Chef Molly Yeh's popcorn salad recipe on Food Network has been ridiculed online. Photo: Food Network
Chef Molly Yeh's popcorn salad recipe on Food Network has been ridiculed online. Photo: Food Network
Chef Molly Yeh's popcorn salad recipe on Food Network has been ridiculed online. Photo: Food Network
Chef Molly Yeh's popcorn salad recipe on Food Network has been ridiculed online. Photo: Food Network

What is popcorn salad? Viral recipe by chef Molly Yeh horrifies the internet


Janice Rodrigues
  • English
  • Arabic

The internet can be a strange and mysterious place when it comes to food trends.

Over the past few years, we've had platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to thank for the popularity of the most bizarre-sounding dishes – from pancake cereal to raindrop cakes.

But, just when you think you’ve seen it all, something so outlandish pops up that it warrants a pause to figure out exactly what's going on.

This time, it’s Food Network that's under fire after it posted a recipe and video from one of its chefs, Molly Yeh. The dish? Popcorn salad – and, yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like.

The recipe combines popcorn with mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, Dijon mustard, peas, carrot, celery and watercress, among other ingredients.

"It's so Midwestern, so quirky and so delicious," Yeh is seen saying in a video posted on social media and viewed more than 1.7 million times.

However, the internet has widely disagreed, with many calling the dish an abomination.

"Got to be a parody," one Twitter user posted.

Another user called it "popcorn violence".

One fan wondered if the coronavirus pandemic was to blame for Yeh's creation.

While another compared it to some people's concerns about Covid-19 vaccines.

Other than the bizarre ingredient combination, one of the biggest issues seems to be about how the salad stays fresh. After all, it would stand to reason that a salad dressing of mayonnaise and sour cream would made the popcorn soggy.

And, as many have pointed out, there is absolutely nothing appealing about soggy popcorn.

While the video was posted weeks ago, it’s now picking up steam. Some have questioned whether Yeh herself likes the dish, with others suggesting recreating it to see if it’s actually any good.

To find out whether that happens, we’ll just have to wait and watch – so grab some popcorn (but maybe hold the salad).

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Read more:

Hot chocolate bombs: How to make the world's latest food trend and where to find them in the UAE

5 top food trends to follow in 2021: from halwa to home cooking

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The Specs

Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now

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New Zealand T20 squad

New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Will Young 

Results

3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel

4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri

4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson

5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri

5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

As You Were

Liam Gallagher

(Warner Bros)

New process leads to panic among jobseekers

As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.  

“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.

Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE. 

“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.

“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Results

5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m; Winner: Mcmanaman, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Bawaasil, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Bochart, Fabrice Veron, Satish Seemar

7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Mutaraffa, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Rare Ninja, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alfareeq, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Zorion, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi