Homemade Chili Lime Popcorn

Chili Lime Popcorn? What the hell is that? Isn’t bit weird? Where the hell will I find this demon?

I’m sure these questions are bubbling in your mind. But I’m obliged to answer your queries before I move further. So, Chili Lime Popcorn is my latest found love with which I’m spending most of my evenings. It may sound bizarre but they are perfect marriage materials. And to the last question, you will find it in your own kitchen within next 10 mins. Come on, hurry!

I’m a big time junkie meaning junk food lover. Naturally I tend to have more appetizers or snacks and often I have to skip my main food due to over eating entrée. Actually I’m a lover of crunch. Give me a bucket full of crispy crunchy snacks and I’ll be yours, truly! And due to this improper eating habit I’ve gained a hell lot of pounds which I’m trying hard to shed off. But on the same time I also need to keep my soul happy. So I’ve settled with some low calorie light munchies like popcorn.

But we all know store bought popcorn are full of unhealthy fats and synthetic ingredients which is the least thing we want to go in our body. You can say almost similar thing to those store bought ‘ready to make’ popcorn sachets; top of all they are with same boring 2-3 flavors! So the best option is to Do It Yourself! It may not possible to make all everything at home but it is definitely possible to spend 10 mins at kitchen with handful of ingredients and get a bowlful of freshly popped popcorn. And the best thing is you can experiment with the flavors too. So I did with Chili Lime flavor and it is a true win-win situation for me.

Here you go for with my step by step Chili Lime Popcorn recipe for your loved ones.

Preparation Time: 05 mins

Cooking/Active Time: 05 mins

Resting/Inactive time: 00 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

Popcorn kernels: ½ cup

Olive oil: 2 tbsp

Rock salt: ½ tsp

For Chili Lime Flavor:

Lime juice: 3 tbsp

Lime zest: 2 tsp (only the green part strictly; otherwise zest will taste bitter)

Chili flakes: 2 tsp

Olive oil: 1 tbsp

Palm sugar or honey: ½ tsp (optional; to balance the flavor)

To serve:

A hot cup of coffee/tea or cola or any other drinks (whatever you feel like)

Equipment:

A large heavy bottomed pan with a loose lid

Small saucepan

Large wide serving bowl

Wooden ladle

Preparation:

Put the large pan on flame and add oil and salt in it. when the pan is slightly hot, add popcorn kernels and shake the pan a bit to distribute the kernels evenly in salt-oil mixture. Make sure kernels are is a single layer at the bottom of the pan. Stir slightly if necessary.

Now cover the pan with lid, leaving a tiny gap to help the steam to escape and turn the flame to medium high. Within 1-2 mins when the popcorn will start to pop, shake the pan again to shuffle the kernels. Keep shaking in 30 secs interval until popcorn stop popping. It will take 3-5 mins maximum. Once popcorn is done remove the pan from flame and keep on a stand for a minute then transfer to the large serving bowl/pan.

While popcorn is popping, prepare the Chili Lime flavor. Combine all the ingredients except chili flakes under ‘Flavors’ in the small saucepan and keep on medium heat. Stir continuously for 1-2 mins or until sugar/honey dissolves completely. Once the sauce turns golden in color and starts to thicken remove the pan from flame and pour it on freshly popped popcorn. Sprinkle the chili flakes on top and stir quickly with the wooden ladle/spatula to combine the flavor evenly throughout all the popcorn. Serve immediately while warm. Enjoy your favorite cuppa with your favorite homemade popcorn. Or turn your each movie nights exciting with different flavored popcorn on each time.
Save the excess popcorn by storing in Ziploc pouch or airtight glass jars. Popcorn will be crunchy this way for 2 days.