Aug. 31--Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled ... popcorn? Mother Goose may not have seen this one coming, but dill-flavored popcorn is having a moment.
First, in preparation for Labor Day, chef Christine Cikowski of Chicago's Honey Butter Fried Chicken shared her homemade version with us (get the recipe here); now, Trader Joe's has released Popcorn in a Pickle, a dill-flavored version of the movie theater snack.
Intrigued, I went on a trip to the Trader Joe's in River North, where there were three giant store displays promoting the new popcorn. The design of the bag is actually appealing -- forest green and subtle lime colors intertwine behind a pickle mascot character that appears to be dancing. Or maybe trying out jumping jacks; something like that.
Having finished a jar of Kosher dill pickles last night, my expectations for what Trader Joe's advertises as a "bold" dill flavor were very high.
The scent -- strong but not overwhelming -- was every bit what you would smell after cracking open a jar of dill pickles. The popcorn looked fluffy and didn't leave a greasy residue on my fingers. I popped a piece in my mouth, and wow: If it weren't for the airy texture, I would actually think I was eating a pickle. After a few more kernels, a mouth-puckering flavor gathered at the back of my tongue, where the juices of a real pickle would gather.
You know that moment when you taste something so interesting that you have to turn the bag around and check the ingredients, like, "Man, what's in here?" I was expecting vinegar or a freeze-dried pickle powder or maybe magic. Rather, the secret appears to be dill oil. Dill-icious. (Sorry, had to.)
The best part: The flavor didn't die or get old halfway through the bag. At 5 ounces (about half the weight of a potato chip bag), it's a decent size that could be shared with a few friends or suddenly disappear into your tummy while watching a movie -- or writing an article about pickle popcorn.
At $1.99 a bag, Popcorn in a Pickle is well worth a try. Even if you're skeptical of unconventional snack food flavors, we bet you'll be dipping into this bag for seconds.
Lindsey Compton is a freelance reporter.
