KIDS CAN MAKE: HEALTHY TACO POPCORN

Kids Can Make: Healthy Taco Popcorn image

Nutritional yeast is our secret ingredient in this taco spice blend. Dried and not active, it's high in vitamin B12 and has a pleasant cheesy flavor, making it the perfect stand-in when dairy's not an option. (You can find it in the supplement aisles at grocery and health food stores.) For big and little kids: Let them help measure ingredients and toss the popcorn.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 20m

Yield Four 2-cup servings, plus leftover spice blend

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

20 large sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed; about 3 ounces), cut into 1/4-inch strips
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch cayenne pepper
Kosher salt
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup popcorn kernels

Steps:

Make the Spice Mix: Put half the tomato strips in a single layer on a microwavable plate. Microwave in 30-second increments, checking the texture in between, until they begin to harden but are still red and slightly pliable, 1 to 2 minutes. (They may begin to brown and taste bitter if cooked too long.) Let sit until cool and completely hardened, about 2 minutes. Repeat with the remaining tomato strips.
Transfer the cooled tomato strips to a spice grinder, and grind to a powder. Discard any pieces that won't grind. Add the nutritional yeast, chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt, and grind to a fine powder.
Make the taco popcorn: Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels. When one pops, cover the pot, and cook, shaking the pot constantly, until the popping subsides to 1 pop every 20 seconds. Pour in the melted butter, and toss to coat. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of taco spice and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and toss again to coat.
Store the remaining taco spice blend at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. (You'll have enough to make 3 more batches of popcorn.)

Nutrition Facts : Calories 170 calorie, Fat 11 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Cholesterol 25 milligrams, Sodium 360 milligrams, Carbohydrate 16 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 4 grams, Sugar 2 grams