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

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.

Does soy sauce taste good on popcorn? ›

While it's true that butter and salt are a tried-and-true classic topping for popcorn, you may find that adding a few drops of soy sauce will make for a pleasant surprise. A good way to try soy sauce on your popcorn is to mix it with melted butter and then drizzle it over your popcorn.

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

Pour the popped popcorn into a large paper grocery bag. Quickly drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn and then roll the top of the bag shut. Immediately start shaking the bag gently for a minute or two. If you need to add salt, do so at this point then close the bag and shake again, until evenly distributed.

Can I melt butter and put it on popcorn? ›

My method is to melt the butter then pour it into a large empty bowl and roll the bowl around to spread over the surface. Then dump the hot popped popcorn in, and use a spoon to stir it and mix it up well. Each popcorn will pick up just a bit of butter on each one, and none will be soggy. Works well for me.

What to avoid in soy sauce? ›

Allergens in soy sauce.

Soy is a common cause of allergy, especially in children. 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.

What does soy sauce and butter 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 put sauce on popcorn? ›

Flavoring popcorn with dry seasonings is easy—you just shake 'em on. But there are a lot of flavors that live outside of that realm. These flavors come in the form of sauces, and some of them are pretty good on popcorn too.

What tastes good on top of popcorn? ›

13 Popcorn Toppings That Sound Weird But Are Apparently Delicious, According To Twitter
  • Ketchup. ...
  • Chocolate Syrup. ...
  • Crab Meat. ...
  • Ramen Seasoning. ...
  • Cream Cheese. ...
  • Ranch Dressing. ...
  • Cinnamon and Cayenne Pepper. popcorn with cinnamon and cayenne pepper 🔥 ...
  • Sriracha...and Peanut Butter. Here are some things I have eaten that are great:
May 17, 2023

What do movie theaters use for butter? ›

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. To make it, melt 2 sticks butter in a glass measuring cup in the microwave. Let sit for a few minutes; the butter will separate into 3 layers.

When should I add butter to my popcorn? ›

Once the popping slows down, transfer the popcorn to a large bowl. Drizzle the butter over the popcorn, sprinkle with salt, and toss. Add the nutritional yeast flakes, if desired.

What popcorn seasoning do movie theaters use? ›

The type of salt typically used in movie theaters for popcorn can vary depending on the theater's preference and supplier. However, it is common for theaters to use a special type of salt called "flavacol" to enhance the taste of the popcorn.

What is Flavacol? ›

Flavacol popcorn season salt is a very fine salt that easily sticks to the popcorn, whereas regular granulated salt tend to fall off.

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.

What compliments soy sauce? ›

It's also perfect for balancing out sweeter foods in your salad, like berries. Don't forget to try soy sauce in other vegetable dishes, too. Even if it's not stir-fry, soy sauce's bite complements many vegetables, including edamame, broccoli and green beans.

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 tastes good with butter? ›

Watch it became a favourite in no time.
  • Eggs benedict. The addition of buttery hollandaise sauce makes this classic brunch dish extra luxurious.
  • Brown butter pear cake. ...
  • Butter burgers. ...
  • Bread and butter pudding. ...
  • Soy butter-braised mushrooms. ...
  • Buttered leeks with pangritata. ...
  • Garlic butter gnocchi.

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