The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HURRICANE POPCORN
“The Hawaiian movie theater experience is not complete without a big bag of hurricane popcorn: hot buttery kernels, roasted sesame seeds, crispy roasted seaweed, and just the right kiss of sugar,”writes Sheldon Simeon in “Cook Real Hawai’i” (Potter, $35). Tossing in handfuls of breakfast cereal or pantry snacks turns it into a full-blown party mix, and baking the mixture after tossing with butter makes it extra-crispy.
¼ cup neutral oil
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unpopped popcorn kernels
4 tablespoons salted butter (or add a pinch of salt if all
you have is unsalted)
1 tablespoon shoyu (soy sauce), plus more as needed ½ cup Furikake (recipe at right)
1 ½ cups arare (rice crackers), pretzels, animal
crackers, breakfast cereal, or a combination
Heat the oven to 325 degrees. In a 6-quart pot, heat the oil over medium heat. (If you don’t have a pot that large, halve the recipe and make it in batches.)
Once shimmering, stir in the sugar and popcorn kernels and cover. Shake the pot constantly to keep the sugar from burning. The corn will start popping vigorously.
Once the popping has slowed to once every 2 to 3 seconds, remove the pot from the heat and continue to shake for a few minutes until the popping has stopped.
Pour into a very large bowl and allow to cool, stirring occasionally to break up any clumps.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the shoyu (soy sauce) and furikake. Add the rice crackers and/or other additions to the popped popcorn and pour the seasoned butter mixture all over, tossing to coat.
Spread the mixture out on a large baking pan and bake until dry and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Makes about 16 cups.
Per 1-cup serving: 212 calories (percent of calories from fat, 39), 4 grams protein, 29 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 10 grams total fat (3 grams saturated), 8 milligrams cholesterol, 446 milligrams sodium.
Adapted with permission from “Cook Real Hawai’i” by Sheldon Simeon and Garrett Snyder (Potter, $35).