Right around this time two years ago, I christened this baby-blog with a little birthday series for Bowl #2 — they were something like my third, fourth, and fifth posts, and they were recipes for some of his favorite foods from back home in Hawaii. With another one of his trips around the sun approaching (and because I can never have enough food from Hawaii), I thought that this would be a good time to do a repeat of sorts — this time with a little bit extra! His birthday is just a couple weeks before a little event I can’t stop talking about (sorry) and ever since we figured out our reception menu, I’ve been planning to try to recreate some of the dishes to share with you. Since we happen to be getting married in Hawaii, it seemed perfect to mash it all up! So for the next six weeks or so, I’ll be sharing a couple more recipes for his favorite childhood Hawaii dishes, mixed in with a few homemade versions of the eats from our wedding menu. Since I can’t invite you all to our shindig, I figured this was the next best way to celebrate it with you. <3
The first up is a snack that’s almost too easy for a recipe — hurricane popcorn! It’s so simple but incredibly addictive, so much so that I had to give away half of it to the neighbors before I ate the entire tub myself. It starts with your standard popcorn and melted butter, but then it adds just a touch of soy sauce and sugar, a generous pour of salty furikake, and a heaping of crunchy, shiny-glazed rice crackers, called mochi crunch or kakimochi in Hawaii. Toss it all together and you have what I think is the best popcorn I’ve ever had — a step further than butter-and-salt movie-theater popcorn, savorier from the furikake and soy sauce, just a hint sweet, and triumphantly crunchy from the kakimochi. It’s pretty much the embodiment of everything I love about Hawaii — a seamless East-meets-West combination of flavors that tastes like it was always meant to be together, not fusion for fusion’s sake, but fusion by organic, happy coincidence. So good.
Hope you’re all having a happy Wednesday!
Serving bowl: Arhaus; ceramics: Speck & Stone & The Fortynine Studio; walnut scoop: Polder’s Old World Market; tea towel: Fog Linen.
Hurricane Popcorn
Adapted from the impeccable Chinese Grandma.
Ingredients
- 10 cups freshly-popped popcorn (or about 6 tbsp unpopped kernels)
- 3 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 tsp soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup nori furikake, or more to taste
- 2 cups Japanese rice crackers (preferably like these)
Instructions
- First, prepare your popcorn. You can pop it using a stovetop method, or using the microwave — I generally use the microwave for ease of preparation and speed. Put about 1/4 cup at a time in a paper bag, folded and sealed, or a large, microwave-safe glass bowl with an airtight lid, and microwave it on high for about 2 minutes, or until popcorn pops only once every 2-3 seconds.
- Place popcorn in a large bowl, at least 3-quart capacity. Whisk together melted butter, soy sauce, and sugar. Gradually drizzle the butter mixture evenly over the popcorn, tossing the popcorn as you go, to distribute the butter as evenly as possible.
- Working quickly, sprinkle the furikake over the popcorn while the butter is still warm to help it adhere to the popcorn, and continue tossing to distribute evenly. (Note: You can also combine the butter, furikake and popcorn in a paper bag, seal and shake to distribute.)
- Last, mix in the rice crackers, and top with an additional sprinkling of furikake. Serve!
Notes
For really local hurricane popcorn, the kind of kakimochi you should try to get is darker and shinier than the kind I was able to find over here — Tomoe brand is popular in Hawaii, and right for this if you can find it.
Warm Vanilla Sugar
Very excited for this series! And popcorn like this sounds just awesome – so many fun flavours!
tworedbowls
Yay!!! Thanks so much, Katrina 🙂 I’m so glad B2 introduced me to it!
alanafixfeastflair
This post makes me so so so so so happy. But Cynthia, one word, TOMOE. I’m bringing you some. It’s the only arare I can eat and I have a feeling I’m going to convert you into a fellow Tomoe lover. 😀 😀 😀 And YAYYYY for wedding and birthday countdowns!!
tworedbowls
I was totally thinking of you when I wrote this, Alana!!! I know, I’m SO sad I didn’t get to use Tomoe here! I went all over town looking for it but no :'( Luckily B2’s aunt owns a crackseed store and we’re suuper pumped to raid it next month for welcome bags (and our bellies!) Thanks so much for the sweet words, lady! Can’t wait to see you soon eeee!
Kristin | Tasty Joy
As a popcorn lover, this looks delicious and refreshingly interesting! Can’t wait to see more Hawaiian posts 🙂
tworedbowls
Yay!!!! That makes me super happy — I’m so excited to share them 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Kristin!
wallflourgirl
Well, isn’t this the most brilliant popcorn idea ever! My friend and I have been discussing a lot of Hawaiian recipes recently because he’s also from that neck of the woods–there’s just so much happiness to be had in those discussions! Yeee for vicariously living through your blog, I am still just so excited for you two!
tworedbowls
Ha, I LOVE how you put that, Ala!! SO much happiness. I hope you post some of his recipes, too! And it makes me so happy that you’re excited too — that means the world to me! Sending you hugs :):):)
Rebecca @ DisplacedHousewife
What cocktail are we pairing with all this goodness? This looks like bar food at its’ best!! xx
todd wagner
I agree with Katrina – I’m so excited for this series!! And from now on, I’m going to make it a point to always have some hurricane popcorn stocked and ready to go!
Millie | Add A Little
Memories of your beginning posts! I remember the spam musubi post like it was yesterday! Also, yay for popcorn because it’s pretty much the best snack ever!! And I love sprinkling furikake on mine too!
Erica
Could this look any more umami?! I’m in love with the seasonings – and you know I’m already obsessed with your Asian fusion dishes so this new series is making me super excited. And such a perfect little tribute to your man!! Can’t stop smiling, you’re too adorable.
Abby
This looks so, so delicious, Cynthia! What a creative recipe series <3
stephanie
oooh i LOVE this so so so much. hurricane popcorn sounds amazing. i love those lil rice crackers and can just imagine them next to popcorn. yum!
and i’m getting so excited for you and your wedding!!!!!! 😀
sundiegoeats
The other day in a moment of weakness I bought a horrible “sweet fiesta lime” popcorn (so hungry when I grocery shop straight after work) that tasted like artificial margarita mix mixed with fat free popcorn. I need to make this popcorn to cancel out that popcorn….
Sini | My Blue&White Kitchen
Best food series ever. Can’t wait for all that Hawaiian goodness that is yet to come <3
Jess @ alittlealice.com
yay!! popcorn!! and that sounds like a way cool snack combo…..
Gerlinde @sunnycovechef
Oh, how I love Hawaii, I can’t wait for more posts. I love the combination rice crackers, soya sauce and popcorn.
Sarah // The Sugar Hit
OH MAN, this sounds like a killer, eat-it-by-the-fistful, popcorn. Also, congratulations on having such a cool partner in your life. You guys sound super happy, and that’s freaking great. Much love!
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
I’m so excited for this series! What a fun idea. This popcorn sounds pretty crazy, but in the best way. I can’t wait to see pics of your wedding in Hawaii! Eeeeeee!!! 😀
Nicole
Oh YES! I love the sound of this umami-rich popcorn! My Dad’s family is from Hawaii, so he shared some of the unique cuisine with us as kids and at the time I didn’t appreciate the savory goodness as much as I should have. I’ll make up for lost time, though 🙂 Can’t wait to make this for my Dad!
Linda | A La Place Clichy
This sounds like the perfect snack to have when you are just munching away in front of the TV. I love the Hawaiian take on popcorn. Would have never known what it was! Can’t wait to see the wedding photos!
Erika
I’m in love with this Hurricane popcorn. I already sprinkle soy sauce on my popcorn..like for real, so this is speaking to me ..and so excited for that “little event” you keep talking about. 😉
Our Food Stories
Looks SO delicious cynthia!! And totally in love with the pictures <3