For today’s recipe, Popsmith co-founder Dave shares one of his top ways to eat popcorn — hurricane popcorn. He discovered this Hawaiian classic during college, where friends introduced him to the irresistible combination of popcorn, furikake (Japanese seasoning with sesame seeds and seaweed), and kakimochi (crispy Japanese rice crackers).
Trust us, one batch of this salty, umami snack won’t be enough. Here’s how to make it on your Popper:
Hurricane Popcorn Ingredients
- 1 packet Popsmith Oh Sooo Buttery Popcorn
- ¼ cup ghee
- Kakimochi
- 2 teaspoons furikake seasoning, or to taste
- Garlic powder
- Aleppo pepper
- Nutritional yeast
How to Make Hurricane Popcorn
Step 1: Heat
Set your burner to medium heat and let the Popper preheat for 1-2 minutes.
Step 2: Add Oil
Cut open the coconut oil portion of your popcorn packet and squeeze it into the Popsmith. Wait for it to melt.
Step 3: Pour Kernels
Cut the popping corn portion and toss 3 kernels into the pot. When the first one pops, add in the rest.
Step 4: Add Salt
Next, cut the seasoning part of your packet and pour about a third of the salt. Save the rest for another time — with the furikake seasoning you’re adding later, this popcorn will have enough saltiness.
Step 5: Turn and Pop
Now put the Popper’s lid on and get cranking! You don’t have to turn it the entire time, just give it a few cranks to distribute the kernels around.
PRO TIP: If the spinner gets stuck mid-pop, just lift the lid and set it back down, making sure the pins are aligned with the agitator. See some kernels logged behind the spinner? Lift it with your finger to release them.
Step 6: Remove from Heat
Take your Popper off the burner when popping slows to 1 to 2 seconds between pops and pour the popcorn into a huge bowl.
Step 7: Add Rice Crackers
Sprinkle the kakimochi on top of the popcorn and mix them well.
Step 8: Melt Ghee
Add your ghee to a saucepan, let it melt, and then drizzle it over the popcorn.
Step 9: Season
Mix furikake seasoning with garlic powder, nutritional yeast, and Aleppo pepper and sprinkle over your popcorn. Give the bowl a good toss to evenly distribute the flavoring.
Step 10: Serve Your Furikake Popcorn
Put on something good to watch (maybe Chief of War with Jason Momoa or Forgetting Sarah Marshall for double the Hawaiian vibes?) and enjoy your hurricane mochi crunch popcorn!
Catch the Flavor Wave
Once you try hurricane popcorn, you’ll understand exactly why it’s so popular in Hawaii. Now go hit up your nearest Asian grocery store and grab some furikake to make this snack at your next movie night or game night!
Enjoyed this recipe? Check out our blog for more popcorn inspiration. The sky is really the limit with your Popper!
FAQs About Hurricane Popcorn
What is furikake made of?
Furikake is a Japanese seasoning that’s typically sprinkled over rice. It’s made with nori, toasted sesame seeds, salt, and sugar — very umami-packed.
How do you get furikake to stick to popcorn?
The trick to keeping the furikake seasoning from falling off your popcorn is to combine it with ghee. Ghee, which is basically butter without water and milk solids, acts as a glue. We don’t recommend regular butter since it can turn the kernels soggy.
