Using the microwave popcorn bowl I wrote about earlier, I’ve played around with some ingredients to come up with a number of recipes, such as here.

For this particular batch, though, I wanted to do something specifically Middle Eastern – you’ll see why below.

This one is based on herbs such as thyme and za’atar.

Prep

Use the standard method from the Joseph Joseph popcorn bowl (add the kernels and a neutral oil then microwave), or cook the popcorn using whichever method works for you.

If you really want to enhance the flavour of this batch, add an additional teaspoon of sesame oil to the neutral oil before cooking.

When the batch is nicely popped, add the seasonings.

I added a teaspoon of salt, a 1/4 teaspoon of sugar, then 2 teaspoons of za’atar (a wonderful Levantine spice/herb mixture – here’s a recipe from the BBC), a pinch of garlic powder, a teaspoon of oregano and a teaspoon of thyme.

Mix the popcorn well, then serve, preferably still warm.

The Herbs

The thyme is my favourite element of this, because it’s the herb that makes me think of Lebanese cooking most of all.

If there’s one thing I learnt in Lebanon it’s to overuse herbs. Don’t skimp. If you think you’ve added too many herbs, you haven’t added enough herbs. This is one of the many reasons why Lebanese food is so good. It packs flavour, but often from simple ingredients grown in the garden or nearby hillsides of the Lebanese countryside.

This popcorn recipe will go really well with a martini garnished with a little fresh thyme and would be a perfect appetiser before a Middle Eastern meal. It might also go with a Preserved Lemon Martini too.

I served this particular batch to accompany drinks while my neighbour and I watched the 1970s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile (with an all-star cast, including Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Peter Ustinov, David Niven and Mia Farrow among others).

I thoroughly recommend it. Martinis go very well with Agatha Christie and the popcorn complimented the Middle Eastern theme nicely.

Pop pop pop!