Thomas Kellers Caramel Popcorn Recipes

CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place popcorn in a very large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat.
• Place in two large shallow baking dishes and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces.

SPICY CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Lightly coat two large, heatproof rubber spatulas and a large mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large saucepan or pot with a lid, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the popcorn kernels, cover and keep the saucepan moving until all of the kernels have popped, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared bowl, removing any unpopped kernels.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the baking soda and cayenne pepper.
• Have two large baking sheets ready. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, salt and 1/2 cup water. Cook over high heat, without stirring, until the mixture becomes a light golden caramel, 10 to 14 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the baking-soda mixture (the mixture will bubble up).
• Immediately pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn. Working quickly and carefully, use the prepared spatulas to toss the caramel and popcorn together, as if you were tossing a salad, until the popcorn is well coated.
• Spread the popcorn onto the baking sheets and quickly separate them into small pieces while still warm. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Once cool, store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

THOMAS KELLER'S CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Pop the popcorn.
• To make the caramel, place the sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a large saucepan (large enough to hold the popcorn) and cook until the caramel turns a light golden brown. Add baking soda and butter to the caramel. Then add the popcorn to the hot caramel and stir with a wooden spoon until the popcorn is evenly coated.
• Pour the caramelized popcorn onto a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet and set aside to cool. Break up the popcorn with your hands. Serve in colored-cellophane bags.

THOMAS KELLER'S EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a small skillet, combine curry powder, cinnamon stick and clove and place over medium heat, toasting until aromatic; removed from the heat and wrap the spices in cheesecloth with the lemon and orange zest and tie the cheesecloth to make a sachet.
• In a medium saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the shallots and saute over low heat until the shallots have softened--about 4 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, red wine, sugar, lemon and orange juices, and the sachet.
• Simmer until the liquid has reduced and the mixture resembles a marmalade--about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from heat and discard sachet.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and then add the eggplant and saute until tender--about 5 minutes.
• Drain eggplant on paper towels set on a rack.
• Return the skillet to the medium heat, add two more tablespoons of oil and, when the oil is warm, add the zucchini and yellow squash and saute that until tender--4 to 5 minutes.
• Drain the zucchini and squash.
• Note: Dish can be prepared in advance to here and chilled for several hours; if it is chilled, bring to room temperature before proceeding.
• Reheat the tomato mixture and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Add butter, one piece at a time, whisking to emulsify the sauce. (this step can be omitted to "veganize" the recipe).
• Add the eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash.
• Fold in red and yellow peppers and parsley.
• Serve warm.
• If served as a base for skate (as at The French Laundry), this serves six; as a condiment or as part of an appetizer plate, it will serve more--the yield is roughly 6 cups.