’t economical when compared. A two-pound bag of popping corn usually lasts us several weeks and only costs around $3. Ghee can be made yourself with just a stick of butter.

There’s a reason Ma and Pa Ingle’s were always eating popcorn as their night time snack. It was filling and affordable.

We enjoy stovetop popcorn as a filling, gluten free, whole food snack. We make it at least a couple of times a week and never tire of it. We have many ways that we like to enjoy stovetop popcorn that rival anything you can get at the store or movie theater.

What you decide to pop the popcorn in determines a lot of the calories you are consuming. Our favorite oils to make popcorn are ghee and coconut oil. The coconut oil is better for sweeter toppings, but the ghee leaves the popcorn with a nice buttery flavor. Popping with ghee is so good, you could skip the toppings and leave it plain.

Popping popcorn on your stove top is simple and quick.

1. First, you will get a heavy bottomed, large pot and place three tablespoons of the oil of your choice in it.
2. Heat the pan on medium-high heat until the oil is melted. Then put a couple of kernels into the pan, moving the pan every few seconds, until they pop.
3. Once the two kernels have popped, turn the heat down to medium and pour half a cup of kernels into the pan. Place the top over your pot.
4. Move the pan back and forth over the burner so that the kernels do not burn. You can also lift the pan up off the burner if it gets too hot.
5. Let the kernels pop until the popping slows to about 1 every ten seconds. You can then take the top off of your pan.
6. Toss whatever toppings you choose onto your popcorn and it’s ready to eat!

Topping Variations:

Here are a few of our favorite toppings.

• Sea salt and nutritional yeast
• Honey, melted butter, and cinnamon
• Parmesan and melted butter

There are many more ways to eat stovetop popcorn. It can make such an indulgent dessert when tossed in melted dark chocolate or caramel and sea salt. You can spice it up with lime juice and zest and a sprinkle of cayenne. You can even make trail mix by adding pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries and a little salt! I have even seen recipes that call for pumpkin spice sprinkled on popcorn. The possibilities for flavoring are endless.

What you will need for this recipe:

• Large, heavy bottomed pot
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Large bowl

Stovetop Popcorn with Ghee

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup popping corn kernals

• 3 tbsp. ghee

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Directions

• Heat ghee in a large, heavy bottomed pan on medium-high heat. Once melted, add two popcorn kernels.
• After the kernels have popped turn the heat down to medium and add the rest of the kernels and place top on pan.
• Move the pan back and forth across the burner and occasionally lift the pan off the heat.
  Once the kernels have stopped popping for about ten seconds, take the pan off the burner and add your toppings by tossing into the popcorn with a large spoon.

1. Heat ghee in a large, heavy bottomed pan on medium-high heat.
2. Once melted, add two popcorn kernels.
3. After the kernels have popped turn the heat down to medium and add the rest of the kernels and place top on pan.
4. Move the pan back and forth across the burner and occasionally lift the pan off the heat.
5. Once the kernels have stopped popping for about ten seconds, take the pan off the burner and add your toppings by tossing into the popcorn with a large spoon.

Toppings:

• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tbsp. nutritional yeast

• 1 tbsp. melted butter
• 1 tbsp. honey
• ½ tsp. cinnamon

• ¼ cup grated parmesan
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tbsp. melted butter

Tips for making stovetop popcorn:

• Get your oil hot, but if you notice that your kernels are darkening very quickly turn the heat down so that they don’t burn. Nobody likes burnt popcorn.
• Be sure to move your pan while popping your kernels. This keeps the kernels from burning.
• Don’t add too much oil. You can end up with greasy or soggy popcorn.
• Season your popcorn as soon as it is done popping, while it is still hot. This will allow the seasonings to stick better.
• This recipe is very easily halved. The full recipe makes an extra large mixing bowl worth of popped popcorn. If you want less, just half the oil and popcorn kernels.

We enjoy stovetop popcorn as a filling snack so often, that we always have the ingredients on hand. Whether it’s movie night or a rainy afternoon, we love to whip this up as a quick snack. It is so versatile that you can tailor your toppings and flavors to kill any craving you might have without the guilt.

I hope you will enjoy this recipe as much as we do. Let me know of any toppings I haven’t mentioned that you enjoy.