2024-01-19 13:20:00
Who has never snacked on popcorn at the cinema or in front of the TV? Although it has a bad reputation, popcorn is not without its virtues. Here’s how to make healthy popcorn in two recipes, sweet or savory.
Raphaël Haumont
Written on 01/19/2024
Popcorn: why does it pop? — The Health Mag – France 5
Popcorn has a bad reputation. The salt or caramelized sugar that often covers it makes it an unsavory snack. But made at home, it is completely healthy, delicious and very simple to make.
The “pop” is a physico-chemical phenomenon that occurs simply thanks to the water that the grain contains. The hard shell of the corn kernel actually contains a soft interior, made up of around 10% starch and water.
The water molecules are attached to the fibers and are trapped in the plant structure.
To make popcorn, simply heat oil in a pan and add the corn kernels when hot.
What makes popcorn pop?
If you provide enough energy, by heating very strongly or via waves as you might do in a microwave, these water molecules will be released and be able to leave. As the grain is very solid, the steam formed builds up in pressure until it tears the hull.
A gram of liquid water turns into a liter of steam, 1,000 times its volume. This gives off a lot of energy and an incredible change in volume. The water is trapped, the starch is found as “plasticized”hence this texture of solid foam, like polyurethane or polystyrene.
Industrial popcorn too sweet and too fatty
Industrial popcorn is popped corn to which fat, sugar or salt have been added. It contains 75% carbohydrates, including fast sugars, and up to approximately 12% lipids.
The bad reputation of popcorn is due to these additions because the popcorn itself keeps all the grain, the skin (or shell) and therefore the external, insoluble fibers and the internal soluble fibers. A very good set for health.
Grain is made of starch – we even make it into corn flour, or starch – it’s energy and not quick sugar.
A salty popcorn recipe for a healthy appetizer
For an aperitif, opt for salty popcorn to which you can add paprika, sweet or smoked pepper. In another bowl, for example, you can put parmesan, pepper, Provence herbs or basil.
Mix or shake in an airtight container. Add a drizzle of olive oil to make the spices stick. There is no salt or sugar added, and it is much lower in calories than industrial appetizer cakes.
A sweet chocolate popcorn recipe
Industrial cereals with corn or puffed wheat, chocolate or honey are ultra-processed and contain too many harmful ingredients.
Make a “healthy” version of it, although obviously, they must be consumed in moderation and always in addition to other varied foods and physical activity.
- Melt some lightly sweetened chocolate.
- Add a drizzle of hazelnut oil for example or a little cocoa butter to “relax” the chocolate and make it more fluid. Above all, avoid vegan or other hydrogenated fats.
- Mix with popcorn. You can even add chopped hazelnuts, almonds or dried fruits.
- Then let it crystallize on a plate or let it “compact” slightly to make a healthy snack bar.
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