Hatch Chile Coriander Popcorn

You’re about to sit down and watch your favorite movie – why settle for boring old microwave popcorn? This is a time for for Hatch Chile Coriander Popcorn.

This spicy and fragrant popcorn hits a citrus-y high note with lime juice. Meanwhile, Hatch chile powder from Melissa’s Produce and fresh-ground coriander fill in the complex layers.

By the way, coriander seeds are amazing to cook with. To amp up the flavor, toast them lightly in a hot dry pan for two to three minutes (watch the seeds turn ever so slightly darker). Then immediately grind them (we use a mortar and pestle) into a coarse powder. You’ll sense the fragrance almost immediately. It’s earthy but fresh, like the cilantro plant. (In the U.S., the seed of this plant is called coriander while the plant itself is called cilantro).

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Hatch Chile-Coriander Popcorn

An earthy, spicy, and tangy popcorn snack.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 3 minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes

Total Time 9 minutes

Servings 5 cups

Author Jeanne Fratello

Ingredients

• 2 T. vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup popping corn
• 2 tsp. coriander seeds
• 2 T. butter melted
• Juice of two small limes
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. Hatch chile powder depending on preference
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

1. Pop the popcorn: Place the oil and 2 to 3 kernels of corn in a large saucepan and heat it over medium-high heat until the kernels pop. Add the remaining popcorn, cover the pot with a lid, and shake the pot so that the corn is evenly coated with oil. Continue shaking the covered pot occasionally, for approximately 3 minutes until the popcorn pops. Listen closely until the popping starts to slow down; then remove the pot from heat.
2. Meanwhile, toast the coriander seeds: Place the seeds in a small frying pan and heat over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring or shaking the seeds repeatedly. Remove the seeds from the heat and place immediately in a bowl for grinding (a mortar and pestle works very well for this).
3. Pour the popped popcorn into a large bowl. Drizzle the popcorn with the melted butter and lime juice. Then sprinkle on the Hatch chile powder, salt, and ground coriander seeds. Stir or shake so the spices are evenly distributed. Serve immediately.

Want to eat it with your kids? A small amount of Hatch chile powder will give you just the pleasant flavor you’re looking for. We tried it with just 1/4 teaspoon of Hatch chile powder, and we got a nice “orange” color and smoky flavor without spiciness.

Also, this popcorn is best enjoyed right away, so plan to make it and serve it immediately. Although, come to think of it, we probably don’t even need to say that. Once you get a whiff of it, you’ll want to be munching it down. Oh, and you might have to make a few test rounds of this popcorn before your show starts; just sayin’.

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Hatch chile popcorn with coriander and lime.