Let the partying continue! Whether you are hosting a cocktail party or dinner party, you should always have appetizers and snacks. I always have bar snacks (nuts, trail mix, olives) on hand for the impromptu guests! This popcorn is perfect for any pre-game event. Just the right snack to munch on at a party. And this is the best party popcorn out there!
There is a bar/restaurant that my friends and I like to go to in the summer months, Bridge House Tavern. It’s right on the river, you sit outside watching the boats go by, sipping on rose’ and havin’ some snacks! Well they have this popcorn on their menu! It’s so good I decided I had to re-create it, so we could have it any time we wanted! It is the perfect balance of savory, smoky, spicy and sweet. So good!
It is quick to whip together too. The cast of characters is obviously popcorn kernels, it has to be kernels that you pop, don’t use microwave popcorn! Gross! Bacon, smoked sea salt, jalapeno, honey and parsley. That’s it! You can also prep the jalapeno and parsley by chopping and storing in a baggy before you are ready to pop the kernels.
I like to start this about a half hour before my party starts, so it’s still nice and warm as my guests arrive and they can smell that wonderful aroma of freshly popped popcorn and bacon! First, I start the bacon, yum! I use a big pot for cooking the bacon, because we are going to use the same pot for popping the corn. I use about 6 to 8 slices, bump up or down to your taste. I then cut the bacon into pieces right in the pot.
Let the bacon cook and get nice and crispy and the fat has rendered out. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and let cool on paper towel lined plate. Don’t touch that bacon grease, leave that liquid gold in the pot. Then I add a tablespoon of olive oil, if needed, to the bacon fat. Next take your kernels and pour right into the pot. I cover the pot and shake it periodically. Once you start to hear those babies pop, you shake constantly and crack the lid. This allows the steam to escape and keeps those kernels from flying all over your kitchen. Keep shaking until the popping has subsided. Careful not to burn. This will make a lot of popcorn, but don’t worry, it won’t go to waste!
Next, I get out my giant popcorn bowl and pour about a third of the popcorn in the bowl. I then use olive oil spray and lightly spray the popcorn in the bowl. Then I add some of the smoked sea salt and shake up, next, I add a third of the bacon and a third of the chopped jalapeno, a third of the parsley, reserving some for garnish at the end, and drizzle a little honey in. Shake it up. Repeat this process until your ingredients are gone. Then I sprinkle the top with reserved parsley.
Voila, there you have it! The perfect, most delicious party popcorn you have ever had! Also, how cute are these popcorn cups from Crate and Barrel! Perfect to place around your room for easy snacking for all your guests to enjoy. Your friends will be requesting this every time you have a party!
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
- 6 to 8 slices of bacon
- 1 large or 2 small jalapenos chopped
- 3 tbsp. chopped parsley divided
- 3 tbsp. honey divided
- Smoked sea salt to taste
- Olive oil spray
- In a large pot, cut bacon into pieces and cook over medium heat.
- Remove cooked bacon with slotted spoon and place on paper towel lined plate and let cool.
- Add 1 tbsp. of olive oil into reserved bacon fat and pour kernels in pot.
- Cook over medium heat with lid, shaking periodically.
- Once kernels begin to pop, shake pot constantly and crack lid until popping subsides.
- Pour one third of popcorn into large bowl, lightly spray with olive oil spray, add couple pinches of smoked sea salt, ⅓ of the chopped jalapenos, ⅓ of the chopped parsley and ⅓ of the honey. Shake to incorporate.
- Repeat process until your ingredients are gone. Topping with remaining parsley.
- Enjoy!
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