Popcorn Recipes That Pair Awesomely With Wine
If there’s one snack I love, it’s popcorn. Air-popped, dill-pickle flavored, smothered in movie-theater butter. I love it all. And you guys know how I feel about wine. So when a suggestion to try a couple of popcorn recipes that pair well with Noble Vines wine landed in my inbox, you can probably guess my response. It went a little something like this:
All the wine! All the popcorn! All the tasting and pairings! YES!!!
via GIPHY
And, so, I invited some girlfriends over and got to popping. Popping corn and corks that is!
What I really love about these popcorn recipes is how complex and savory they are while being beyond freaking easy to make. We’re talking 15 minutes from no popcorn to Queso Fresco, Cayenne, Cilantro and Lime Popcorn and Parmesan, Oregano and Balsamic Popcorn in your belly. (You could probably even do it in 5 minutes if you used pre-made bagged popcorn from the store.)
I couldn’t find queso fresco at Trader Joe’s for the Queso Fresco, Cayenne, Cilantro and Lime Popcorn, so I subbed in your basic Mexican cheese blend and it was fantastic. I added a bit of lime zest for extra lime flavor — and it was quite tasty with the bottle of 242 Sauvignon Blanc. Definitely perfect for a warm day or night with lots of crispness.
And the Parmesan, Oregano and Balsamic Popcorn was SO full of flavor. I didn’t have a mister like the popcorn recipes suggest, but I just drizzled the Balsamic vinegar on and it was everything. Rich and heavy with flavor but still light, it was oh-so snackable and great for an evening. It paired perfectly with the 181 Merlot. (Before we did the popcorn pairing, I was most excited about the sauv blanc, but the merlot was the winner of the night!)
Whether you’re planning to host a gathering soon or simply want to whip up some tasty popcorn recipes as a snack for all the fall TV premieres and football games, I highly, highly recommend you pop these!
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
- 1 cup queso fresco, finely crumbled
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more or use less depending on spice preference)
- ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 lime
- Heat oil in a large wide pot over high heat, and popcorn, cover and shake often. When popping slows to a few seconds between pops, remove from heat.
- Use a citrus reamer to juice the lime and evenly mist the popcorn with lime juice; sprinkle with queso fresco, cayenne pepper and cilantro while tossing.
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- Aged balsamic vinegar
- Heat oil in a large wide pot over high heat, and popcorn, cover and shake often. When popping slows to a few seconds between pops, remove from heat.
- Mist popcorn evenly with aged balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with parmesan and oregano while tossing.
What’s the fanciest popcorn recipe you’ve ever made? Or the most unique food you’ve paired wine with? I have a friend (Hi, Jess!) who pops her popcorn in bacon grease — and it’s as amazingly tasty as it sounds. I wonder what would pair best with that … —Jenn