Soy Sauce Butter Popcorn Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Posie (Harwood) Brien

July29,2016

5

1 Ratings

  • Serves 6

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Compound butters are one of life's greatest pleasures, as is a giant bowl of popcorn. I found a recipe from Kikkoman for Sriracha butter popcorn, but thought using a different product (soy sauce) in butter would be even better. Soy sauce butter is rich, savory, umami-laced, and literally so delicious I eat it with a spoon—it takes popcorn to seriously great levels. Grated cheese, Sriracha, and sesame seeds are all excellent but not necessary additions. —Posie (Harwood) Brien

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cuppopcorn kernels
  • 2 tablespoonsbutter
  • 2 tablespoonscoconut oil
  • 1 tablespoonsoy sauce
  • 1 teaspoongarlic salt (optional)
  • 1 teaspoonSriracha (optional)
  • 3 tablespoonsfreshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Directions
  1. Pop your popcorn however you like: My favorite method is to air-pop it in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan with a lid. Heat the pan over medium-high heat and add 3 kernels. Once the test kernels pop, add the rest of the kernels, reduce the heat to medium, and shake constantly until the kernels all pop (or until there are a few seconds between each pop).
  2. Melt together the butter and coconut oil, then whisk in the soy sauce. Whisk in any extra mix-ins, as I listed above (Sriracha, garlic salt, and Parmesan cheese). Another excellent topping is a few tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds.
  3. Pour the soy sauce butter over the popcorn and toss to coat.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Tvine Topouzian

  • Marcus Engstrom

  • Josh Mitchell

  • Rita Goeckeritz

  • Posie (Harwood) Brien

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12 Reviews

Tvine T. September 8, 2017

I am a huge popcorn enthusiast and I had high hopes for this recipe but unfortunately I have a tummy ache right now and wondering where I went wrong. Popped the kernels as instructed and they turned out perfect, then I decided to make a second batch and popped some more. All is well. Wisked the butter, oil and spices over medium heat and poured it immediately over popped corn. The whole thing deflated like, all the air came out and it all became a huge mush of gew. I decided to eat it anyway but now I regret the whole thing.....feeling quite disappointed. Can anyone tell me where I went wrong? These comments kind of give me the impression this was not supposed to turn out this way.

Marcus E. May 30, 2017

I do this but use nutritional yeast along (and Parmesan) as a topping. It's so good! Also try subbing extra-virgin olive oil for the coconut oil.

Anita November 28, 2016

Can this be made ahead and stored in an airtight container or will it just get soggy? Wanted to bring with us for a weekend getaway.

Brian August 5, 2016

The hardest thing about making popcorn (IMO) is getting an even distribution of butter. I feel like much of it absorbs into the top level of popcorn before I have a chance to shake it up, resulting in a bunch of over-flavored kernels and a LOT of under-flavored ones.

Any tips on getting the butter (or compound butter, or any other flavorings) evenly distributed throughout the bowl?

Leno August 11, 2016

I add it as soon as I pull the lid off of the pot and mix it with a hard spoon really, really well. You have to be very quick in adding the butter but it's worth it I think.

Josh M. August 4, 2016

"air-pop it in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan"... wait... what?

breakbread August 1, 2016

About 28 years ago, I made a version of soy-sauce popcorn for my then-boyfriend, who because husband, and now father of my 18yo son (whose bday is this week). Popcorn with soy sauce is a family inside-joke; it was so delicious it even resulted in a parking ticket for some reason we can barely remember, a lost tie and a baby ten years later. Enjoy this recipe (it looks delicious), be mindful of parking times and know it is good karma!

breakbread August 1, 2016

*became

Rita G. August 1, 2016

I'm a popcorn enthusiast. I've eaten popcorn for lunch and/or dinner more times than I'll admit in public. This recipe did not disappoint. It is delicious. It wasn't anything like the flavors I imagined when I read the recipe. It's richer, deeper...more umami. The combination of coconut oil, butter and soy sauce is a complex flavor. I didn't use all the butter/oil mix. I just drizzled it over the popcorn to taste. Lucky for me. Now I have left over for a fresh batch of popcorn and lunch tomorrow. Thank you Posie for a great recipe.

Posie (. August 1, 2016

Love that you enjoyed it!

Stephanie G. July 31, 2016

This was very greasy. I would suggest cutting back on fats by half.

Posie (. August 1, 2016

Definitely is a lot of butter; I recommend making the full amount of soy sauce butter, starting with drizzling some over and tossing it, and stopping when it's the amount you like. Everyone has different preferences for the right level of "butteriness" for popcorn I think!

Soy Sauce Butter Popcorn Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Soy Sauce Butter Popcorn Recipe on Food52? ›

The glorious combination of soy sauce and butter has been used for years, especially in Japanese cooking. It's everything you need in a sauce: rich, sweet, salty, umami.

Does butter and soy sauce go well together? ›

The glorious combination of soy sauce and butter has been used for years, especially in Japanese cooking. It's everything you need in a sauce: rich, sweet, salty, umami.

How to pour melted butter on popcorn without making it soggy? ›

Melted butter turns popcorn soggy because of its high water content. Make sure to clarify your butter before pouring it on. It sounds complicated, but clarifying butter is actually a breeze in the microwave, and it removes enough of the water to leave you with buttery, perfectly crunchy popcorn.

Do you add butter before or after popcorn? ›

Add a few popcorn kernels to melted clarified butter and let pop. Once popped, add remaining kernels; swirl to coat in butter. Cover; reduce heat to medium. Gently shake pan while kernels pop.

How to make butter popcorn more buttery? ›

Microwave the butter until it melts; about 30 seconds if whipped and 1 minute if cold. Place the popcorn you just popped into a bowl. Take out butter and pour over the microwave popcorn. Toss the popcorn to allow the butter to coat it evenly.

What to avoid in soy sauce? ›

Soy sauce also contains wheat, which some people may be allergic to. People who have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder caused by eating gluten, should avoid soy sauce that has gluten. Most soy sauces contain wheat, but some brands produce gluten-free soy sauces.

What does butter and soy sauce taste like? ›

Combining soy sauce and softened butter creates a savory, umami-flavored spread that's easy to melt over vegetables, resting meats or grains to instantly give them a delectable sauce.

Can you just melt butter and put it on popcorn? ›

Can you just melt butter and put it on popcorn? Yes absolutely – it makes the best buttered popcorn if you do it this way. Be sure to shake it so the butter is evenly distributed throughout the kernels.

What to add to butter popcorn? ›

Toppings
  1. Melted butter.
  2. Sea salt.
  3. Ranch seasoning.
  4. Tajín.
  5. Cheddar seasoning.
  6. Caramel sauce.
  7. Sprinkles.

How much butter to add to popcorn? ›

It's typically recommended to use about 1 tablespoon of melted butter per 4 cups of popped popcorn. For salt, it's a matter of personal preference, but starting with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt for the same amount of popcorn is a common starting point. Adjust according to taste.

What butter do movie theaters use? ›

Movie theaters use butter-flavored oil, which has a lower water content than butter so it makes popcorn less soggy. Real clarified butter has the same effect.

Can dogs eat popcorn? ›

Is Eating Popcorn Safe for Dogs? Yes and no. Plain, air-popped popcorn is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Buttered popcorn or popcorn with other toppings is not safe for your dog on a regular basis, although eating a few dropped pieces here and there probably won't hurt them.

How to make popcorn taste better? ›

What can I add to popcorn for flavor?
  1. Garlic powder or garlic salt.
  2. Dried parsley and grated Parmesan.
  3. Nutritional yeast, which is a healthy—but still flavorful—alternative to cheese.
Dec 22, 2020

How to drizzle butter on popcorn? ›

Place butter in mason jar and heat until just melted. Place your Ergo Spout® Mini on the jar and secure with a metal band. Drizzle melted butter on popcorn, giving the bowl a little toss to ensure it's equally coated. Sprinkle with salt or other seasoning and enjoy!

What is the healthiest butter topping for popcorn? ›

Ghee, also known as clarified butter, is one of the most popular healthy alternatives to buttered popcorn. You can prepare it by heating butter or cream. It has a high smoke point with a nutty flavor- similar to what you might get from the trail mix.

What is butter flavoring for popcorn? ›

According to Extra Crispy, that "butter" is actually made with Flavacol and Butter Flavored Topping. If you've ever wondered just what it is about movie theater popcorn that gives it that special, yellow color, you can chalk that up to Flavacol, which is basically just a type of seasoning salt that goes on the popcorn.

What mixes well with soy sauce? ›

Kikkoman soy sauce makes a brilliant glaze for roasted or pan-fried meat, fish and vegetables. It adds shine as well as a deep, savoury flavour. Try mixing equal amounts with honey or maple syrup and brush it onto a joint of roasted meat then pop it back in the oven briefly to caramelise.

What tastes good with soy sauce? ›

In any situation where you'd add some salt — try shaking some soy sauce over the food instead. Bolognese sauce, chilli con carne, scrambled egg, shepherd's pie, soups, chips, ramen noodles, Korean fried chicken — you name it, give it a try.

What flavor goes well with butter? ›

Choose a fresh flavor like basil, a classic goat cheese accompaniment like honey, or paprika for a sweet and peppery taste. Just mix it all together and serve on a board, or spread on bread for a delicious snack.

What goes along with butter? ›

Keep butter as a staple when you are cooking (or baking) these five items and here's why:
  • Scrambled eggs. ...
  • When grilling a steak, whip up a log of compound butter full of herbs and garlic and put a pat on top once the steak is cooked so all that flavor melts all over it.
  • Fettuccine Alfredo. ...
  • Whole roasted chicken.

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