Detoxifying Multi-Algae Superfood Popcorn

Recently I was watching an old Gwyneth Paltrow video where she talks about what she eats in a day, and she mentioned a snack they have in the Goop office called ‘Spirulina Popcorn’. I looked up the recipe on Goop and saw they had recreated a recipe based on a popular product stocked at Erewhon.

I remember when my sisters and I were younger, we would always take spirulina tablets at breakfast, normally chewing them (which you weren’t supposed to) so our teeth would go completely green. After trying the original recipe, I was interested in doing my own variation that used different algae for multiple benefits, and also to make a variation that was half sweet and half savoury.

For this recipe, I used chlorella, regular spirulina, and also blue spirulina. While these are all algae, they have distinctive properties that differ from each other, which makes this popcorn recipe even more beneficial. It’s super quick and easy to make, and visually quite impressive for a snack on the go or to have when guests are over.

Key Ingredients:

Blue Spirulina

Rich in antioxidants, particularly phycocyanin (which gives it its bright blue colour), blue spirulina helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. The antioxidant content is much higher in blue spirulina than in regular spirulina due to its high concentration of phycocyanin. Phycocyanin also helps reduce inflammation and assist in protecting the eyes from macular degeneration. Blue spirulina also contains immunoglobulins which can stimulate the immune system and increase its response to infection.

Green Spirulina

Spirulina is one of the only plant proteins to contain all the essential amino acids. It has a much higher protein content than the algae featured in this recipe, can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and contains a rich amount of antioxidants. It has a great vitamin and mineral content, containing vitamins B, C, and E, as well as minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium.

Chlorella

The most detoxifying of the three, chlorella has been shown to bind to toxins and heavy metals, assisting in removing them from the body. It contains beta-glucans which, much like immunoglobulins, stimulate the immune system and increase its response to infection. Along with the others, it is high in antioxidants, but can also support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria to help with digestive health.

Ingredients:

The ingredient list is split up into 3, the popcorn is cooked to begin with but then dressed in two different bowls:

Popcorn component:

1/2 cup of organic popping corn
1 tablespoon organic coconut oil

Seasoning 1:

1 teaspoon of organic spirulina
1 teaspoon organic chlorella
3 tablespoons organic olive oil
3 teaspoons organic garlic powder
1 teaspoon organic onion powder
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon wakame seaweed salt or regular sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Seasoning 2:

1 teaspoon blue spirulina
3 tablespoons organic coconut oil
1 tablespoon organic date sugar
1 tablespoon organic maple syrup

Method:

Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a large stockpot on low-medium heat. Add two kernels into the stockpot and cover with a lid, leaving it slightly ajar. Wait for the two kernels to pop.
When the kernels pop, add the remainder of the 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels into the stockpot. Place a lid on top of the stockpot, leaving it slightly ajar, and shake the pot around every minute so all the kernels get popped.
When the popping sound finishes, turn the heat off and move the pot to the side.
In two separate bowls, add the ingredients for seasoning 1 into one bowl, and ingredients for seasoning 2 into the other bowl. Start with the oils. Mix the ingredients thoroughly using a fork to break any clumped powders.
When thoroughly mixed, split the popcorn half and half into the two separate bowls and mix the seasoning into the popcorn with your hands until thoroughly blended. Leave to set for 5 minutes.
Add both bowls of popcorn into a larger bowl and shake the bowl so the two flavours disperse evenly. Enjoy!

Photos by Aleksandar Zaric for Welluvia