For vegans that love popcorn, the go-to flavour is a bowl of freshly popped corn that has been drizzled with vegan butter and perhaps a sprinkle of nutritional yeast.
But for those looking for something special or those who love spending a little creative time in the kitchen, try these mouth-watering recipes on film night. For those wanting something ready-made, we’ve included something inspirational for vegan snackers that’s easy to purchase and just as tasty.
The Popcorn 101
Simply put, popcorn is corn kernels that when heated expand, puff up, and “pop”. There are several ways that popcorn kernels can be heated from heating a batch on your stove top or in your microwave. When the telltale popping noise begins to slow, remove your snack from the heat source or it will burn.
Popcorn is a natural vegan snack because it is just corn kernels. However, when you buy a bag of popcorn, it’s more often than not flavoured. If you take a quick look at the ingredients label, you’ll see lots of non-vegan stuff like butter, cheese, and even chocolate milk.
How do you avoid the temptation or disappointment of non-vegan popcorn? By making your version right at home. You can choose your favourite flavours and be sure your snack is pure vegan!
Vegan Popcorn Must-Haves
1. Non-Cheesy Seasoned Vegan Popcorn
With this mouthwatering delight, nutritional yeast steps in for cheese. But it doesn’t stop there. The seasonings are what make this recipe a bit addictive. Onion and garlic powders blended with a pinch of paprika, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and salt will have you making a second batch.
• 0.25 cup of kernels
• 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.25 teaspoon onion powder
• 0.25 teaspoon paprika powder
• 0.25 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Cayenne pepper to taste
• Salt to taste
Blend all the seasonings in a small bowl and add the nutritional yeast. Stir well and set aside. Heat coconut oil in a large pot with a lid over high heat. When heated, add in just a few kernels. When they pop, remove them and add in the remaining kernels. Shake your pot every couple of seconds to prevent burning. When popping slows, remove it from the stove top. Uncover and pour your popcorn into a large bowl. Toss your freshly popped corn with the yeast and seasonings and enjoy.
2. Caramel Vegan Popcorn
Want a vegan version of Cracker Jack? This is an easy recipe made with only three ingredients found in your kitchen. If you microwave, your popcorn will be ready in just minutes. Salty, sweet, and above all, vegan!
• 48 g unpopped popcorn kernels
• 0.25 cup of coconut sugar or brown sugar
• 0.25 cups of honey
• 0.25 teaspoon of salt
Pop your kernels then place them in a large bowl. In a small saucepan combine the sugar and honey heating on low while stirring until the sugar has dissolved entirely. Pour the sauce over your popcorn and coat it well. Finally, sprinkle on salt and toss. For a yummy variation, add dark chocolate chips or roasted peanuts.
3. Vegan Dorito Popcorn
If you love both Doritos and popcorn, this vegan version will bring you a taste of the real, less healthy snack without all the chemical additives. They’re also gluten-free for those on gluten-free diet regimes.
• 0.50 cups of popcorn kernels
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 0.25 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt to taste
Pop your kernels in coconut oil. Blend all the seasonings and salt in a bowl, now using a blender or grinder, and reduce the seasoning mix to a very fine powder. Sprinkle your popcorn and toss to make sure of an even coating.
4. Cinnamon and Maple Vegan Popcorn
No more corn syrup or butter for this crunchy sweet and salty treat in the healthiest of versions.
• 0.33 cups of corn kernels
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 0.50 cup maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons of nut butter or almond butter
• 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 0.25 teaspoon of cinnamon + sprinkling quantity
• Salt to taste
Pop the corn kernels in the coconut oil. Once ready, pour them into a large bowl. Place the maple syrup in a pot over medium heat and bring it to a boil. Continue boiling for 2.5 minutes. Add in the nut or almond butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt to taste. Whisk until the mixture is well-blended. Drizzle onto your popcorn and toss until covered. Place on a baking sheet and bake for five minutes at 350° F. Rotate the pan and bake for two more minutes. Remove and sprinkle with cinnamon and salt to taste and serve.
5. Dill Pickle Seasoned Popcorn
For those of us that don’t have much time or want our popcorn ready to eat when the film starts, Safe + Fair offers several vegan popcorn snacks such as Buttery Seasoned Popcorn, Birthday Cake Drizzled Popcorn, Dark Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn, Strawberry Shortcake Drizzled Popcorn and Everything Bagel Popcorn among others. But the flavour that tweaked our interest was the Dill Pickle Popcorn. So, if you are in the market for a generous selection of vegan popcorn flavours, check this company out.
Whether you prefer sweet popcorn or savoury seasoning, with these selections you’ll be ready for a popcorn get-together!
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