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    Home » Snacks

    Published: May 24, 2022 · Modified: Dec 13, 2022 by Zen · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Soy Sauce Butter Popcorn

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    An easy and deliciously savoury soy sauce butter popcorn recipe that is loaded with umami- you won't be able to stop snacking!

    Popcorn drizzled with a butter and soy sauce in an Ikea jar.
    Jump to:
    • Variations
    • Tips
    • FAQ
    • Other Asian snack recipes
    • Soy sauce butter popcorn
    • 💬 Comments

    If you've not tried butter and soy sauce mixed together, you're missing out! This umami packed sauce tastes amazing with so many ingredients, such as pasta, pork and these butter soy mushrooms that are on the table in under 30 minutes.

    Since you're on this page, I'm guessing you're looking for a popcorn recipe. Besides this soy sauce and butter popcorn, I also have an easy 3-ingredient spicy popcorn recipe and this scrumptious salted egg popcorn. For those new to homemade popcorn, here's a 101 introduction to popping corn on the stove.

    A bowl of spicy red popcorn made with chilli oil
    Adding chill oil, such as Lao Gan Ma's or a homemade version- make for a delicious spicy popcorn.

    Variations

    1. Spicy: Add chilli powder or chilli oil to the soy sauce and butter popcorn.
    2. Garlic: Generously sprinkle with garlic powder.
    3. Something a little more sophisticated: add a splash of soju, mirin or shaoxing wine when heating the butter and soy sauce (Don't add this if you're melting the butter in the microwave, as the alcohol won't be cooked off, and the flavour won't be the same.)
    4. Butterscotch flavours: brown the butter and use dark soy sauce or sweet soy sauce in place of light soy sauce.

    Tips

    1. Melted butter soy sauce are quite liquid, which is why I have ghee in my recipe too, to make a compound butter.
      • If you don't use ghee, you can use coconut oil instead for this butter soy sauce popcorn.
    2. Use unsalted butter- if your butter is salted, it may become too salty when you add the soy sauce.
    3. If you don't want to stand at the stove, you can melt your butter in the microwave then stir in the light soy sauce.

    FAQ

    Why does corn pop?

    When the dried corn kernel is heated, the water inside turns to steam. The pressure builds till it becomes too much and then pops into an airy and fluffy piece of popcorn! That's why some recipes tell you to soak old kernels before popping them- however, that can be counterproductive. I've used out-of-date corn kernels that popped even without soaking. In fact, the aded water made fewer of the corn kernels pop!

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    • A bowl of spicy popcorn popped in LaoGanMa chill crisp oil.
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    Close-up of soy sauce and butter popcorn in a glass jar.

    Soy sauce butter popcorn

    Zen
    An easy and delicious, 4-ingredient popcorn recipe for soy butter popcorn.
    5 from 37 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine American, Fusion

    Equipment

    • Deep pot with lid Only if popping popcorn on the stove
    • Skillet/ pan Substitute: microwave

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅓ Cup pop corn kernels
    • 2 Tablespoons butter You can brown the butter if you want a more caramel flavour
    • 2 Tablespoons ghee Substitute: coconut oil
    • 1-2 Tablespoons light soy sauce Start with 1 tablespoon, then taste as different soy brands have different levels of saltiness. If the sauce isn't there yet, add another tablespoon.
    • Garlic powder, chilli flakes, onion powder etc Optional (if you want some variety)

    Instructions
     

    • Pop your corn whichever way you like. (I have a beginner's guide to making stovetop popcorn here.)
    • Heat a pan and melt the butter and ghee (or coconut oil). Lower the fire if necessary to make sure the butter doesn't boil.
    • Once the butter is completely melted, add the soy sauce and mix well, letting it simmer for a bit then switching off the fire.
    • If making 1 of the variations of this soy sauce and butter popcorn, now is the time to add the chilli, garlic powder etc
    • Turn off the fire and allow the butter soy sauce mixture to cool slightly.
    • Once cooler, pour it over the popcorn and make sure the kernels are well tossed.

    Notes

    Click here to learn how to pop corn over the stove.
     
    Variations: you can add garlic powder, onion powder, or switch to dark soy sauce or sweet soy sauce. If using the different soy sauces, you may need a bit of salt as they tend to taste less salty than light soy.
     
    This soy sauce and butter seasoning is super versatile- you can use it with seared mushrooms, steak and so many other ingredients.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GreedyGirlGourmet or tag #greedygirlgourmet!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jen says

      May 25, 2022 at 4:14 am

      5 stars
      Love how the creaminess of the butter goes with the savoury soy. Will try the sauce with pasta over the weekend

      Reply
      • Zen says

        June 01, 2022 at 8:48 am

        Thanks Jen, soy and butter goes together so well don't they?

        Reply

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    Greedygirlgourmet eating 2 sandwiches in Scotland

    Hi I'm Zhen also known as GGG! I couldn't boil water till I was 18! However, I love creating community and nurturing people, so when I lived abroad (in St. Andrews then London) for 11 years, I started hosting regular parties for friends and that's how I started cooking! I even organised a supper club for charity, which strangers came to! Learning to cook late, I make sure my recipes go into enough detail for those new to Asian cuisine or who love a test kitchen approach to cooking!

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