Popcorn with Mangalitza Lard

Popcorn doesn’t have to be boring! Instead of the store-bought version, we recommend this special variant with mangalitza lard. Hearty and really tasty!

It only takes three ingredients and a little practice to perfect your preparation.

Ingredients for about 4 people:

50 grams Mangalitza lard (cut into small pieces)
200 grams of dry corn
Sea-salt
Paprika powder (optional)

Cut the mangalitza lard into small (but not too small) pieces, and fry in a medium or large saucepan over the lowest possible heat. It is important that the pot you use has a suitable lid. The low heat is especially important as we want the liquid fat to separate without burning the bacon bits. This takes about 10-12 minutes.

Take the hard pieces out of the pot, we only need the liquid, hot (but not too hot) fat. Add the corn and keep the heat on the same, low level for another 1-2 minutes.

Now the fun part begins. Shake the pot every 30 seconds, being careful not to burn the corn. Depending on the stove, it will probably take about 3-5 minutes for the corn to start popping. The heat can be increased slightly. Now it’s important to make sure the lid completely covers the pot to avoid a disaster in the kitchen. Shake the pot regularly.

Remove the pot from the heat as soon as no more seeds burst for more than 15 to 20 seconds. Serve in a large bowl with salt and optional paprika. Enjoy.